New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-06
A Minority Finance Committee

"A MIIlOTuy L uldiiIS SoiihahteSS
Senator Wagner's proposal for minor
Iity finance committee, to be vested un-
der the rules of the Senate with all the
powers of investigation and recommends
ton now possessed by the regular Finance
Committee, is distinctly interesting In view
of Governor Whitmen's request for the
greatest possible publicity regarding the
tens in the tentative budget which nc has
submitted to the Legislature. The so-calcd
budget system now in operation at Albany
lis an improvement over the old method OF
making up the appropriations. But it is
not much of an advance. The Governor,
after hearings and analyses Of department
estimates of requirements, makes his ten
tative schedules. These go to the two
houses. The appropriations committees,
meantime, hold their own hearings and,
having received the department estimates,
make up their own. tentative bills. They
may or may not take into consideration
tho Governors budget"
The resultant bills are rough compro-
mise between legislative and executive
ideas of what the situation demands. The
Legislature passes the bills and the Gov
ernor reduces what items he feels he can
cut and eventually signs the bills, TO mat
ter how they may jibc with his own notion
cf what is desirable, because that is all he
can DO. The public, having no knowledge
Of department needs and the state of the
treasury, accepts the legislation thus
adopted, willy nilly. 1t may or may no.
like tho totals and the taxes made ncces-
sary to raise the money required; but II
pays. 1t has nothing else to do.
The idea behind Senator Wagner's pro-
posal is that the minority in the Legis.
laturc is in position to be the best informed
critic Of the operations of the majority,
which makes up tho appropriations legis-
lation, and has the greatest desire, rs 3
matter of partisan interest, TO show up
mistakes or extravaganza. If committee
of tie Senate, made up wholly Of minority
members, had oil the information available
to the majority leaders, and ali the powers
Of investigation Of department schedules
which the majority now hes, Senator Wag-
ner believes that the result would be to
pat the states finances or a sound and
Economical basis The idea is not new in
parliamentary procedure. 1t has been ir
operation in the British Parliament, and
seems to have proved satisfactory there.
There is no question that the handling Of
state money has been, and is, influenced by
PARTISAN political motives. Whether a
artisan system of analysis and criticism
Of tho proposed budget By committee 81
the minority would operate to eliminate
the cpoils or "pork" methods Of allottine
money, or whether it would merely result
in giving to the minority party certain
proportion of the "pork," would depend al
most entirely on the integrity ard intclli-
gence of the minority. At any rate, the
proposed system would permit NOR, c>-
haustive and expert analysis and criticism
Of the appropriations bills than now is pos
sible.
If the n.noritys criticism were honest
and unbiased, seeking party advantage
only through serving the public iEteres.
tho result must DO wholly desirable. Econ.
orly would be promoted, and politics ana
"pork" eliminated to u considerable extent
from the expenditure Of the states funds
Of course, this scheme is supposed to be in
operation, in general way, at present.
The difference, uadcr Senator Wagner'5
plan, would be that tie minority part,
would have opportunity for study and in
vcstigation, and SO for intelligent criticism,
" the proposed appropriations which now.
rs a matter Of time and department: PRO
ccdure, it cannot have. So far rs prac-
teal knowledge Of the bills goes, TIC minor
lty members Of the appropriations commit
fees Right as well not hold their jobs, for
TIE majority members do all the work.
Tie item most important in producing
governmental economy is the elcnen. Of
publicity. Waste, pork" ard politics can
not survive public criticism il the latter Is
persistent and ;ntelligently directed. This
propose, is in essence means for focus
s.ng publicity on appropriations, guided, /.
IS true, b. nm element Of the public having
\ distinc. interest in the result, but ha.ing
nevertheless every motive for playing fair
with the public, II the minority party lead
srs possess any intelligence.
The proposal offers advantages so far as