The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-14
ALABAMA IN NEED OF FINANCIAL RELIEF AT ONCE, SAYSGOVERNOR
Necessities of Favorable Action On Proposed Bond and the Passage of Law to Secure Equalization of Land Values Feature Message Sent By Henderson
 to the Legislature
By L. s. BETTY

Montgomery. July 3.-(SpeciaL )-The necessity of favorable action upon the bond issue measure, the passage of a law that will secure equalization of land i, values, and various needs of the several
 departments of state were features of
 the message which Governor Henderson
 sent to the legislature today inn medately after the assembling of the state body.
 Governor Henderson dealt at length -with the financial situation of the state. The deficit at this time, according to the executive, is more than s2,500,00 s1,75o 900 of which amount is for out standing warrants.
 This deficit can be taken care of only by means of bond issue, thinks the bonds are not provided tell me, if you can, how the money can be provided within the bounds of the constitution" "I am fully convinced that if there was any mistake made in this recon | mendation,' he said, 'it was in the smallness of the amount recommend cd to be funded. There will be times when it will be impossible to secure at reasonable rates such large sums of money, and when such times come. the good name of the state Is bound to suf-
 fer and great inconvenience brought upon those who are dependant upon the
 state meeting it's obligations promptly" Duties Discharged The governor declared that his duties Were discharged in presenting these matters to the legislatures the re sponsibility then is yours," he said.
 And if there should be a failure of
 the teachers or the old soldiers receiv-
 ing their money promptly. or default in other obligations, the blame is at your | door and not mine"
 While the governor did not indicate
 whether or not he approved the plan to work convicts on the roads, it might
 be inferred from his message that he | is opposed to the suggestion. for he called attention to the net earnings of the state from convict labor. He de- l clared taat the net earnings for this year would probably amount to more | than $50O,000
 | The greater part of the governors mes
 sage, however, dealt with the need of bond issue, and in presenting facts on the financial situation, the executive de- clared:
 Tn presenting to you plans for the proper handling of the finances of the state, in my original message, I recom- mended that you pass a joint resolution submitting to the people of the state an
 amendment to the constitution, providing
 for the issuance of s1,5oo,000 of short term bonds S50,C00 of which was to be payable each year, beginning with 1920 While l consider this the practical method of handling the vast deficit [ also proposed a companion act which 1 consider of even greater importance than
 the issuance of the bonds. This proposi-
 tion seeks to avoid a repetition of the 1 condition with which we are now contend
 ing.
 Your body seem to have lost sight en- tlrely of this recommendation, and l am again presenting 1t to you that you may consider 1t carefully because I believe it | is better to provide for the handling and care of your revenues before you receive them, than to wait until after they have been dissipated and afterwards quarrel over the manner in which it has been done.
 Would Save Legislature "The measure suggested would save thousands of dollars to the state, and that which is expended would be done in
 more efficient and intelligent manner and
 produce more satisfactory returns. This recommendation contemplates the creation of a commission through a con | stitutional amendment, for the purpose | of recommending to an incoming legisla- ture list of appropriations or a budget 1 for their guide and action 10 se puo-