The Mena weekly star., 1913-01-23
NEW EXECUTIVE TAKES UP AND CONSIDERS THE DIFFERENT
 NEEDS OF THE STATE.
WOULD HAVE BOND ISSUE
Says as a Rule This Method Should Be Avoided but in Present
 Case Is Justifiable.
ANOTHER MESSAGE LATER ON
Does not Want to Confuse Legislature With a Multiplicity of Issues
 in One Document.

Little Rock.-Gov. Robinson deliv- cred his first biennial message to the legislature. MT. Robinson says that he has condensed the message as much as possible so as to avoid taking up too much time of the legislature Mr. Robinson says that there will be more messages later.
 His message follows:
 The chief executive in recommending legislation, and the General Assembly in choosing subjects to be considered, should now exercise these functions with due regard for the constitutional amendment recently sought to be sub mitted seeking to limit to sixty days the period of regular sessions for which members may be compensated, and re- ducing to maximum of fifteen days the length of special sessions iu which members may receive any compensation Whatever. This amendment, if effective. operates as very practical limitation Qn sessions of the General Assembly. It also discloses that public sentiment favors confning legislation to impOr- tant subjects, it being clearly impos- sible. within such short periods, to de- termine this character of legislation, and also to consider the large number of local bills usually presented
 Subjects Should Be Considered in Order
 of Their Importance.
 It has thus become imperative that only necessary and important legisla- tion shall claim attention, and it is de- sirable that measures be considered, in- solar as practicable, in the order of their importance.
 To avoid complications 1t is desirable that, if possible, you conclude all sub tects which demand legislation within the short period of sixty days. In or der to accomplish this, there must be concert of action between the governor and the General Assembly. As an evil dence of the willingness of your gov ernor to facilitate this course, this mes sage is condensed both as to the sub Jects presented and the manner in which they are discussed.
 Statewide Prohibition and the Initia-
 tive.
 Statewide prohibition having been voted on under the initiative in Septem- Der, 1912, this important subject need not veX your deliberations. Repose is sometimes as necessary as is agitation at others. When the whole body of electors have fairly expressed their opinion concerning any policy, their yer dict should be accepted as conclusive for reasonable time and while condi- tions remain unchanged.
 Revenue Legislation.
 The most important subjects demand ing consideration relate to the financial condition of the state and necessary re- 1orms In our revenue system
 Deficit in the General Revenue Fund.
 The general revenue fund, considering all outstanding claims. is in debt approx imately seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars. This sum will probably in- clude all deficiencies fairly chargeable against preceding administrations.
 The existence of this deficit is due in part to the fact that while the gen eral revenue rate has been recently re- duoed from two and one-fourth mills to one and and three-fourth mills shortly thereafter were created a large number of new institutions, including the four agricultural schools. the state normal, the reform school and the tuberculosis sanitarium The general revenue fund has heeu thus materially reduced while the charge upon it hes been greatly in- creased. This fund has been running behind year after year. The policy which has heretofore prevailed of an- tlciuating revenues should be repu- diated. It Is amateur politics not wis7 statesmanship We must provide fir the general revenue fund back to a cash basis, The first question to he answer
 Authorize a Loan.
 The simplest plan is t0 authorize a bond issue under carefully considered safeguards and restrictions. This can be SD accomplished as to distribute tn burden over a period of several years Bond issues when avoidahle are not to be approved. The public. however. are well informed as to present conditions. This deficit is in no sense chargeable upon the administration which is now just beginning It is our duty however. to provide for it. The only other plans is to so increase the general revenue fund that within a period of years a suff- cient surplus above current expendi- lures may be created to absorb it. This would be but modification of the present plan. and under it the deficit ,f,rf,N zfh fl,ar ATo,n ha unfinished if expenditures be not care fully watched and limited.
 It is primarily important that ex- penditures be limited and economy be practiced in every department of our state government. When the present deficit in the general revenue fund has been provided for the equally important duty of reforming the prevailing meth cd of appropriating public moneys with little regard for our ability to pay the bills will demand attention.
 Budget Reform.
 Except in cases of emergency ap- propriations should be limited to the revenues To accomplish this the prac- tice we now pursue of making one ap- propriation without regard to others necessary to be made must be aban doned. and every expenditure consider ed with regard to others necessary tc be authorized, so that the total will not exceed the fund out of which the appro priations are to be paid. This can bt accomplished in part during the pres ent session by the creation of a spe cial committee on the budget. charged with the duty of estimating and recon mending the proportion in which th' general revenue fund shall be distrib uted among the several demand; against it. A budget commission, con sisting of three state officers and thu presiding officers of the Senate and th' House of Representatives. should be au thorized with such powers as will en able the executive hereafter in suggest ing appropriations and the Legislature in making them to proceed intelligent ly and within the limit of the revenues available.
 Whether the deficit in the genera revenue fund is the result of eXtrava gance or merely incident to the growtl of the states institutions wisdom re ouires that it be settled on basil
 Twinges of rheumatism. back