Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-01-06

This does not include receipts from |
saie of bonds. but I'm the item of ex~
penditures the expenses of the rnk-
ing fund for payment Of bonds IN In
cluded.
May / call special attention to these
fisureH. There has been given con
siderable publicity during the past few
months to tho incorrect statement that
the State hnd deficit In Its running
expenses You will note here that for
each and every year there has been a
net gain. To-day, I'm spite of the fact
that f5s0 900 was taken from the gen
erai fund for schools. there Will be q
net gain for this year OF S3al.b1eHl
The net balance in the treasury to-
day is larger than ever In tho history
of the State. being about sf.700,o0D.
At the beginning Of this administration
you will note n balance OF fl94.106.5s.
Here shows an increase of sf.b06,se4.
I'm view OF the appropriations made
for increased State activities and tho
costs incident To the war. the State
treasurer's report of our finances GER
tainly give confidence I'm the continua-
| ton of tho States work. / recite this,
knowing thnt you and the public Will
be glad To accept this correction. which
shows that the State To date Ia more
than meeting it's financial obligations.
THE interest paid on bank deposits
INTEREST IN BANK DEPOSITS
| In the Farmers Bank has added inter
esting figures to the State revenue.
| The amount received during tho last
| two years has been s7s24e.e5.
GIFTS BY CITIZENS.
AN interesting item i'm the story
of the State finances liz the amount Of
money contributed by private citizens
To public services. To roads. educa-
/ ton. child welfare. office publicity by
the State Program. Feeble Minded
/ Farm the total reaches over 100000
Compare this with the total receipts
! from all SOURCES of revenue In the
| State and you will begin To sense the
appreciation that should be ours. For
a State TO be thus proportionately as
sisted In aervice To Its citizens no
other commonwealth can compare.
| There liz here. gentlemen, need for a
gratitude that challenges expression.
And there is. too. an obligation for us
| To seriously consider, that we be not
| led into civic ease expecting our fu-
| ture needs TO come Without effort.
This Is said only that we may guard
| ieaiously our full responsibility.
| THE BUDGET LAW.
J have always advocated a budget
|
| growth of sentiment favoring H. You
win have such a bill presented 10 you
bv tho Survey Commission. which. rap-
| resenting, as II does. the best of the
| several States systems. will 20 far to-
ward clarifying the finance problems ~
this State and give the public the
knowledge II should have
j .fRut Il must not be assumed that
the enactment Of budget law and the
installation of a budget system would
rnaptcaIly solve the States financial
and business problems. Any such ss-
sumption would be expecting the i'm
possible of the budget system. good
good budget law. backed by public SEN
tinent and given sincere support Dy
tho legislative branch OF government,
will furnish an accurate photograph Of
tho revenues and expenditures Of the
state. II will Unable the General As
aembly and the public to know the
source and the exact amount Of every
| cent OF state revenue and the disposa-
ton and purpose Of every cent OF pub
lie expenditures. But by and IN IT.
self I. cannot increase revenues or de-
crease expenditures. II cannot auto
uatfcaIiy compel the orderly and eco
nornical conduct Of any office or de-
nartrnent. II can and viii Indicate
! where there Is waste. uuA IL C<iiiAlOA VI
itself eliminate that waste. II can and
will exhibit a danger signal warning
the General Assembly and the public
of unwarranted' and eItravagant ex-
pend,tures, but IL cannot prevent the
General Assembly from authorizing
such expenditures or the public from
approving them.
THE State of Delaware needs good
budget law conscientiously observed
hut the installation of such system
ia only one OF many business methods
which should be employed by the State
In addition to a budget system, and
) of equal importance and need. there
should be the introduction and observ-
ance of everyday business methods ano
practices in the state administrative
ofnces. business methods and practices
IN handling state supplies. in keeping
books and records. in keeping track OF
the States property and payroll. in
auditing of accounts and transactions
in collection of fees, licenses. taxes and
other revenue and in all routine duties
. and performances. In addition TO any
budget system, and OF equal import
} ance. the State needs a wedding out
of needless boards and commissions, {
} return to the older and purer idea o.
i. democracy and representative govern
ment that there must be centraliza
: ton of authority and work because
only in that way can the people know
: to whom to look for results and whom
i. they shall hold responsible for lacl
, of results. Our existing multiplicity
: of boards, commissions and bureau!
5 has dissipated not only our public
| funds but our official strength, author
l | ity and responsibility and has hamp
| cred or prevented the proper functions
: | of government and the Accomplishment
t of public good which the people hav'
1 a right to eexpect.
: BOARD OF STATE TAX CONMIS
SIONS.
'"The tax problem is the eternal
/ question. Just now IL is the donlinat
ing and most urgent problem troubling
every civilized nation. 1t is the great
est problem confronting our Fedora
government. Certainly IL Is the prob
lem TO which Delaware must immedi
ateIy give the most serious attention
Fortunate in the enjoyment OF larg
: revenues from fees charged corpora
tions obtaining charters under on
!, laws the State has been lulled into
false sense of security from the dange
of insufficient revenues Consequent
our citizens have not given the sub1ec
!, of State revenues the study the
= should. But the hour has arrived whel
they must awaken and take counse
together regarding the states taxa