The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-01-30
by HUGH w. ROBERTS

Montgomery, January 29.-(Special.)
Despite the urgent petition of Cover
nor Henderson that before recessing
the Legislature either accomplish
something map out a prospective
programme regarding finances before
recessins. both branches this afternoon
agreed by formal action to adjourn at
| the conclusion of the twentieth work.
Ing day until July Ii.
The original intention OF the rules com
mittees of the two houses was to recon-
mend adjournment at the conclusion of
the seventeenth working day, and it was
days was done as a concession to the
governor.
This morning Governor Henderson called
the members of the two committees into
his office and conjured them to do some-
thing regarding finance before recessing
He intimated that it would not be fair to
leave him in Montgomery for a period Of
five months without their having taken
action for the relief of the treasury.
Both Houses Obdurate
However. the two houses were obdurate
and very little effort was necessary to put
through the report of the rules commit
tees. Some members construed the action
of the legislature as a slap at the ad-
ministration, but the rules committee con-
tended that nothing of that nature was
contemplated, that their action was the
% I'll
with the certainty that everything would
be all right
Nevertheless, the governor was serious
in his desire that something begun before
play was indulged in. and sent the follow
ing message to both houses, which mes
sage, as indicated above, had little ef-
feet:
ITO the Senate and House of Represen-
tatives:
Gentlemen again call your attention
to the financial condition of the state
treasury, as outlined in my former mes
sages to you, and to the fact that you
have not as yet made provision for the
deficit referred to by those messages, SO
that the credit of the state may be pro-
tected.
"Basing a calculation upon the receipts
and expenditures for the last fiscal year,
the deficit for the fiscal year 1915 would
approximate 81, 100000, exclusive of the spe-
oial funds and contingent appropriations,
and 1t will not be fair to the executive
for this legislature to adjourn until II
has, by careful investigation. ascertaine6
the true status of the state treasury, the
requirements of the state and finding
out what the actual deficit In the treasury
is, and after ascertaining these facts, to
provide suitable revenue and proper ap-
preparations for the protection of tho
deficit. as well as for the current run
ring expenses of the, state government.
Must Provide Revenues
1.-THE legislature must provide these rev.
enues to meet these appropriations and il
would not be wise, nor would it be fair to
the executive, to pass a general appro-
priation bill without ascertaining where
the revenues were coming sufficient to
meet it,
1.-THE question of the deficit in the
finances of this state is of easy ascer-
tainment. This deficit and the true con-
dition of the finances of this state ought
to be ascertained by both the senate and
the house of representatives and that con-
dition ought to be presented to the full
senate and full house of representatives,
so that every member from his district
or county could assume his responsibility
In working out this grave situation.
The constitution only permits a loan
of 100000 This loans will not approx
mate the amount necessary to meet the
present demands of the state, and we
should not continue. by kiting and other
questionable methods. this deficit, and
undertake to pass the responsibility to
others.
You should meet this squarely as rep
resentatives of the people. ascertain the
true condition by the methods which are
at hand, and II 1t is necessary that short
time bonds should be issued, to take care
of deficit which has grown up through
a series of years, you should authorize
it, and IL not. yo ushould\ present tan
gible. feasible plan, whereby the state
may be redeemed from this embarrass-
ment, and that responsibility. which is
yours, should not be entirely shifted to
the shoulders of the executive
Therefore, l earnestly insist that this
legislature will not fix time to adjourn
until it has made ascertainment of the
conditions referred to in this message,
Land in my two former messages to these
(Ce.tinueA on Pase Teno