The Harrison times., 1912-08-24
Little Rock Letter.
LITTLE Rock, AUG, Goth, 10.

q deficit i'll the state treasury OF
several hundred thousand dollars
and no prospects of discharging the
debt with a continuation of existing
conditions. There is every reason
to believe that the Turner Jacobson
revenue law, designed by the Legis-
lature to provide a more stable sys-
TEN of assessments and taxation,
will be defeated by the people in the
September election, and the General
Assembly will be forced TO devise
some other means of increasing the
revenue of the state without impos-
ing burdensome tax rates upon the
people,
| When the Legislature met in 1911,
there was a deficit in the general
revenue fund, and it was necessary
to borrow 500, 900 from the sinking
fund to meet the legislative pay
rolls. That money was not paid
back until this month, when the
state was temporarily in funds by
reason of the settlements with
county collectors for the taxes of
the current year. The Legislature
of19l5 will also be forced to bor-
row, but there are several funds
that will be available, so that no
sympathy need be wasted on the
Lawmakers, who never fail to get
what is coming to them. There will
be something like quarter Of a
million dollars in the state capitol
fund, and enough may be borrowed
from that 20 meet the mileage and
per diem,
The next session will not be so
expensive as the last, for there is no
doubt whatever about the people
adopting the Norwood short session
Amendment, which makes it manda-
tory upon the Legislature to do its
work in sixty days and 90 home,
But a large part Of the amount that
will be thus saved will be needed
TO meet the expense Of acts under
the Initiative and Referendum, con.
sidcred by the second law.making
body, the People,
COMMISSIONER SLOAN Has A PLAN.
Various remedies will doubtless be
offered, but one that is likely to at
tract the most widespread ottcn-
tion is that suggested by Hon, Clay
Sloan, Commissioner of Agriculture,
who was Auditor of State from
1897 to 1901,
"My experience in county and
state offices, says Col, Sloan, "the
duties Of which encompass the adj
minsitratiun Of the revenue law,
suggests the remedies for relieving
the state from its present cmborass.
! ing financial condition TO be,
First, and most desirable, the re-.
duction Of ofeXpenses until our present
| ia mills levy will furnish cash
enough to meet the current expenses
of the state and leave enough over
to discharge all outstanding war.
rants. This plan is the most dcsir'
able because it would take the least
possible money from the pockets of
the people, which is always proper
and right, unless the State furnishes
something to the people that they
would prefer to money
:" Cut down expenses was the
remedy advocated by Mr., Robinson
in his campaign for the gubcrno.
torial nomination, and sincerely
hope he will be able when inaugu'
rated to remove the financial diff
eulties Of the state by this best plan
However, when we consider thai
the present governor has vetoed
more than one million in Npprop
rations much Of which but for the
shortage Of revenues he would not
have vetoed, and the State is still
ON q scrip basis it may be found
that unless he extended the cutting
Of expenses to the extent Of abolish.
| ing somc Of It's institutions, which
he would hardly want to do, the
remedy must be sought further,
RAISING or AasEssMENTs
The second best plan would be
60 raise assessments until u yalua'
ton h reached from which the pres
lent rate would produce sufficient
revenue Tor the needs Of the state,
The plan would he most praise
worthy aud just So long ~ yaluo.
tons are less than 100 per cent
that long an minstiec will he done
the small property owner Our
Constitution and,eyery revenue stat
ute have purposed a 100 per cent
assessment but It has never been &C.
complishcd One reason for this
! failure, is that under a fixed rate,
the amount | pay in taxes is not
| pilaata1 lao the umbuut Won Uuyl or