Arizona republican., 1915-06-10

i abrldgement of the states school fund | could more safely be allowed to rest
 upon those legislators who are the authors of this measure. falsely mas
 querading in the guise of economy.
 l In reviewing the action of the leg i islature, in this instance, I find no 1 groundwork of common sense upon ] which those responsible for this at ! tempted reduction of the school fund may rest their case. Had it been i the opinion of a majority Of the leg 1 islature that existent conditions sug-
 gested the advisability of a reason able diminution of the school fund, I | might, while demurring at retrench- ment in a field which, least of all. can endure it. have, nevertheless, re- l trained from exercising the veto in | such a case. To divide the school l fund in five parts, however, and then 1 to discard four thereof in 9 seeming attempt to impress the necessity of | economy upon q constituency, tran scends the dictates of reason and as
 sumes the aspect of showing a re- proachfui disregard for a public bene- faction of paramount importance. Were there. furthermore. any other sure sources. such as appreciQble reve-
 nue from school lands or the sale thereof. to remedy the deficiency which the legislature has on thi. oc- casion attempted to create the action taken might become clothed with
 some semblance of judgment. Cn- fortunately, however, no such certain
 sources of available funds are within
 definite view.
 As a sophistry. to be sure, the pro-
 ponents of this false measure of econ
 omy glibly point out that, under ex-
 isting statutes, the different counties
 are authorized to levy, collect and
 G;sburse such funds as may be deemed
 necessary, within certain limits, for
 the maintenance of the common
 schools. The only foundation that
 may be accorded this argument is the
 vfell-known fact that only a very
 small portion of the moneys raised
 by the state for school purposes is
 actually expended by the state. Most
 of it is apportioned. as is known.
 among the different counties. and in
 this manner the advancement of edu-
 cation over the entire state is kept, in d fair degree, uniform instead of SpO
 raGic. or regional. In other words, the
 state. acting under the present Jaw, merely undertakes to perform the
 duties of levying and collecting school funds in behalf of the various counties. In considering tle conten- tion that the counties may with equal facility make such a levy and col lection, the transparent falsity of this measure as a step toward economy becomes merely apparent, for it is difficult to discover wherein any say f- of fected by virtue alone of the mere fact that the taxes. in the one in stance, are paid to the county, whereas. ir the other. they are paid to the state. and thence assigned to the different counties. It becomes evil dent, accordingly. that what is made to appear on first sight as economical action, partakes. Tn reality, of the na- ture Of a ruse whereby the states rec ords of taxes and disbursements show 1 Q material reduction. while the same | records ;n the different counties are | raised proportionately or dispropor tionately in that ratio in which the 1 public's educational needs are cared l for or neglected
 While the appropriation of s30,0 900 for the maintenance of the state mili- tia was disapprove1. this item, it is pointed out, is properly taken care of by the military code. The provision for arsenals was allowed to stand. | The governors reasons for vetoing the l provision for the maintenance of the l militia were that the amount provided | was not sufficient for the organization | in case emergency should arise, and | also because the bill provided that the ! money for this purpose should be l paid out of the military fund which is existent. A military 1 fund.- the governor held, would first i have had to he created.
 The sections disapproved in whole l or in part by the executive follow:
 Disapproved in Entirety
 Sub division 8 of Sec. relating to 1 the incorporating department of the | corporation commission.
 Subdivision 27 of Sec. l relating | to persons employed by the tax com mission: 2S, relating to travelling ex penses members tax commissions; 29, | relating to office expenses of SaX | commission, and 30, relating to ex- l penses of state board of equalization. |
 Subdivision 32. of Sec. l, relating | to game protection.
 Subdivision 59, of Sec. l. relating | lO puDuC DN lHt DOdIu OI l control. sub-division 61 relating to the | travelling expenses of the board of | control
 Sub division 93, of Sec l. relating | to the maintenance of the national | guard of Arizona.
 Sec A relating to the state com | mon sch0 fund and the payment of l certain sums into the school sums of l the scI eral counties, etc.
 Sec. 49 relating to unexpended bal l ances remaining in the appropriated | funds, and the expenditure of such | funds.
 Sec. 90 relating to claims against l the state, the date and verification l thereof and the issuance of warrants | hereunder.
 Sec 51, purpOrting to relate to the | expenditure and indebtedness on the | part of the state and aiming presum- 1 ably to effect the repeal of various |