The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-18
State Government Squander.

State Government Squander.
The delirium for squander Of the
public's money grows worse every
where. Along come the departments
of the State Government with re-
quests for the new Legislature to ap-
propriate for their ordinary disburse-
ments in 1921 $2O1, 844.292 This Ia
$56, 1856 more than the total Of the
1920 appropriat ion. Furthermore, it
does not include the 100000 which
will be needed to start the Soldier
Bonus Bond issue. 1t does not in
clude the more than $20,0OO,OOO sub
mitted without recommendation by
the Superintendent Of Public Works
as wanted for construction items,
counting $12,5OO,0OO for canal dam
age claims. 1t does not include any
estimate of the special supplemental
appropriations always made by every
Legislature.
Senator SAGE, head of the Joint
Budget Committee, says Of these eyre
gious estimates that the State is
engaged in many activities that 1t
could just as well get along without
at such a time as this. He adds that
1t would be a crime to. increase the
tax on business now. He might we'll
have come out with the plain truth
that the proposed spendings of the
Federal, State and municipal govern
ments would simply turn the pockets
of the public inside out and dynamite
industry and business
There Is nothing for the men of
sense in the Legislature to do but
refuse absolutely to appropriate such
grossly excessive sums as are asked
for-to refuse, In fact, to appropriate
even as much as has been spent this
year. And there is nothing for Mr..
MILLER, the new Governor, to do but
use his veto weapon and all the other
executive power at his command to
cut the very life out of the spendings
and compel all the departments to
get along on a sane, ~focis bottom
business basis.
Here is the Secretary of State, for
example, asking for s1,00O,O0O more
than he got last time. His depart
ment ought not to get a penny more |;
It ought to get hundreds Of thousands
of dollars less than last time and be
compelled to make the best of It.
This can be done by killing his re-
quest for $4,000 more for printing
session laws and by slashing out other
thousands spent for that purpose this
year.
Here is the Industrial Commission
asking for ninety-eight more employ
ees and for salary increases adding
more than 100000 a year to its pay
roll. 1t ought to be made to get
along With fewer instead Of more men
than It now has
Here are all the departments ask
Ing for 1850 new Office holders call
ing for new salaries Of more than
100000 a year. For new salaries
and increased salaries together more
than 100000 Is asked. But there
ought to be on the State payrolls not
a heavy increase but a heavy reduc-
ton Of the number of salary drawers.
When pay has to be raised TO obtain
or hold the services OF efficient work
ers, Incompetent and useless salary
drawers ought to be cut or TO make
up the difference and more. Probably
there isn't department in the State
Government where such changes
could not be made to take care of
rewards to deserving employees and
at the same time save many thou
sands Of dollars
For new construction $50, ,000
more is asked than was appropriated
for his year. 1t doesn't make any
difference whether the New York and
New Jersey bridge enterprise calls
for nearly seven and half millions
Of dollars, or State Fair Commissions
for a million and quarter more this
year, or prisons for two and one-half
millions more, or hospitals for twelve
and quarter millions more, or chair.
table institutions for eight and quar-
ter millions more, or highway con-
struction and other public works for
thirteen and q half millions more--it
doesn't make any difference who II
is that wants It or what It is wanted
for, all must be made to get along with
less, and not merely millions less but
tens OF millions less. And they can,
foe as the Budget Committss- says,