The sun., 1916-12-22
&O,6ss,O0O BUDGET
Is ASKED FOR STATE
Direct Tax Of 5000, 900
Necessary II All Expenses
Are Met.
GOVERNOR NOW PRUNING
Doubtful, However, That lie
Can Bring the Sum Down to
Amount Of Revenue.

$4,000 900 must be provided by the
next Legislature for the expenses Of the
state Government in the next fiscal year.
; n the opinion Of those familiar with
the existing condition Of State finances.
The State departments and commits
s,ons have made requests Of the Lcsis-
lature. which meets in January. for APP
propriations aggregating SSo.633.00O.
whereas the last Legislature appropri-
sted only about $4,000. 900. To meet
the needs next year there will be in
direct revenues OF S42.oo0.000 and a
treasury surplus on July 1 next OF s3.-
900, 900. The difference between the sum
Il these two items and the total ap-
propriations made by the neg Legis-
lature will have to be raised by a direct
tax. There was no direct tax this year..
but last year there was one Of 49,
100000.
May Reduce the Budget.
The estimate OF 3s0.633.000 is not
Anal Gov. Whitman n q staf of
Anancial experts. including Public Ser
vice Commissioner Charles 8. Hervey.
have been working for weeks to cut down
the budget total. II is expected that
when the Governors tentative budget
bill is ready for introduction In the hrst
week Of the legislative session the total
win be considerably less. but It IL not
thought hat Mr.. Whitman or the Legis-
lature can bring the appropriations be-
Low $63. 000. 900.
The principal increases, as reported by
the budget committee, are: Debt ser
vice. $2.295. 900 Judgments. $1.100.0 900 (;
hospitals, charitable institutions and
prisons. for food only. s954.000; den-
cheney. mobilization Of National Guard,
$3.50. 900 /; printing. 81. 900. 900; education,
nxed charges alone. $500. 900 construc-
ton and yepairs. $10.e7s.oO0; personal
service, $?.553,ooo.
Views Of senator sage.
Commenting on the estimates Henry
-. Sage. chairman of the Finance Com
ufttee of the Senate. said to-day:
There is no question that. whatever
the Legislature a do. there will have
to be . large increase in appropriations
this year. In addition to the requests
Of approximately SS0 5000. 900 we will
nave to appropriate $500. 900 for the
remodelline OF Sing Sing n for a new
prison. and at least 3250.O0O for new
hospital accommodation. not to speak
OF other large expenditures which may
become necessary, chief among which
should he. In my opinion. an once build
Ing for the proper housing Of state en-
ptoyees. II makes no difference how
carefully the LEGISLATURE tries to reduce
mems. the budget Is bound to grow pot
only this year but 10 the years TO come.
. "A great deal has been said OF the
extravaganza of the State In it's pay TO
employees. but any one who analyzes
the budget requests will see tina what
even IL lone In this particular will
amount to but a very small percen,are
Of the whole.
Institution Upkeep Growing.
The State has a large investment in
prisons. hospitals and charitable insti-
buttons. and the cost OF up.eep is crow
ing year by year On account Of the in
crease IN population and the high cost
of all the necessities OF life. The only
way TO institute economy in regard to
these institutions is by careful system
ization and coordination OF their ac-
tvities. The only way outside OF this
Tor the State to save money in the future
Us 10 take care properly OF its present
activities and to cease creating new
ones.
There is one itcm where 7 believe the
state can cconomize To q certain extent
The state printing. While the Increase
N this item looks very large, il il only
rsir TO the Legislature to state that rs
per cent. of the mount In spent on the
department reports and bulletins. with
only 20 per cent OF II chargeable to
legislative printing. and also that tSds
amount, $1,000. 900. is largely y de-
nciency item"
Questien for axpayer
THE report presents to the a
OF the state in concrete form the ques-
lion, DO We wish to involve the State
IN new activities which cost large
amounts of money, or have we reached
'he point where we shall pause, take
STOCK or what we are doing, and adopt
measures TO conserve and consolidate
what we already have?'
IT should be remembered that laws
passed by the Legislature are nearly al
ways enacted. In spoons to a popular
demand which does not take INTO con-
tIaefstion the ultimate cost OF the new
h'uVisies desired. 1t Is very apparent
10 me mat II Is our duty to provide ade-
uuate!y for all Of our departments and
'heir activities, to bring them into q high
STATE of efficiency by providing the neces-
sdry means to carry out the directions
OF the Legislature, and to see to 1t that
We are right In what we do before adding
10 thelr already overburdened condition
any new activity Whatsoeyer