New-York tribune., 1921-05-09
l8 Millions Cut
From Cost Of
Running State
Legislature Effected Saving
Without Harn TO Proper
Provision for All Needs
of Year, Miller Declares
Signs Appropriation Act
Taxes Can BE Reduced Only
by Similar Economy in
Local Rule, Governor Says

Governor Miller, in approving AS
sembly bill Introductory No. 1854,
printed No. 2,ol0, points out that
seduction OF more than Sis,oo0,ooo in
the cost Of government was effected
this year and gives the Legislature
credit for putting stop to the mount
ing expenditures which, he said, had
assumed alarming proportions. The
Governors statement, in approving
the measure, was made public at
Albany.
The bill is entitled:
IAN act making appropriations for
the support of government in addition
TO those provided by Chapter l7s, of
the Laws of 1872, and including provis-
ions relating to certain appropriations
made by such chapter"
Although the cost of running the
states business was cut. the Governor
declares that adequate provision was
state economically administered and
every known obligation was met.
More Room for States Wards
"The building program authorized
for the institutions" he said, "will in
which has been the result of the in
adequate provision in prior years.
Provision was made for Barge canal
terminals which, if continued without
resort to bond issue, will complete.
that work as rapidly as it can be done
economically, or as the demands of
shipping are likely to require. Five
million dollars, all that can be ex-
pended this year, was appropriated for
the New York-New Jersey vehicular
tunnel. Other needed public works
were provided for.
The appropriations, including minor
ones not yet acted upon, total $780,
752,2S366. The budget requests sub
nlitted to the Legislature amounted to
S201 ,644, ,2S2.43. That reduction, great as
ltis,does not tell the whole story. Moth
ing was included in the budget re-
ests for debt service on account of
the soldiers bonus bonds to be is
sued, for which an appropriation cf
Sl,125,00O was made. Besides. as is
always the case, number of appro-
priations not included in the ludget
were necessary. Those amounted to
the actual appropriations in addition
thereto. found necessary as aforesaid,
we have grand total of $207, 1896, ,838.04
and thus reduction of $71 ,638, ,654.38.
That result was made possible by the
painstaking work of the respective
ehatrmen of the Finance Committee of
the Senate and the Ways and Means
Committee of the Assembly and to
their rigid adherence to stated rules,
uninfiuenced by any personal con-
sideratlons whatsoever.
THE appropriations last year
amounted to S145, ,21s, ,906.6o. A reduc-
tion OF $9,467,627.94 in actual appro-
priations was thus effected, but again
that fails TO tell the story. It was
founds necessary to make deficiency
appropriations of SIC, 6,773.57, as
compared with S6,632, ,649.63 Of similar
appropriations for the prior wear.
Moreover, the unusual and unexpected
requirements, including deficiencies
called for appropriations which were
made totalling S17,502, ,87S.34, which
was partially offset by decrease Of
4,108 ,299.92 in debt. service, leaving
balance of $13, 1894, ,578.42 to the
credit of this years work, rs compared
with last.
Puts Saving at $1s,000,000
Making every allowance in favor
of the prior year for the purpose of
comparison, it is conservative to saw
that a reduction of more than S18,0o0,-
600 in the cost of government was ef-
fected this year"
Governor Miller said that the people
of the state need not expect marked
reduction in their tax bills unie the
local governments practice the econ
omy which has been inaugurated in
the state government
ut is now in order" the Governors
statement concludes, "to make more
careful survey of the states activities
than has as yet been possible, and
while we may expect the inevitable in
cceaSeS in, the cost of syoyerpp,ar+ 49,
hope is that the business of the state
may be put on such q sound basis that
save for extraordinary and unusual re.
quirements, the cost of government
may be kept within q reasonable per
capita sum- S'A