The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1916-05-12
Governor Gives Plain Statement OF the
States Finadcial Standing and
Why Revenue Fund is Low
Other Funds FulState Interest Fund Has Surplus OF
$1,OO0OOO and Growing, But Constitution Pro-
hbits Its Use for Other Purposes

balance.
In the adjustment and holding up of
the difference between the said rev.
enue and the total appropriations, as
made by the Legislature, no institu-
ton was Disseminated against, and
the needs and the actual support and
maintenance of each and every insti-
tuition and department is now, and
will continue to be, properly cared for,
and its high standard maintained.
Although the appropriation for my
own department was not increased one
cent more than any previous period,
yet / voluntarily cut my own appro-
priation many thousands of dollars.
State Treasury is Not Empty
The Treasury is not empty, nor the
State bankrupt. Indeed, it cannot be.
The State, after the vetoes and
amounts held up, as stated, will owe
about Sill 100000 of the approprla-
tions, and can and will pay about SILL
500 200, and the departments and in
stitutions are permitted to use that
amount and no more.
Each department and institution
has been instructed to create no IN
debtedness for this biennial period
above its proper part of the approx
mate Sill, 100000, and any indebted
ness in excess for this period will not
be recognized and will not be paid by
the State. 1t is the business of the
State and its officers to see that the
institutions and departments do not go
beyond its revenues, and the State
will not issue a warrant in excess OF
the revenues. Every Indebtedness le-
gally and properly made, and N ac,,
cord with appropriations as voted and
held up, will be paid, and no more'
There was, in the general revenue
fund" at the close of the month of
April, the sum of $278, 540.85, which
is good showing, and there was So
132,65S.21 total in the treasury. The
balance in the general revenue fund
will necessarily be kept around $780,
900 at the close Of each month By rea-
son of the fact that the State pays
out The same upor acquisitions prac-
tically as fast as the moneys are re-
ceived
Would Avoid Unnecessary Surplus
might say great improvement
could be made in readjusting the Con
stitution and laws controlling the va
rious funds and finances of the State.
For example, there is $914,356.52 in
the estate Interest Fund, when ev-
cry purpose for which the amount was
collected has been satisfied in full. In
other words all indebtedness has been
| paid and there is dead surplus in
this fund of nearly $1,000,000. The
last Legislature reduced the levy for
the Estate Interest Fund" from 2
cents to cent, yet the 1-cent levy
more than pays the necessary yearly
Indebtedness and leaves a balance
each year to be added to the $914,-
1862. This fund is growing and can
not be used for any purpose. This is
not good business, but it can only be
remedied by changing the Constitution
and laws. This same thing can be
said of some Is or 20 different funds
If the Legislature should abolish some
of these various funds and place the
moneys in the general revenue fund"
every purpose would be met and sub
served just the same as it is today
and the unused balance from these
various funds would become available
and be of great aid and benefit to the
State in conducting its business il
each and every department and insti
tuition.
Again, last year and this year the
general revenue has been reduced
more than 100000 by reason of the
decrease in the number of saloons ant
added dry territory voted by the peo
pie, and by reason of the abolition o.
the contract system at the Penitenti
airy. No provision was made by th'
Legislature to take care of this loss
Indeed, the Legislature could not lool
into the future and know that this
loss was going to occur. This unev
pected loss, however, has been alb
sorbed by the net gains from the va
rious State Departments. Had thert
been no such loss from these two
sources more than $12,000,000 of ap
preparations could have been paid.
4 TO Suggest Changes in Message
i l can say, with every assurance, Thu
financial agents of the State hav
managed and controlled the finance
of the State with great care and bus
lHeSS lOISolSHI, anu CdiiilOI oSS NV
it would have been possible for any
one to have done more, or to have i'm
proved upon the same. The officer
. in the auditing and Treasury depart
ments merely disburse the finance
which come into their hands, mac
cordance with and as directed by tn
, law of the Commonwealth.
Under the Constitution, it is m
duty to write the message to the mex
: Legislature. | shall present the sub
iect of revenue fully, with needle
changes to the Constitution and gu
, laws, and will have some things t
! suggest and recommend, which
think will be of benefit to the Stat
/ and meet with with public approval.
/ This statement must be taken as tn
final one, as the State cannot take nc
!. tice of everything said or written b
I this or that person, who happens
! wish to write or speak upon the sui
ject.
It's easier for trouble to find yor
| address than it is for good luck.