The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-10-17
Deficit rhrsatsns the stnt..

a0ODll0 neRtSLer.
 The business methods of the state admin istration and the cost of the administra- tton's policies have been forced into public attention by the treasurers statement for the fiscal year ending September 80. The cash balance at the close of the year was $1.S60,S 1928. being S54s,9Cs less than on the bursefnents for the fiscal year show an in crease of e1, ,112.4 .4s2 over the previous year. and 1t will be remembered that there was several extraordinary items of expencse In the statement issued by the treasurer last year. including $l04.000 for the sessions of the legislature and the cost of unsuccessful litigation against the railroads The penditures in 1907 which 1t was promised would be saved this year totalled S6ss.011, and by deductinE the excess expenditures. charged as unusual. 1t was shown in the report of the auditor that disbursements would be well within the state revenue. The statement was made in Montgomery that on this basis, with predictions of a big in- crease in income from various sources, dur ing the fiscal year of 1907-19oS the state income would be in excess of the outgo. The fact that $54S.sos has been spent dur ing the year in excess of the collections from all sources Is therefore disappointing, more so. because of an increase of $76,440.- 900 in the assessment of taxable property throughout the state during the year
 As the state owes $1.S00.000 to the com mon and normal schools. and as this amount is charged against the money col lected in taxes during the year 1907-lS0s. If the counties draw upon the treasurer at one time the balance in the treasury at the end of September will be insufficient to meet the demand. To the education fund is added $700. 900 due for pensions during the year. making an outstanding obligation of s2.5oo. 900 against the cash balance of $1,360S28.
 With half a million smaller balance than at tho close of the previous fiscal year. and no indication of increased revenue. if the disbursements continue during the com ing year on the same generous scale, the treasury balance will dwindle considerably before September. 1909. There Is new ob Ipaf tO he nnf n annF0nTiatiOn the maintenance of high schools amounting to $l34.0O0.
 that Governor Conner has been alarmed and that he has begun a policy of retrench- ment which. in certain particulars. Is without parallel in the States history. We are told that accounts have been blue-pen- ciled which have heretofore been deemed essential to the proper administration Of the departments and that the retrenchment is beginning to pinch so that protest Is inev- table One correspondent has referred to the governors new policy as frantic econ omy" The term Is not mlsappneu as . | concomitant of the frantic legislation and | frantic policy distinguishing the present state administrator. The economy com l Confederate Veterans pensions were cut. in the last quarter from $l3.50 to $5. The
 Register had letter from the state au- | isIature had left the increase in pensions | voted at the last session optional with the administration. according to the funds |
 l campaign attachment Governor Conner had l for the old soldiers and the frequency with ] which the state benefaction was mentioned | for their delectation. pension reduction 1 might have been expected to be last re- l source in effecting economy The old | soldiers were given to understand. that with | a better financial prospect. they would Dc | given the full amount Of their pensions un- | der the new scale. in the coming year. Al | the financial prospect Is hazier than ever
 there Is small hope that the promise VII | be redeemed. -,..,... | As the dauntless champion of education | Governor Conner has quietly and unobtrus | iveIv conducted A campaign In all counties | thaf have become beneficiaries of the high | school appropriation. which both friend | and opponeuts believe discloses an ambition | Id represent Alabama in the United State l senate The Governor has lost no oppor
 tunitv at the high -school love foests to tel
 The :romuon people" how cloae he is t
 them: how the boys and the glrls or eAn' | Mountain and other rural environment
 must be given the same opportunities as tn
 boys and girls in the cities The soVerno
 has got the country communities so euuch
 tional1y expectant and so keen Tor hikhe
 mathematics and Greek and trigononnetr'
 that 1t would be little short of a calainlt
 to his senatorial aspirations If anythin
 happened to scotch the wheels or the eou
 cational machine. Therefore there can D
 no economy along this line; the fu
 nroRrarn must be carried out In n
 meantime expenditures will absoro N tn
 state revenue. and something over the stat
 Tevenue If is the governors problem an
 the governor has the task or soIVhb