The evening world., 1921-01-06
Gov. MILLER'S MESSAGE.


cutting down State expenditures constitutes the
bulk Of Gov. Miler's first nessas, TO the Lcgis-
lature.
Gov. Smiths demands for new checks on the
spending Of taxpayers money were not in vain.
A Republican Governor now sets out TO go Gov.
Smith one better by urging upon Republican Leg
stature plans for reuenchment calculated to make
Il withe.
The message as whole should be read in the
light of certain unacceptable figures and fa1S to
which It points at the outset,
The estimated revenues Of the State tOs The fiscal
year beginning July I, 1921, plus the surplus it is
exrected to have on hand at that date, amount in
round numbers to Si4o,oOO,ooo.
Il a rate Of appropriation and expenditure ex-
ceelng these estimated resources Of si4o,oOoooo-
and requested appropriations totaling S2o 100000
have already. been tabulated by the Legislative
Budget Committees kept up the only way out
will be increased taxation.
In the last five years The per capita cost of the
State Government has more than doubled Between
To avert heavier taxes and put a stop to this
reckless upward leap of the cost of government,
some definite, drastic policy must be adopted,
In Gov Miller's view, the best start the State
can make on such policy is to live within its
100000 income for the coming fiscal year
To keep within that income he would pare down
department estimates to The quick; he would permit
no salary increases; instead of making new posi-
ions, he would eliminate present useless ones; he
would have no appropriation bills passed that would
necsssRate additional taxation.
In the interest Of permanent State economy, he
would do away With the Excise Department, the
present Tax Commission, the Military Training
Commission, the Department Of Narcotic Drug
Control, the Board of Port Wardens and the State
Printing Board-vestng snch Of these functions as
may be essential in other authorities by which they
could be more economically exercised
He would create Tax Department and an In
dustrial Commission, each with single head he
would consolidate all tax collecting agencies; he
would establish State Board of Estimate and Con-
the Ways and Means Committee Of the Assembly
and the Finance Committee of the Senate and the
Stale Conptroller giving this board budget staff
and general supervision over all State spending
activities.
From the point of view of the old-time legislator
and office-hoIder two recommendations of the
Governor are little short of revolutionary:
lie would have no new undertakings authorized
unless their cost is counted and provision made for
financing them at the same time
He would have the head Of Stale department
run it within the appropriation instead of using up
the appropriation the first half year. expecting the
Legislature to supply the deficiency to run the de-
pariment the last part Of the year rather than close
Il down"
This would totally upset the old comfortable
theory that whatever the deficit, the taxpayer IS
always there to make good.
More Of the Governors insight into present con-
ditcns is evident in his suggestion that "aPpropna-
tiAns for maintenance be based on the present trend
of prices instead of the high prices prevailing when
the requests were formulated"
Taking the State Of New York as a business con-
cera to be run IL the interest Of its taxpayers, what
would any business executive prescribe for it at the
present time?
Gov. Miller has answered that question with
courage, practicality and no little detail
He viii have a lough job getting the Legislature
TO cooperate with him,