The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1916-02-04
GOV. MAJOR SAYS THERE
WILL BE NO DEFICIENCY
Will Hold Up Over-Appropriations of
Legislature and Keep Expenses
Within Revenue


In view of the reckless talk about
a "defcit" in the State Treasury, at
the close of the present biennial peri
cd, Governor Major has given out a
statement to the public and the heads
and superintendent of different de-
partments and institutions of the State
that ought to clear up the situation to
all who want to see it cleared up. 1t
is an interesting document, and we
here give it in full:
jefferson City, JAN, 25.
"While every department, except
the Beer Inspection Department and
the Penitentiary, has given greater
net return than ever before in the his
tory of the Commonwealth, yet the in
crease has not been sufficient to alb
sorb the over-appropriation made by
the last Legislature, amounting to
something like 100000. By reas-
on of the voting Of additional dry ter
ritory and the decrease in the number
of saloons in the State, the revenue
from the Beer Inspection Department
and from saloons for last year and
this has decreased and will decrease
100000. By virtue of the abolishing
of the contract system at the Peni-
Tertiary by the Legislature at its last
session, and which was done in re-
spouse to public demand from every
political party, the earnings from that
institution for last year and this have
decreased and will decrease 5000, 900.
"Among the new and added burdens
placed upon the State during this BIZ
ennial period and contributing in part
to the over-appropriation, the three
| following items alone total 5000, 900,
to-wit: BILLS CREATED DURING
THE ADMINISTRATION OF Gov
ERNORS FOLK AND HADLEY'
AMOUNTING TO $150,000, AND
WHICH WERE PAID LAST YEAR;
pensions to the ex-Confederates,
amounting to 100000, all Of which
sum has been paid; and for the re-
building of the Normal School, at
Warrensburg, $250,OOO, the buildings
having been destroyed by fire, and
part of which has been paid.
SIN these three instances, saying
nothing about other new burdens,
| 100000 new burdens have been plac-
ed upon the State with decrease in
the revenue in two instances, as above
stated, in the sum of 100000. No
provisions were made by the Legisla-
ture to take care of the new burdens,
although its attention was called to
the necessity, and nothing has been
given the State to take care of the
loss of revenue from the Beer Inspec-
ton Department, saloons and the Pen
itentiary.
"More than 100000 of the amount
over-appropriated by the Legislature
was vetoed and held up by me at that
time, with the understanding that if
at the beginning of this year the rev.
enue had not increased sufficiently,
then the balance of the unpaid over
appropriation made by the Legislature
would be held up. / now advise you
that the increase in the revenues has
not been sufficient, and that the entire
unpaid balance of the amount over
appropriated by the Legislature is
held up, to the end the appropriations
as they now stand, will not be in ex-
cess of the revenue of the State fol
the biennial period.
"Section 43 of Article A, Of the Con
stitution provides for appropriations
as follows:
First, for the payment of all inter-
est upon the bonded debt of the State
that may become due during the term
for which each General Assembly is
elected.
Second, for the benefit Of the
sinking fund, which shall not be less
annually than two hundred and fifty
thousand dollars.
"Third, for free public school pur-
poses.
Fourth, for the payment of the
cost of assessing and collecting the
revenue.
Fifth, for the payment of the civil
list.
"Sixth, for the support of the elee-
mosynary institutions of the State.
Seventh, for the pay of the Gene
raj Assembly, etc.
"The General Assembly has no pow