The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1912-03-09
GOVERNOR ISSUES STATEMENT
Says His Message Recommending
Course of Action Was Not
Needed By Legislators

tine PRESS
"Itisa condition and not o theory
which confronts the people of Nevada.
Time will speedily tell whether / am
right or the opponents Of my admins
tration.
elm my message to the special session
of the Legislature I made it clear that
more than the borrowing Of 9 sum OF
money to tide over the present deficit
in the General Fund was required for
the business welfare of the State. That
the future must be looked out for, else
we could anticipate q situation which
would be beyond legislative remedy
without involving endorsements TO
every State institution.
"I showed that the General Fund for
three years had been running behind
over $3.50. 900 per year; why it was run
ming behind, and what steps must be
taken to get the State back on q sound
basis. The Senate met my showing by
rushing through q bill decreasing, in
stead of increasing, the General Fund
a direct issue with my recommendation.
Il was fually amended by the Assembly
leaving the General Fund unchanged.
as against the showing l presented that
| the General Fund must be increased
from 1916 cents to at least 80 cents on
each one hundred dollars valuation of
taxable property.
"Iu q letter to the Ways and Means
committee. / showed how, without in-
creasing the State Tax rate, but by
funding the present outstanding indebt-
edness into a new State loan and pro-
viding during the next three years.
while we are restoring the General
Fund to a normal basis and providing
ways and means for an exhibit at the
Pan.Pacihc Exposition, merely for the
interest on the loan, and not until 1915
beginning the redemption of the princi-
pal, that 4 z cent of the 6 cents o ap-
piled to the interest and redemption OF
the old and new loan could be added to
the General Fund and become q part
OF the increase reQulreu.
~ make no pretense of infallibility.
Possibly my conten ion is incorrect that
the State is already in sight of breakers
ahead. Possibly the Legislature, in its
wisdom, on the other hand is correct
and hat there are no endorsements
in store for as. Time will speedily tell.
eff when another year comes about
and the condition of the General Fund
is such that injurious re~trenchment has
to be resorted to, effectipg every State
institution, as vel. as every State Office
and commission. even after exercising
our borrowing power up to the $500, 600
limit, / beg the people of Nevada TO
believe that the responsibility does not
rest upon myself.
"The reform of the State taxation
system, which I proposed, met with like
fate; certain members succeeding, IN
it's two presentations, in getting them
selves recorded on both sides of 1t.
Possibly the bill is a joke; but l believe
the taxpayers of Nevada will not find it
so when they give 1t study.
81 showed in my message that the re-
ceipts of the General Fund, as compared
with disbursements were running be-
hind over $3.50, 900 per year; that it had
exhausted the surplus accumulated prior
TO January l. 1903. when the State tax
rate was rs cents; when the Secretary
Of States Office was turning into our
revenues over 500. 900 per year as
against less han $40. 900 now and when
there was $4,000 of poll tax receipts
coming into it as against one now.
after treating the remedies proposed
by me as q joke. the Legislature proposd
its remedy-Retrenchment. It pro-
posed to restore the $4,000 deficit in
the General Fund by eliminating the
Commission of Industry, Agriculture
and Irrigation. This commission abol.
ished would ave the ship. It did not
seem to occur to the advocates Of spec.
ial retrenchment that the trouble was
somewhat larger than the saving that
would be affected by abolishing the
aforementioned commission. together
with the abolition of the State Police.
the Railroad and Public Service Com
mission, the State Engineers office, the
State Banking Board and Bank Exam
liner, the Bullion Tax Collector-al of
these would but half meet 1.-THE sacri-
fee would nave to have been extended
to every State office and all public insti-
tutious curtailed.
"In my Inaugural Message Of jan
uary 16, 1911. ! stated:
~ recommend that a joint committee
of the w houses be appointed to in
vestigate the ways and means Of reduc.
ing State ~expenditures and 70 report By