The Brinkley argus., 1913-01-17


 every period of history. They have oc- casioned lawsuits and revolutions Ine ! struggle for just and satisIactoiy method of taxation seems unenuihs
 The wisest statesmen have been unable to devise u revenue system Tree from inequalities and expressions. Iheorles
 have been abundant but too often m
 practicable. Low tax rates are usuallS
 accepted as evidence of good govern
 ment: high taxes are generally regarded | as symptoms of improvidence and eN- | travaganee. The merit of a government cannot. however. always be determined
 by the rate of taxes leVied.' tax may ! be either an investment, from Whlc,i | the general public receives dividend 1 or charge, which imposes an arduous ] and useless burden. Both the leslsia- 1 tive and executive departments are. m
 a measure, responsible for the rate o' i taxation imposed. The rate must de- pend on the amount appropriated. and Tn
 this sense the legislature IS solely re-
 sponsible. In exercising the power 10 i recommend legislation, the executive | may cause increased or diminished ex-
 penditures The rate should be suffi-
 cient to provide the revenue required to 1 pay appropriations authorized. The Legislature will not popularize itself at | the expense of the executive by author- l izing appropriat ations without providing the revenue to meet them The execu- l tive has no power of appropriation; no
 power to raise revenue The duty to | provide revenue sufficient to meet the expenses of the government is on the legislature. If appropriations in excess of the revenue are made, deficits Will occur In spite of the executive. The veto power furnishes but a partial check on eXtravagance. That a deficit now l exists tn our general revenue fund is recognized by all. Politicians, whose recommendation and policies are re- sponsible for this deficit, cannot hide themselves behind the statement that when all the revenues are in the treas ury and but few of the bills have been | LE se ,a.sf .trts1s hn true test IS: How stands the account when the balance has been struck when all the bills have been paid? If all the charges against the general rev enue fund were promptly paid there would be decit of near $750.000. This deficit has already accrued. It is not the result of policies advocated or ap- proprfations made by the present ad- the general revenue rate has been de- creased by one-half mill. At the same time new institutions creating additional charges on that fund. have been established. The four agricultural schools. the state normal. the reform school and the tuberculosis sanitarium gre illustrations. While the fund has been diminished the drain on it has been increased Unnecessary appropri- ations may have added to the total deficit which has thus been brought about While this deficit is not the product of this administration. the task falls upon us to provide for 1t. It can be accomplished either gradually by in- creasing the general revenue fund and reducing expenditufes or at once by making a loan and providing a sinking fund to discharge it. We are concerned In determining the best and most req sonable way of solving this important question The task is equally upon us all The legislature alone can provide the means for ridding the state of the shadow of repudia tion cast by the ex- irtence of debt unprovided for in the general revenue fund The debt, com paratively speaking. is not a great one. After it has been provided for there heed be no increase in the total tax rate Tor state purposes By placing the university, the normal and the agricul- tural schools on special rate and sus- pending the capitol tax, the rates can be easily readjusted as to provids ample revenues. Let our first labor be to restore the states finance to a cash basis speedily as due regard for all existing conditions will permit When that has been done. let us see that sue. 2 condition does not again rise during the administration for which we are by confining the appropria- tions to the revenues The existing condition. however brought about is q hindrance to the progress of the state. The sooner 1t is relieved the faster will Arkansas advance. and that is the one end more to be desired than all others.
 If 1t be justifiable in addresses of this character to refer to abstract principles.
 
 good government. It cannot be said to consist Nxed and unchang- ing laws or polio Ut it is demon strated in that f iHs4distratfone wher.. pressed and promptly executed. Our theory of governme:t is that all power inheres in the people They have the tight. regarding the limitations which they themselves establish and maintain to alter or amend the laws to suit them selves. It follows that publicity" in its broadest sense is a prerequisite to progress in d free state
 There should be full and thorough discussion of important questions among the people. At last the problems of government are theirs, They can ap- prove or disarpro"e the recommends tions of their executive and the legisla- ton enacted ty any administration. Opportunities should be afforded the general public of becoming familiar with all the acts of both the executive and the legislative branches of the gov ernment. As vice hides from the public gaze, so corruption cannot long exist in the light of public scrutiny. When the people study question. when they know the motives which inspire public acts. as well as the manner in which they are performed, their conclusions are of the highest value. To soberly and fairly ascertain public sentiment and respond to it. approaches the ideal of sooi administration. But public sentiments only to be consulted in de ttffuiilhE tue DOitt3fH Ab bf pursued ana legislation to be enacted. The governor in making his recommendations to the ee.hlatu. G. and in exercising the veto power, performs legislative functions exercises part of the legislative DOW CT. Wheu laws have been passed and are A, Le enforced his legislative duties are ended. and his executive obligations assumed He may not consult the pop u'ar will as to the enforcement of laws already passed That issue is fore closed. The public Is conclusNely prs sumed to favor every law, The execu- tive who acts on any okleT theory dis regards his duty and will fail
 Clear and important distinctions exist in legislative and executive duties.
 The legislator Is vested with dscre ton His primary task is to determine questions of policy.
 Popular feeling. well as personal conviction. may influence him He can not 1ivegt himsclf of the responsibility implied in the nature Of his office The ohlicstion of tke executive IS su h is narrower He IS not respops'b'e for the c. tstence of tte law Ills duty fg 10 execute If His personal views as to the merit or objectionable character of law should no more guifle him than the opiRions of those who openly violate it The existence Of dead letter iawsf-- statutes which are ignored and unen- 'ereeh-tis rerroach mon the eNecu- tive charged with enforcing them Here is found one reason for the divi- sion Of the powers 0f tovernment into three co-ordinate bTarsAes IL s calcu- latRf to produce a faire" more consist .nt and uniform enforcement of the law.
 The standard of public service will be raised if the officers Of our state keep constantly in view well recognized maxiBE and prihc.plrs
 public office is n2t rrivate property it 'S a saNret t~''~t cHr ving with it profound ani continue responsibilities Equality. not 'aso~ii sfr justice. not