The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-04-12
rv,vs,ow wowry.

An effort is being made in some of the counties in the state to prejudice the voters against those members of the legislature who voted for an amendment submitted by the Governor to . bill providing for further asaist- ance for old soldiers. The truth ought to be known. The bill. before the amendment by the Governor was of ferred, provided for an additional ap- prepristion of s1oo,ooo for each of four years or s4oo.ooo in all. Tn the face of the largest appropriation that was ever known in the States history. and in the face of a reduction in the tax rate of one mill, equivalent to more than $300,- 0e0 a year, the Governor, as was his right, submitted an amendment to the bill providing for the disbursement of $50, ,ooo for each of four years and pro- viding further for $lo0.0o0s additional for the years of 1905 and 1906. This amendment provided that this s1o0.000 additional for two years was to be- paid out if the Governor. on consulta- ton with the Auditor and Treasurer found that it could be done without embarrassing the Treasury. This ad- ditional $1oo.o00 was paid out last year and will be paid out this year, the Treasury's condition being able easily to take care of 1t.
 The Governor merely asked the iegis- lature to allow the vast sum to be paid out if it was on hand. He thought it fair to insist that the members of the legislature. going home for four years, should not make such appropriations as might bankrupt the Treasury and ein- barrass the State officers whom the leg isiators were to leave behind He called attention to the fact that they were not to be absent as heretofore for two years but for four years, and there was new and additional necessity for caution. The members of the legisla- ture recognized the reasonableness or the argument and sustained the aov- ernor's position. The Advertiser does not see how they could have well done otherwise. The amendment protected the State warrants from possible de- preciation and has cost the old soldiers nothing. It may be said in criticism of the members who voted for the amendment that there has been sum- cient money in the Treasury to meet the demands of the bill as originally drawn. This is true. The original amount could have been disbursed without embarrassing the Treasury at all. The Advertiser calls attention however to the fact that every dollar Of the present surplus may be account ed for by the increased income from the Convict Department, which at the time the amendment was prepared was embarking upon unusual and vast ly different plans. No member Of the legislature knew what would be the in- come from the Convict Department and it was reasonable for him, in conduct ing the States. business as he would conduct his own, to act with some cau- tion. Those who did vote to sustain the Governors amendment voted for the full s100,000 in four years if 1t was In the Treasury. Is 1t to be wondered at that the Governor at that time was unwilling to depend on sSoo,0o0 a year increase in the Convict Depart ment on untried plans? Is it to be wondered at that thoughtful members of the legislature were in doubt as to the ability of the State to meet such unusual drafts upon it?
 The last person in the State to com plain of the action of the legislature, and of the Governor in executing the laws, is the deserving cid soldier, and the fact ought not to be lost sight of that the pensioners last year received, and this year will receive from the State four times as much money as they received when the present ad- mlnistration came into office.