The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-06

an Increase OF 81, 500, 600 over the Gov
errors budget
AS so much has been said about the
PORK barrel methods OF the Legislature
a great many people viii believe that
this increase is due TO jobs Of one kind
of another.
"We have appended thir'y-two items
a~ggregating s2.86j.50O omitted from the
Governors budget but included IN ours,
Of which but 10000 i FOR salaries.
These items more than make up the
increase Of this budget over the GOV
ernor's without taking into consideration
numberless instances where Il was neces-
sary to grant more money Tor the
efficiency of n department.
The salary increases in this bI"' OF
which 80 much has been said. amount
to a very small sum. " is perfectly
true that salary increases have been
granted. It IL also true that unneces.
sary positions have been abolished mt
salaries decreased.
ut is necessary In the business OF the
State. as In any other business. that faith.
full service should he recognized and maj
small, salaries given when work is hrst
started should be increased as the work.
man becomes more proficient and rises
to a higher grade. I think II is safe to
say that nine-tenths OF the increases in
salary have been in salaries OF less than
$1,000"
Gov. whitman also issued a state
ment.
The critics Of this measure" said the
Governor. 80 far as their criticisms
have reached me, object to the proposed
plan because 1t does not establish the
principles of the so-called executive
budget prepared by the Governor and
subject only to criticism and reduction
by the legislative branch Of the Gov
, eminent and that II continues the prepa-
ration Of the appropriation act under the
jurisdiction of the financial committees
of the Senate and Assembly.
IL see no object in debating the merits
OF a budget plan which Is unconstitu-
t!onal. The budget procedure adopted
by the State in the first place must be al
least constitutional and any improve
ments over the present plan must be re-
stricted TO that extent"
Senator Wagner and Assemblyman
Callahan, representing the Democrats In
the Legislature. made the following
statement tonight:
Tho appropriation bill reported to.
day has been prcpa red without consul.
tation with the members Of tho minority.
Its general features, however. are we'll
known. This bin represents the deter.
mination OF the Republican leaders n
to row. much. in addition to the appropri.
atoms required for the needs Of the
State government. must BIZ provided to
meet the political demands upon them this
year. The appropriation bill is approx.
ma,ely slO.00O.0O0 higher. exclusive OF
sinking fund contributions. han that OF
1910 or 1914.
Last year the majority attempted "a
make the public believe that the enor.
nous appropriations were required "a
moet deficiencies Of former years. Nc
such excuse can he made this yrar
Tho Republican party has increased the
cost OF running the State government,
$4,000. 900. for which there Is no justi.
fication. and for which the only explana.
ton is their desire to use tho public
funds to obtain political advantage
The fact that the Republican leaders
have decided that no direct tax In neces'
sary this year reflects no credit upon
them because the norm surplus ere.
ated last year would obviate the neces'
sity OF a direct tax II the a%ppropria.
tons were still higher. Their cxplana.
non that largely increased returns from
the stock transfer tax have changed
their plans only gives a humorous color
to their statement
Every one IN Albany knows that III,
failure TO levy "a direct tax IL due I,
the fear of political consequences. Il
the minority is not gagged In the dis
cussion Of these appropriations they will
certainly show how the mou hav,
been swollen In order to provide for tho
expenditures Of public money where /
would create the most favorable senti
ment and secure the greatest infiuenc.
! for the party in power"