New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-13
DARK CLOSET METHODS
TIE New Law for State Appropriation I,
"BIundering Fraud
ID the Editor al - TrIbun..

To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: Permit me 70 add a word to y,s
discerning editorial Of April T entitled
"Stngy Budget Reform The Sag. bill, 70
which the editorial refers, is not strielys
budget bill at al. and on that ground |
would be inclined to question the phras. bud.
get reform" as applied to the measure. !.
masqueraded As budget bill in order to gs!
through the Legislature and receive the sp'
prevail Of the Governor, but in its operation
its true character as most effective obsta'
Gle to. real. budget procedure will be promptly
disclosed.
As is pointed out IN your editorial Their.
is absolutely nothing in the bill to prevent
the appropriations from being handled in ths
dark closet" of committees. The law is 50
drawn as to make control by the Finance
and Ways and Means committees stronger
than ever before
While the impression has been created
that the Governor will be required to trans
nit budget 10 the Legislature within
week after the session opens, the Sage bill
specifically requires that what il calls bud
get shall be prepared and submitted By me
Committee on Finance and not By the Gov
ernor. What the Governor is required 70
do within one week after the opening OF 'he
session is TO submit 10 the Senate and A..
sembly "a statement Of the total amount o.
appropriations desired Before the sag
bill was enacted the law already require
o N. j 80 csfi
TO the Controller. and required the Co,'
troller 20 compile the estimates and trsrsh'
one copy TO the Legislature and one 10 '''
Governor. This feature o. The law has 90.
been altered, and now. since the sage o.
has been signed. the Governor Is require
10 DO no more than 70 send 10 the LegisSF
ure the totals drawn up from the statement
sent TO the Controller. This is the sum 10
tai Of the requirement laid on the Go'sF'''
by the Sage bill lie is permitted, hoTs'e'.
TO make such suggestions for reductions :.
additions 10 the estimates as he may Gee"
proper. He is also permitted TO add s,'"
ment OF the probable revenues. but the -
already require the Controller 70 MAKE ''''
a statement.
What is described in the law as "oS's'.
% be prepared by the Finance committee >
not a budget: il is merc', an appropriate
bill.
The Sage act is defective because the '.s
ular procedure prescribed by statute i0'
introduction of appropriation oils ~,
amended to meet tho new provisions o. ~
act. Assuming that the committee p'eP'.
and introduces It's "budect' or approp''',...
bill on March IS. ss directed, other pTo'ls.v..
OF the legislative law require that spp'VP
tion bills on their introduction shSl
ferred 20 the Finance Committee ID 'ne :,
ate and the Ways and Means Commits,
the Assembly. In other words 'he 80.
budget" is introduced and Is 'nen 49,
referred 10 the Finance 'V"'"
tee. whore 1t originated. hM
What hearings can then be held on 70. y,
10 develop the facts about approp''r''h ;D
Contrary to the general impression VI. -
makes no provision for the appeS'S"r ,ss
the Governor before the committee VI
whole TO explain items in the bill or " II
else it, 1t does provide that oi'eisl suV' n,
mates have the right to appear oe'V'' ~,
Legislature in committee Of the WIZ, ,,rl
u is not their bill that they are 70 -,
or explain: rather II is the Finance w" ..,,,.
tees bill which they must deiend ., hil
else. and # they desire TO eriue'se VI.
they are placed in the position oil S''''
u majority measure.
As a budget" measure the sage "a" ia
laundering fraud. not even eons'S""' An
other parts Of the legislative Jaw -,
act TO give the legislative commune ,ub.
,oatrol over departments and pro!ee''"
lie business of all kinds and to eo"'.', A.
the dark closet" methods OF hnsn'' n,ri.
into few discreet ahu
cnced hands the act Is masterpiece
"a CLEVELAND, piree'V''
New York, April 10, 1916.