The New York herald., 1922-01-05

When political JOY riders get a
chance to spend the public's money
they never fail to spend all that is
appropriated for them to spend.
They do not stop there. If any unex-
pected revenue comes in they wade
through that, counting on getting
special deficiency appropriations
later to cover their overspendings.
Whether revenues come in above or
below the estimates, they overspend
Just the same.
But Governor MILLER's business
administration of the State of New
York has different story to tell. 1t
set out to save, not to sQuander, and,
az the Governor shows in his annual
message, it mere than made good.
The State Treasury receipts for the
last fiscal year were s17,5S4, ,16S.04
more than had been estimated. This
was an accident for which no credit
belongs to the Miller administration.
But the excess was not spent as 1t
might have been in the Miller half
year to June 80. The actual expendi.
lures and adjustments, on the con-
trary, were $7,2S3,314 lower than had
been estimated The result Of that
kind of business management was
that there piled up for the year a
surplus of s24.867,4So more than the
administration had estimated on Jan
uary l.. 1921, with the total surplus
run up on June 80 to s43,613,o77.
For the fiscal year ending next
June the estimated receipts will be
down from actual receipts Of s147,-
0o0, 900 last year to S122.000, 900. The
big surplus which 1T is not just to
the taxpayers to accumulate . 4. in
the present period OF lean resources"
will be used in part to make up
the difference between the lowered
revenues and appropriations. II
the matter works out as the State
administration plans there will still
be left at the end OF next June very
comfortable surplus of more than
$22, 900, 900.
Governor MILLER wants the appro-
priations and the expenditures for
the next fiscal year to be SO sharply
reduced that still less revenue will
be required. Less revenue required
means, Of course, less drain on the
public which must provide tho money.
IL the appropriations can be held
down within $125 100000 this year,
the Governor says. 1t will be neces-
sary to levy direct tax of only s12.-
100000 TO take care of public debt
charges which under the Constitution
must be met in that way. This
would relieve real estate OF burden
OF s22.500,000 to he raised By direct
tax for teachers salaries. as the re.
duced revenue from the corporation,
income. inheritance. stock transfer,
automobile taxes, &C., would amount
to s37,00o.0o0, which with the
So, 100000 surplus would be enough.
To what actual minimum the ap-
Lropriations can be held down for
the fiscal year ending June go, 1929.
Governor MILLER Is not yet sure, as
the newly created Board OF Estimate
and Control had not completed Its
work before the departments made
UP their requests for submission to
the Legislature. But these depart.
mcnt requests are down from nearly
$202, 100000 last year TO s145,000, 600
this year. and this, rs the Governor
says. 'is the best evidence of the
new spirit which pervades the ad.
ministratlon and demonstrates that,
Notwithstanding the drastic reduc.
tons made last year, the actual
needs of the State were amply pre-.
vided for"
And the griu work OF continuing
the drastic reductions NV: l., on
until the state expenditures get back
TO rational basis for taxpayers.
direct and indirect, to meet.