New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-06
Reapportionment Bill to
Furnish Chief Contest
at Albany.
ONLY BUDGET BILL
COVER is WHITMAN'S
Contents Nothing Like Measure
Framed by GOvernor-Law-
making Begins Tomorrow.
From /. star Cerr.spondsrt o, n. rrit.ln.


Albany, March 5.-After many weeks
OF pickering, quail hunting. conven-
tions and various other diversions, the
| Legislature, according 70 the promise
Of its leaders. will get down to real
work this week and do some Of the
things which the people expected when
they sent the lawmakers here. TO be
sure. there will be further diversion
for the hard working legislators. for
Oh Tuesday night the Senate will give
n dinner TO the members Of the Assem-
bly,. This. however. is not expected 70
interfere with the work OF the lcgs-
lators for more than day the one
after a. least.
The form ia which the appropl d.
tions for ;he coming year viii be made
has been decided upon by the leaders.
and while II differs materially from the
budget bin submitted by Governor
Whitman IT represents big step for
ward. There will be two APPROPRIATION
bills submitted 10 the Legislature
general appropriation bill and a high
D n
/ appropriations for the Highway De-
partmont and will be available immo-
ditely. for the reason that the head Of
that department wants 70 begin work
on the roads as soon as the weather
permits.
What will be known rs the general
/ appropriation bill will really be five
/ bills under a single cover. this latter
7 hi, 4 =.
I original proposal which has remained
! intact. Il will be divided into five
parts. One Of these will be the items
which in former years have passed the
/ Legislature - the supply bill. The
fiscal year will also be changed 20 be
gin on july ].
Aside from the appropriation bills
about the only things of exciting inter
, est are The reapportionment OF the
Senate and Assembly districts and the
| New York Ciiy bills. The latter are
, expected 20 come out Of committee
next week. and no difficulty is ex-
pected in getting them through tho
/ Leg stature. although some Of the rural
lawmakers are doing considerable kick
ing. as usual.
The reapportionment bill. however.
''i NNNot tll' illiNrt hillu u q lEits NN
comparatively few of the present SEN
ate and Assembly districts remain un-
changed in the tentative bin which has
been preDared. Consideration Of this
measure probably will hold the legis-
lators here until tho middle Of April.
IS il will be one IL the lsgi 'aeasGTes
considered
Senator Robert Wagner. minority
leader. tomorrow night will seek TO
have the rules changed so that mi
uority budget committee can be ap-
pointed by the President Of the SEN
ate. He wants this committee 10 be
clothed with all the powers Of the
present Finance Committee. with the
exception of either reducing or increas-
ing items IN the appropriation bills. 10
will be criticising committee cAclu-
sivelv
THE proposal is absolutely novel"
Senator Wagner said tonight. so far
as our Federal Or state governments
are concerned in the handling OF bud
gets and appropriation bills. It has
been tried, however. with great sue
cess in other countries There is
such a committee in the English Par
lament ard in Canada. II is conceded
by all students of our government that
what Is lacking in the making up OF
our budget and appropriation bills is
an intelligent and effective criticism
Of The items contained therein