Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1913-03-18
LISTER REVIEWS
RECENT SESSION
The Governor Issues State
ment Fixing Blame for
Extravaganza
SAYS WHOSE IS FAULT
Declares He Saved the State
Millions Despite High
Appropriations

OLYMPIA, March 17.-Goyernor
Ernest Lister tonight issued state
ment bearing on the session OF the
legislature just adjourned 1t follows
in full:
'The appropriations made by the
18th legislature just adjourned show
that | was right last Saturday morn
ing when said it would appropriate
more money than was ever appropriate
ed by any legislature in the history
of the state. In 1911 the total ap-
preparations, according to the report
of the state auditor, were $11,22S 2S0.
In 1913, the appropriations, not in
Guiding the $4000,000 to be collected
and used by the industrial insurance
commission and the $4,000,000 bonds
on the capitol building lands, amount
to $16,31S,S06. This is an increase of
more than $5,0OO,0O0 or nearly 30 per
cent.
Nlf / had not taken strong stand
against large appropriations the in
crease would have been far greater
"Of the appropriations made by
the legislature, | have vetoed bills
carrying a total Of approximately &c.
100000. In some instances the leg
islature has overridden the vetoes,
but notwithstanding this fact, the tax
payers will be called upon for more
than $4,O0OOO0 less than would have
been the case otherwise.
Dsresarded His Views
"Bills passed by the legislature still
in my hands carry appropriations
amounting to S1600,000 and several
thousand dollars of this amount rep
resent deficiency and judgment ap-
preparation which must be paid.
Il am anxious that the people of
the state should know the facts re-
garding this tremendous increase in
appropriations. in order that respon-
sibility may be placed where it be-
longs. In my inaugural message
recommended the abolition and COM
bination of a number of the boards
and commissions of the state in order
that the states affairs might be hand
led more economically and efficiently.
''The legislature, having a republi-
can majority in both houses, disre-
garded all of these recommendations
with the exception of the passage of
a bill creating a commissioner of ag-
riculture and bills providing that the
various non-salaried boards turn all
funds collected into the state treas
ury and be paid actual expenses.
"Even the bill creating the depart
ment of agriculture was not passed
until after the passage of the general
budget. This made it necessary for
me to approve the amounts provided
for each of the various commissions,
there being no certainty that these
departments would be combined.
$50 far as the departments under
my control are concerned, l intend to
see that savings are made wherever
possible and uneXpended balance turn
ed over to the general fund two years
hence. | approved all items in the
general budget which provided money
for the other departments of the state
government not controlled by me-.
Those in charge of such departments
are responsible to the voters, and I
did not deem it wise to interfere with
the management of their respective
departments.
"a careful perusal of the 1,162
measures introduced in the legisla-
ture shows that most of those carry
ing large appropriations passed, and
the exceptions We're in instances
where the member Introducing the
measure was opposed to the so-called
house machine 1t was openly adj
mitted in the lower house by one
member that some of the legislation
was the result of trades and who
defended this course by saying that
trading is all right if you make a
good trade
"In signing or vetoing measures,
however, have acted upon every bill
on its merits. ! have tried to place
the interests of the entire state above
those Of any section or community.
In vetoing certain appropriations bills
/ have probably aroused opposition
in the particular communities affect
ed, just as the members of the So
called house machine seemed to de-
sire, but no such considerations ever
have or ever will affect me in doing
what I believe to be the right thing
to do.
ERNEST LISTER"