New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-19
Budget Makers
Ignore Reforms
Whitman Urged
Legislative Experts Fail to
Itemize All Expenses
Minutely
S72,OOO,O00 Is Sought
Governors Advisers Rebuffed
by Sage-Democrats
Attack Increases
Prom s,sr Correspondent Of Tie Tribune

tF-cn STAR Correspondent Of Tie Tribune
Albany. March lS.-The finance ex-
merits Of the Legislature have ignored
Governor Whitman's pet budget re-
forms, and the Republican leaders have
announced themselves as prepared to
defend every item in the proposed out
lay against Executive veto or Demo
cratic attack. The statement Of Sen
ator Henry NJ. Sage, OF the Senate FL
nance Committee. and Assemblyman
H. L. Machold, Of the Assembly Ways
and Means Committee, reads like a sim
pic explanation of the annual appro-
priation bill. introduced on Thursday,
but beyond il turks firm, polite rebuff
TO the Governors budget advisers, head
ed by his secretary and Public Service
Commissioner Charles S. Hervey.
In spite of the Governors demand
for changes in the form of the budget
in the way Of more minute termination
of salary increases, bureau and depart
ment totals and other particulars, the
bill has been prepared for passage in
exactly the form in which it was passed
last wear. debt service only being omit
ted. The legislative bill totals $1,000,
600 more than the executive bill. and
includes 100000, called Legislative
contingent" fund, which will be par
ticularlv annoying to the Governor, un-
less he know, item for item, what 1t
contains.
Budget Makers Explanation
The legislative budget makers explain
more than two-thrds of the difference
between their own and the Governors
budget by a schedule of accounts which
the executive force intentionally or un-
Intentionally omitted. totalling $780,
600 One of these is the legislative
contingent fund of $500 goo. Explain
ing these amounts, Senator Sage said:
1.-THE above termination is given in
order that the people of the state may
have the opportunity to judge whether
thee increases are justified. This early
introduction of the BILL with full pub
LEFTY. gives an opportunity for every
body to make n study of the needs Of
the state while the Legislature is in
session"
InGOIEllEdllA. LUt dHNiNRl ldAlNn JIM
could be passed in about eight days,
but il is not planned 70 do so much
before the close of the session, al
though il will be on the calendar for
discussion. Every item in il has the
personal approval of Senator Sage, who
said he is prepared TO defend them all.
The bill represents the complete finan-
eial programme Of the state for the
next fiscal year.
The personal service item Salaries
comprises S1S.G45,000. about one-fourth
of the total anticipated expenditure of
the state for the fiscal year 1917. The
salary increase over last year Is about
$4,000 900, but this includes 100000 for
the LIST District Public Service Com
mission, which this year becomes reg
ulatory charge against the state for
the first time. The forces OF the In
dustrial Commission have been in
creased. TO clean up the clOgged calen-
dar before the commission, and the
Health Department Increased for infan-
tile paralysis study II is said that 90
per cent Of the salary increases Of
about 300 state employees affect men
i'm or about the $1,000 class.
Attack By Democrats
Senator Robert F. Wagner. minority
leader of the Senate. and his colleague
in the Assembly. Joseph NJ. Callahan,
launched their first attack on the bill
to-day i'm a statement pointing out that
the estimated total expenditures OF
$72.O0O.OOO this year will exceed by
S25.OOO,OO0 the total appropriations
which sufiiced for all purposes in 1914,
the last year Of Democratic control.
The "amaZing increase" they charge, is
due. not to Democratic failure 20 pro
vide. but to Republican inability to be
provident
when Governor Whitman, in 1915"
they said, increased the state appro-
priations S16.0OO,0OO over the Demo
cratic total Of 1914, he tried TO make
people believe that that increase was
due 20 his predecessors failure TO pro-
vide sufficiently for the support of the
government. Those who were credu-
lous enough 20 accept that explanation
will note that, with no conceivable pos
siblity OF Democratic deficiencies TO
provide for this year, the total APP
preparations will be $25O00000 more
than they we're under the Democratic
administration IN 1914.
"Thc item Of personal service alone
that is 10 say. the states PSYCHOLOGISTS
the taxpayers of the state to-day just
about what the whole machinery Of the
state government cost them TO OPP
crate under Governor Odell We make
these comments not IN spirit of mere
criticism. but because we sincerely de-
sire 10 aid. II possible in reducing the
burdens Of taxation, which have far
outgrown any consideration Of partisan
csvil and have become @ matter OF
grave concern 20 all right thinking pub