The Green Forest tribune., 1913-01-24
First Biennial Message
 Of Gou. Joe 7. Robinson


 or delivered his first message to the legislature the first of this week.
 In the message he takes up finance and makes some recommendations in this respect.
 He assures the legislature of his CO., operation with that body.
 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 a maximum of fifteen days the length of special sessions in which members may receive any compensation whatever. This amendment, if effective, operates as very practical limitation on sessions of the General Assembly. It also discloses that public sentiment favors confining 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- strable that measures be considered, in- solar as practicable, in the order of their importance
 To avoid complications it is desirable jects 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 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 electors have fairly expressed their opinion concerning any policy, their yer for a 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- forms in our revenue system
 Deficit in She General Revenue Fund
 The general revenue fund considering all outstanding claims. is in debt approx ina tely 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- duced from two and one-fourth mills to one and and three-fourth mills, shortly thereafter were created 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 hean fhnS rnaterio1lI rad1Ipa6 a the charge upon 1t has been greatly in- creased This fund has been running behind year after year The policy which has heretofore prevailed of an ticipating revenues should be repu- diated. It is amateur politics. not wise statesmanship. We must provide for the general revenue fund back to cash basis. The first question to be answer ed is: How best can this be done? Authorize a Loan.
 The. simplest plan is to authorize a bond issue under carefully considered safeguards and restrictions This can be so accomplished as to distribute the burden over period of several years. 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 provide for it. The only other plans is to so increase the general revenue fund that within period of years suffi- cient surplus above current expendi- lures may be created to absorb it. This would be but a modification of the present plan, and under it the deficit might still increase rather than be di unfinished if expenditures be not care fully watched and limited.
 It is primarily important that ex- penditures be limited and economy be 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 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 to be authorized, so that the total will not exceed the fund out of which the appro- priations are to be paid. This can be 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 recom- mending the proportion in which the general revenue fund shall be .distrib- used baget the eon sisting of three state officers and the presiding officers of the Senate and the 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 general revenue fund is the result of eXtrava- gance. or merely incident to the growth of the states institutions, wisdom re- quires that 1t be settled on a basis which will impose a lesson of economy and proportion.
 Not Necessary to Increase Total Tax
 Rate.
 While the present deficit in the gen eral revenue fund can be gradually dis charged and the current expenses paid by economizng and by an increase in the general revenue rate still no 1n- crease is necessary or justifiable if proper readjustment of the rate is made.
 The University of Arkansas, the az ricuItural schools and the state normal can be placed on a special tax rate or say, one mill or nne-tenths of one mill, the capitol rate suspended. the general revenue rate fixed at one and thirty five hundredths mills all other rates continued as at present. and the total rate for all state purposes VIII equal that now being collected.
 Present rates: State general revenue rate, 3-4 mills; sinking fund rate. ] zS mill; state school rate. mills; Confed-