Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1912-07-05
GOVERNOR SILENT
 ON THE I. J. BILL
SAID NE WOULD STAND OR FALL WITH HIS PET MEASURE BUT HAS MADE NO STATE
 MENT SINCE DEFEAT.
Author of the Bill Still Urges Ap- pr0yal-What Governor RObin-
 son Will Force,

son Will Force.
 l Little Rock, July 3.-There is much speculation as to the course. Cover nor Donaghey will pursue in regard to the T.-J. bill in the ensuing cam- paign. AS is well known, he amour ced that he would stand or fall with the bill,' and it is also historic fact that his fall was most tremen- dous. Since the election he has made no statement concerning his favorite measure for the revision of the taxa tion system, and has declined, at this time, to state his position.
 That there will be advocates of the measure, however, is certain. One of it's authors, Senator Charles Jacob son, of Little Rock, will deliver an address at Bigelow, Perry county, on the Fourth in which he will make an argument ill favor of the measure which is now being printed in every county of the state at a cost of $44 900. He contends that the act is mis- understood or wilfully misinterpreted by it's opponents, and that it is most important act for an equitable ad- justment of the assessments and tax rates of the state: also, that it will shift the burden of taxation from the poor man to the rich corporations where it justly belongs.
 It is admitted by all that Governor Robinson will find himself confronted with a most serious problem when he assumes the governors chair. He will have not only a depleted treas ury but deficit of anything up to a million dollars. A loan to cover the deficit and an increase in the tax rate are plans tentatively proposed to meet the situation.
 It cannot be denied that all the trouble began when Governor Davis brought about reduction of the gen. eral revenue rate from 1-2 mills to i 3-4 mills, and thereby gained the approval of thousands for his inter- est in behalf of the people. The peo- pie saved a few dollars in taxes, but the state has been getting deeper in debt every yeaer since then, until now it's finances are in most deplofahle condition. Even Governor Donagheys sweeping vetoes of appropriation, many of them most important, could not save the state from going on a scrip basis for the first time since the war. But when Governor Robinson attempts to put the rate back to the point from which Governor Davis lowered it, he will find that it is diff ficult for the people to reconcile rate raising with their views of conserving the interests of the people But more revenue he must have, and how else will he get it? The increasing de- mands of the state government more Ethan absorb the natural increase in taxation, even with the operations of the Tax Commission.
 Governor Robinson favors the bud get system whereby the expenses o1 the state can be held within the limit of it's revenues. This was suggested in the last legislature, but nothing came of it. He will also favor a strict economy of resources, and the probable consolidation of some offices and the possible abolition of some. It is a question whether he will rec ommend the present continuation or all four agricultural schools, and It is expected that he will recommend the consolidation of the Tax Commls- sion and Railroad Commission.