The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-04-13
JAIL TERMS FOR
 EXCEEDING BUDGETS


 l of only s20. .5OO,00O which means an operating deficit of $4,50O,00o for the l period rom June 1921 to June 1925.
 The President of the Connecticut l Chamber of Commerce Sydney Bull lard, when asked about the dinner by l a Times man said: ''Yes I was there l and presided. It was generally un- | derstood by those present that the | discussion of State finances which l took place was strictly confidential | and it will not be possible for me to comment on it more than to say that it was an inspiring affair not only be- l cause of the cooperation evidenced 1 but also to find the State finances in such good hands.
 l 'The conference last night marks a | great step forward and one of the | any State Government for it was the | first instance of those in charge of State finances meeting the representa- tives of the States business for a frank, open, face to face discussion | of the States financial matters | Jail sentences and fines of S1,000 each were suggested for those who fail to keep strictly within the sta ute in expending apPropriations and the limiting of the authority of the state board of control in making deficiency appropriations to 10 per cent. over the original grant was ad vised.
 The recommendations were signed 1 by a committee consisting of Presi- dent Edmund s. Wolfe of the First National Bank of Bridgeport. chair man; President Morgan G. Bulkeley of the Aetna Life Ins. Co.,, Cashier F, | S. Chamberlain Of the New Britain National Bank, President John O. | Enders of the United States Bank, Proprietor John Day Jackson of the New Haven Register; President John T. Mason of the First National Bank of New Haven: President A. G. Me | Ilwaine, Jr., of the Orient Ins. O.; President Harry A. Smith of the Ma tional Fire Ins Co; Howell Cheney Hf Cheney Brothers, Manchester; H. Pierson Hammond ,actuary of the | Travellers Ins. Co.,; Percy Rothwel of 1 Eadfeld & Rothwell, certified public accountants and Stanley H. Bu1lard. vice-president of the Bullard Machine Tool Company of Bridgeport and | officio.
 The recommendations follow: ''The financial condition of the state 1 calls for prompt and effective treat available to the state chaRber of | commerce should be used to make l effective the following desired reme- | dies:
 agency within it's control, practice l the strictest economy in all eXpen- ditures, and that every effort be | made to have our state, as such. live
  should be a general revision of all | budgets previously submitted by the several state departments and instf- | tutio-i5 to meet present day costs in l plies and equipment of whatever na- | ture, as well as labor.
 ''2. That ..every state commission, institution and board keep strictly within the law creating them and limiting the scope of their activities. Undoubtedly deficits heretofore ere ated are directly attributable to many of our state institutions going beyond the purpose for which they were created The determination of the scope of their work is, of course one of state policy and it is urged that this be one of contraction and strict adherence to the original pur- pose of their creation, rather than one of expansion. The only cure for the situation when organizations will not keep within the prescribed bounds is to cut off appropriations for their maintenance, or a removal of their managers and directors, these to be replaced by those who will ob- serve both the letter and spirit of the law.
 Legal Accountability "3. That all state organ cations ot the statute in expanding appropria- tions granted them, and that their disbursement be limited only to thost: funds made available by the General
 
 ly, Section 5S of the General Statutes of Connecticut, Revision of 1918 pro- yedes legal accountability for those this method in handling their funds Limit on Control Hoard. A. That there should be a limit placed on the authority of the state board of control to allow deficiency appropria tions The discretionary authority now in the hands of this board amounts to veto power over the acts of the General Assembly. as they may, at will, permit over-expen- ditures in any amount in excess of appropriations. It would seem that the state board of control should not appropriation of more than 10 per cent. over the original grant.
 D. According to the report of the state comptroller for the year ending date was $2,127,742. 52. The gross funded debt of the state was S14291,- 900, and the amount of cash on hand and bonds in the sinking fund and the state board of control, s12.163,- 357.4s. In view of the exceedingly high credit of the state. and our com paratively low net debt, it is suggest ed that there be no appropriations for the sinking fund for the next two years. There can be no question of the desirability of promptly cancel Hest moment and it should be un- derstood that the waiving of appropria.- tions for the sinking fund is but a temporary eypedient to aid in our present unusual situation.
 Consolidation of Commissions
 "6. That there be a consolidation of bureaus, boards, commissions and activities wherever possible without destroying the efficiency and present needs or said agencies, and that the powers and duties of the com ptroller be enlarged so that he shall be charged with the supervision of tn agencies A special duty should be to insure that all expenditures under appropri- ations of every character. be kept strictly within the funds available and that disbursements of every kin6 be through said office, and only after approval by him.
 "7 That instead of creating new boards and commissions to take care of new matters, no matter how es