New-York tribune., 1921-01-06

Debt service Including $4.050-
900 for bonus bonds should
the whole amount author
ICED be issued ........... .$17752,a4
Pensions. ............... ........ 476.0e0 90
Rural post roads Federal aid. $3.50, 900. 90
Highways. state aid. includ-
Ing Lowman act........... 4.340. 90
judgments (other than canaD 100 ooo.o 90
support common schools $4,000. 900. 90
Academic otas............ $4,000. 90
Attendance academic pupils. 100, 900. 90
Books. apparatus and stand
ard works OF art......... 100000 90
Non resident tuition. .......... e50000.Oo
state schoa rshi ps .......... 100000. 90
State scholarships, soldiers
and sailors. .......... 100000
\. ships. ...... ;............ 100000
Icachcrs annuities ....... 100000
Rehabilitation physically ham
dicapped persons. .......... 100 600. 90
Canal judgments. .......... 377831323
Construction authorizations In
excess of appropriations. %. 25.o3175o00
when it is considered that that list
includes nothing for highway main
tenancc, for which s7,500,0OO was ap-
propriated last year and $15,O0O,OOO is
requested this year, nothing for the ex-
penses Of government, nothing for state
institutions, normal schools, agricul-
tural and vocational schools and col
leges, it becomes apparent that the
task set cannot be accomplished with
out the most resolute courage, and that
any deviation for personal or political
considerations from what appears to be
sound policy will make the task hope
I less.
From the table last above given it
appears that the revenues have been
mortgaged to the extent Of $25,031 ,750
for so-called authorized construction in
excess Of appropriations. That in
| cludes SS,500,000 requested for the New
York State Bridge and Tunnel Commits
sion. am advised by the State Engi-
neer that only half that sum can be
spent this year, so that it will suffice to
make half that sum Immediately avail
able and to do the like at the next ses-
sion. 1t may be necessary to resort to
that expedient, although that merely
postpones the evil day, as the $8,500,-
600 now requested is only part of the
total appropriation which the state will
ultimately have to make as it share Of
said construction.
Opposes Mortgaging State
Revenues for Big Projects
"That invites attention to what ap-
pears to me to be q pernicious custom
! The habit Of authorizing projects and
making small initial appropriation TO
/ StdIt tHem mas grown until tne states
revenues are mortgagcd as aforesaid
1t is true that that enables more prof.
ects to be started. 1t is also true that
many projects involve q larger appro-
priation than possibly can be spent in
single year. 1t is also true that that
method leads to extravaganza and ere
stes situations like that now confront
ing US. Many projects are thus under
taken without accurate knowledge Of
the ultimsso cost, where with such
knowledge they would not be under
taken at all, or il undertaken, they
would be submitted to the people for
the approval Of bond issue and would
not be financed out OF current revenue,
"The tunnel project is typical. 1t
was started by small appropriation
upon gross underestimate of cost
According TO present estimates it will
cost the state nearly double the amount
requested this yeAr. The cost Of con-
! struction Ia to be repaid from tolls
II was peculiarly a case for submission
10 the people after q careful estimate
Of cost, and II it had been necessary
10 appropriate in single year the
full amount required it would have
been undertaken In no other way. True,
the constitution permits but a single
proposal TO issue bonds to be sub
rnitted at onc time. But that limita-
tlon was doubtless intended as n check