The Lamar register., 1912-05-01
DEMOCRATIC ExTRAvAGANCE
State Schools Must DO Without
Sevanty-five Per Cent Of Their
Money

cash from the present state offi-
cials. With seventy-five per cent
of the third class appropriations
now due, the officials have only
paid twenty-five per cent. Thurs
day the heads of the various insti-
tutions secretly gathered and then
swooped down on the capitol and
demanded a showdown. They got
il. Treasurer Kenehan told them
that because of the first class ap-
propriations, which are payrolls and
incidentals, he was already fourteen
thousand dollars in the hole for
the period after having paid twen-
ty-five per cent to the third class.
In other words the first and sec
ond classes together with the twen-
tyfive per cent now paid ON the
third class totals fourteen thou
sand dollars more than is in sight
for the entire period. Governor
Shafroth and Auditor Leddy tried
to convince the treasurer he was
wrong. but he would not be con-
vinced. The representatives of
the institutions were compelled to
return home without any money,
or any promises of any further
money. At the present time a lit
tie over one hundred and ninety
eight thousand dollars is tied up
in lawsuits because of inefficient
democratic legislation, in enacting
the appropriations. II the court
holds that none of these appro-
priations need be paid. the third
class institutions will receive an
other twenty-five per cent. If the
court holds that these appropria-
tions must be paid. the third-class
institutions have received their
limit. In this connection 1t should
not be forgotten that the total first
class appropriation under the bien-
NAL period which means payroll
and incidentals is $1,692.3O7.S5 as
against an approximate first class
appropriation of $$800.OOO under
Governor Buchtel. As state treas
urer Kenehan ably said. "If Gov
ernor ShafrOth had held his pay
roll to the Buchtel payroll we
could have paid within seven per
cent of every obligation"
Considerable wonder Is occas-
ioned from the fact the present,
or for that matter, any admins
tration of state affairs can give
no adequate statement as to fin
ances at any time. In the case of
the present administration tn,
trouble is purely overappropria-
ton. When the legislature met
State Treasurer Kenehan estimat-
ed that the revenues for the per-
iod would be a little over three
million dollars. The legislature
appropriated nearly SO per cent
above that amount and the reve-
nues will hardly reach the esti-
mate. Few people understand just
when these. revenues are collected.
The facts are, they are collected
one year after they are expended
with the exception of the funds
that are derived over the counters
in the various state offices which
collect fees for certain kinds OF
work. To illustrate: The asses
sors of the state value the prop
erty of the state this spring. Lat
er in the year the state auditing
board will meet and place the A.
mill levy against that property to
be used for state purposes. The
county officials will collect that
4-mill levy next year and send II
to the state treasurer. In the mean
time the Officials at the state
house have been spending that mon
ey. This years salaries are paid
out OF that money, but 1t must be
done on a borrowing system. The
state auditor issues a warrant
against the 1912 revenues. The
state treasurer will have NO 1914