The Muskogee cimeter. [volume] (Muskogee, Indian Territory, Okla.) 1901-19??, 1916-11-11

James G.. Rico, OF Chattanooga, after
O visit and personal investigation Of
five Southern States, declares in the
Memphis Herald that prohibition has
nearly bankruptcd them. In n lettc:
to a. l.. Rowe, editor of the Herald,
Rice says he has the official records
TO back him up The article says:
The policy prevailing in number
of Southern States OF elacting laws
that destroy revenue bearing property
and failure or refusal on the part OF
the Legislatures to provide ways and
mems for covering the loss back into
the public treasures, through otlo.
forms OF taxation, IL causing public
concern and great deal OK worry on
the part OF public officials.
Resort to bond issues and other
forms of borrowing has become moro
iroluc.5 OF recent years to pay deficits
in public revenues, and many counties
in some Of the states have suffered
their warrants to depreciate IN yalu2
until the discount on them Is Gs high
as 20 per ceHt. This depreciation
causes much loss TO the taxpayers, for
the reason that when contractors mako
bids on public work they include TIE
discount on the warrants in thcir bids.
Conducting Cusineao On Credit.
Three Southern States are now con.
Quoting their business on credit basis
their treasures to meet the current eS-
penGes OF government. All FIVE are TN.
der prohibition laws that deprived the
public treasures OF revenues approx
mating 100000, year each, without
making any improvement, so far as
records show, in public morals.
70" example Alabama has had
trouble with its chances ever since the
state began experimenting with pro.
Libition. The deficit in the revenues
of the state at present IS about $1,000.
90, and 1t is being increased. The
state las bonded debt already ap
proEmat,ng Sl1,O0),O00, and If the
noatlnG deficit 10 added, the total debt
OF the state is about Sl4,O00,00)
Early in the present year. Governor
Henderson went to New York and
E&ls arrangements with largo lnan
c.al institution to pay the current war
rants o. the state that could not be
r-lQ ont OF the treasury. interest j.
paid On th:se wGTrlnl5 from tho date
of ifa-o until tAey are taken uD by thu
I.a.c I.rom proceeds OF future
Ly-l i.3Ucs. The next leg.sla.
lure OF Alabama will be ask.
e. 10 authorize n bond issue in
El.lc.cat amount to cover the dencit
IL gta,e rcYenuos, and the amount viii
be about S3,O0)O0O. Really, Goyerno.
Henderson recommended a bond issue
H. ihat amount to the last legislature,
but Fl,J)0000 was as far as the lcgis.
lalCre would go In that direction. 4
pro Sion was Incorporated in the
enabling act, submitting tho bond is,
sue TO vote OF The people. IN the
referendum tho issue was defeated,
aaG Ito administration was left with
b.s debt on It's hands with nothing
10 meet II.
Nr&ausaa In Chaotic Condition.
Tho fiscal affairs OF tho state o.
Arkcnaas are In such chaotic condition
thGt Il ia difficult TO say with certainty
how much that state ewes II Is diff
icCit to determine how much of the In.
dobtedneE3 Is due 10 prohibition laws.
However. II 10 q recorded fact that
vhcn the prohibition Law OF that state
derived the treasury OF near hal.
million dollars year that collapse
OF public credit resulted Oioyernor
Hayes was forced to veto many needed