The copper era and Morenci leader. [volume] (Clifton, Ariz.) 1911-1929, 1915-01-15
PUBLIC FUNDS BEING.
WASTED, SAYS
CALLAGHAN
State Auditor in Annual Report Tells
of Conditions Responsible for Reck-
less Use of the Taxpayers Money
ECONOMIC REFORM
UP TO LEGISLATURE
Heritage of Bankruptcy Can Be Avoid
ed If Legislators Avail Themselves
of Sober Thought and Proper Ac-
ton.

PHOENIX, Jan. 13.-The annual
report of State Auditor J. c. Callaghan
fer the fiscal year ending June 80.
1914, covers a large number of sub
lects connected with the financial af-
fairs OF the state, with tabular state
ments and other data concerning the
business transacted by the depart
ment. 1t also contains much severe
criticism. Under the heading of Gen
eral observations" Auditor Callaghan
says:
| The change in the method of as
sessment, whereby property is now
assessed at it's full cash value, was
mainly responsible for the 1894
property valuation of $375, 600. 900.
compared with $4,000, 900 three years
Nevious. Although this increase was
356 per cent, the increase in appropri-
alton expenditures was such that the
tax rate was reduced only As per
cent. In 1901 the gross state
revenue was $1,11O, 1863 .OS, and in
1914 it was $2,77O, ,571. .9S-an in
crease of about $50 per cent.
In 1901 the General Fund gross
expenditures amounted to $3.50, ,4S6. .13,
and in 1894 $685., 1873. 76-an in
crease of f267 per cent, which the
report states, lis entirely out of pro-
portion to ordinary expectation or to
the growth of population in the state
and it concludes that this abnormal
increase is due mainly to the follow
ing causes:
L. The appropriation of large
sums of money to entirely new pur.
poses of government, such as the
Corporation Commission, Inspector of
Weights and Measures, Game Warden,
State Laboratory, Land Commission,
Mine Inspector, Tax Commission and
Superior courts. There have also
been large increased expenditures
for the National Guard, the revision
and printing of statutes and special
laws, initiative and referendum pur-
poses, state road equipment, the Ag-
ricultural Experiment Station, and
maintenance of the capitol building
and grounds.
2. Appropriations have been made
without regard to the actual needs of
government. The largest possible ap-
preparations are sought.
3. Lump sum appropriations have
been made, instead of limited amounts
for specific purposes.
4. The unjustifiable increase in
maintenance cost of the State Indus
trial School Nf
The increase in expenditure, aside
from that out of the General Fund, is
represented largely by the new school
law which carries an annual appro-
priation of $500, 900 and which places
on the state an increased burden. for.
merly borne by the counties, of about
545O,OO0.The report questions whether
the present system of dividing the.
responsibility between the counties
and the state 'is the best from the
standpoint of economic efficiency" II
points out the necessity for concentra-
ton of the tax levying power in q
state board,or a return to the former
system, which the auditor regards as
preferable, of having each county pro-
vide Its own revenue. Data for coun-
ties now available show the following
per capita annual cost: Cochise S4S I
Coconino $S3 .55, ella. $50 90, Navajo
$4S. "a, Pima SAT 95, Santa Cruz $751;
79, Yavapaf $50. 90, Maricopa $50. SO.
In no state in the Union is there
a per capita expense even approxi-
mating the lowest of the above figures.
In order to give an idea of the tre-
mendous extravaganza and waste of
our school system. 1 submit the fig
ures OF the state of Texas which ap-
pears to be fair sample of the cost
IN the several states. The per capita
in Texas is $6.3 The report
advises the absolute repeal of the per-
state school law and the en-
actment of law placing the support
of the schools under county manage
ment, to the end that the taxpayers
association of each county may be in
close touch with school affairs and
that through investigation and con-
slant supervision an economical sys-
tenn may be evolved. "The responsi-
bility should rest on county officials
answerable to the taxpayers of their
counties "