Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1897-02-19

attention TO the fact that the revenues of
the state were in d bad condition, and that
a grave necessity existed for action on your
part to swell the receipts of the general
fund. A recent communication from the
state treasurer, the Hon. Kirk G.. Phillips,
contains the information that there will he
a deficit in the general fund of the state,
amounting between now and the
first day of June to $685. 600. On
the first day of April emer-
gency warrants amounting to S103,O 700,
principal and interest will fall due. The
current expenses of the state between now
and April I. Mr.. Phillips estimates as fol-
lows:
January $1,000
SI,UUO
Estimated cost Of legislature S 1900
Total s971 900
This must be met in some manner on or be-
fore the LIST of April. He does not include
in this estimate a dollar of deficiency ap-
preparations which are usually passed, if
at all. with h emergency clause attached
calling for immediate payment. To meet
these expenses Mr.. Phillips estimates the
receipts of the general fund for the month
of March at $4,000. There is now on hand
approximately S6S, 600 in the general fund.
The treasurer recommends that $4,000
in the deficiency fund, S6,847 taxes re-
ceived from express companies, $138 in the
railroad commission fund, $l,3A sleeping
car taxes collected, $3,O51.49 settlement
of accounts with North Dakota, and
1884, balance on hand in the Taylor
account be added TO the general fund,
which would make the total of available
cash on hand and receipts to the LIST of
April approximately $lS4,OOO, or nearly
100000 short of enough to meet the obi
cations against the general fund. which
will fall due within the period referred to.
The estimated expenditures for the months
of April, May and June are $93, 900. 1t will
be seen that the general running expenses
of the state on the basis of past appropria-
tons approximate $3l. 900 per month. The
treasurer estimates that the receipts of
taxes for the month of June to the general
fund will be $4,000, SO that it will be seen
that after calculating upon all the available
sources of revenue and consolidating with
the general fund all of the other funds
heretofore enumerated the general fund of
the state will still be in the neighborhood
of $l6S, 900 short.
1t is not the desire of this administra-
" W iSouO auS CuuGlSSiCy lhpct.
A business administration has been
promised to the overburdened taxpayers.
To issue emergency or revenue warrants
while there yet remains any source from
which this money may be supplied would
not be considered good business practice
by the people who have chosen us to rep.
resent them. With an opportunity to place
our treasury upon a sound financial basis
and the necessity which exists for such ac-
ton, l believe the legislature will apprc-
ciate its full duty and exert every means to
perform it. This emergency must be met
by an addition to our Appro-
priations for the absolute requirements of
our state institutions are now SO low that
no cut can be made without impairing their
usefulness. I hope, therefore. the %lcgisla-
ture will not make the mistake of UNDER
taking to meet an e%xigency requiring more
revenue by a misguided effort to retrench
where further retrenchment would require
the closing of some of our public institu-
tons. This should be the effort of all, re-
CARELESS of party affiliations, for the duty
is incumbent upon every member to so leg
islate that we may be provided with the
money necessary for the proper mainte-
nance of Our state government. Respect
fully submitted, ANDREW F.. LEE,
Governor of South Dakota.