Pocahontas star herald., 1912-09-27
Jeff Davis and State Finances

state government should be cut IN
Lwo.
We trust Senator Davis will not
stop At a mere statement that the
states expenses should be halyrd,
bat will take pencil and paper and
show how that can be done, II 10
can be donc-aud remember that
this statement was publicly made by
a man who was governor for six
years-the deficit in general rev.
enue fund can be wiped out aud
taxation can be reduced besides
: We don't doubt that Governor'elect
Joe L. Robinson would be under
lasting Obligation to Senator DAVIS
IL the senator would furnish detailed
information as to how the expenses
OF the state may be cut in two.
We extend the use of our columns
aud hope Senator Davis will show
the people how the state may get
along with only half as much money
aslt is nov spending. We have
not in the past always been able to
agree with Senator DAVIS as to
state finances aud we should be de.
lighted to have him convince US
that he is right as to the practica'
bleness OF reducing state expenses
by one-balf.
In 1905 aud 1906 Governor Davis
said in speeches be delivered in his
first campaign for the United States
senate:
"My fellow citizens, when | be
came your governor five years ago
how much was the state of Arkan'
sas indebted, how much did you
owe IN valid outstanding indebted
ness? You owed s64, 900. How much
do you owe today? Ah, my fellow
citizens, am proud to say that you
do not owe one dollar; that you do
not owe one penny; that the entire
debt of the state during my admin.
istration has been wiped out. This
has been my highest aspiration; it
has been one of my highest ambi.
tions that when | left the governors
Office Ishould leave my state abso
lutely free from indebtedness"
Sixty.four thousand dollars in
bouds was taken up during Governor
Davis administration, but Governor
Davis seemed wholly to overlook
the fact that when he became gov.
ernor Arkansas had another bonded
Indebtedness of 81, $50, 800. The
state had this same 81 $50, 800 of
outstanding bonds when Governor
Davis left the executive Office aud
still has.
Governor Davis said further in
his campaign speeches in 1905 and
1906:
'Gentlemen, l want to say to you
today that we have IN the state
treasury in money and securities
convertible into cash $2,s55, ,OO0.
This confuses my enemies; this puts
them to flight"
Governor Davis enemies have
been confused, but hardly more
than Governor Davis himself was
confused. For one thing, he appar.
emily erroneoisly counted into cash,
l,25O, SOC of state bonds in the
school fund-a debt of the state, of
course, on which the taxpayers pay
interest every year; and $sG2, ,si5
(at that time) IN interest coupons at.
taehed to those bonds, which Of
course must be paid with the tax.
payers money. The fact was that
the state treasury was already head.
ed for adefcit. Auditor Avery
Moore estimated il his official re
port made IN the fall Of 1906, that
there would he deficit in the state
treasury of $lOG, ,49g ~ on June 30,
1907.
In his speeches in his first sena.
torial campaign Governor DAVIS al
so sand:
"We have enough money in the
state treasury to defray its expenses
without state taxation.
81 say to you today that we do
not need the vast suus of uooov