The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-09-23

finances and OF private industry, caused
ia part by the fatuous policy OF court
ing popularity pursued by those charged
with the responsibility for the admins
tration of the public business. The first
task, the obvious task. the Imperative
task. was to restore order; and order
is steadily, but surely emerging from
chos at Washington, under the guild
ing and steadying hand OF President
Harding.
Staggering Under Taxation.
In this state, on smaller scale and
with less stupendous problems. we have
been striving 10 accomplish the same
task. We have been and still are
staggering under burden of taxation.
State and Federal. which is drying UP
the sources OF revenue and diverting
capital from the needs of industry.
That excessive burden Of taxation has
not been due wholly to the war. 1t has
been caused in part by laxness and ex-
travagaNce In administration, no doubt
stimulated by war conditions. and in
still larger part by a constantly in
creasing demand for the extension OF
Government activities, which those in
responsible position have not had the
courage or the disposition to resist.
This increasing and unresisted ten
dency to demand more and more OF
government is shown by the startling in
crease in the requests for appropriations
In recent years. In 1919 the so-called
budget requests were roughly $4,000
600, and the appropriations for that year
were almost as much. In 1920 tho re-
quests jumped to Sal, 100000 and the
appropriations to $f45, 500, 600, or 81 ,00o.-
900 more than the budget requests.
I'm the campaign last year we prom
lsed the people to put a stop to the
mounting cost Of government The ap-
preparations this year we're $4,000, 600
less than those of last year, and $780,
100000 less than the requests, and
strongly incline TO think that the present
policy is now sutfici entity understood SO
that department heads will base their
requests for next year on their needs
rather than their ability TO spend.
ION January | we found that the
extent that the appropriations were $780,
600, 900 in excess Of the estimated cur
rent revenues, and even with the drastic
pruning of last winter the appropriations
for this year are still s10,000.0o0 in ex-
cess OF such revenues.
"Reyenucs to Re CUT
1--WE are now facing period OF lean
revenues. because the three great
sources of the States revenue, corpora
ton taxes. personal income taxes and
inheritance taxes, will largely be based
next year on the reduced earnings and
values OF this year, and it is difficult
now accurately to forecast the extent
of such reductions
Fortunately. the revenues Tor the
fiscal year ending June so were larger
than the estimates. and we did not spend
all OF the appropriations: so that we
had a larger surplus TO begin the fiscal
year on July first than was anticipated.
AS I appraise our situation. that sur
plus will tide us over the lean period
ahead and enable us, without seeking
new revenues, IL we live within our
means, to put the business Of the state
on a sound financial basis, which means
that outgo must not exceed income.
"Our psople are suffering from the
stagnation OF business, and one or the
potent causes OF our distress ls our
burdensome, cumbersome and excessive
taxation 1t is unthinkable that at such
a time those burdens should be in
creased It Is imperative that they be
euualized and reduced, and governmer-
can 90 nothing which will more directly
contribute to the welfare OF all the
people than TO relieve tlrem of burden
some and necessary taxation and
equtably to distribute the tax burden.
Improvement I'm ,lficlency."
1--WE are confronted with the prob
lem OF unemployment. We cannot solvs
that problem by placing additional bur-
dens on industry. Nothing but the revi-
val oil business can afford permanent
relief. and 1t should therefore be the
chief effort OF the State to remove every
obstacle that IL cen from such rcsunlp-
ton. No higher service can be rendered
all the people than to reduce and equal
ize the burdens OF taxation, and no
greater disse-vice than to increase them
or to continue the present unscientific
methods OF taxation
our opponents have charged that the
economies so far effected have not been
real, and that they have impaired the
public service. I assert, on the con-
trary that there has been a marked i'm
provement in tho efficiency OF every
department of the public service. and I
leave that question to the judgment ~
those under whose eyes the various ac-
tivities OF the State are being con-
Quoted"
Gov. Miller insisted that his point was
proved by the Department OF Public
Norks-which, with 100000 less of ap-
preparation than formerly. was main
tanning the Barge Canal SO that il could
be operated twenty-four hours a day
by the Tax and Highways Department
and In the administration OF the naval
and military affairs of the State. IN
jurod worLmen, he declared. were being
compensated more expeditiously than al
any time since the compensation law
was passed. and the wards OF the State