Carroll County democrat. (Huntingdon, Tenn.) 188?-1971, 1917-01-12
GOV. RYE'S MESSAGE
Deals Largely With Financial
Conditions Of the State

Assembly, deals largely with the
states serious financial condition.
Practically the entire message was
devoted to discussion of how the
states revenues had been spent
!. the last two years, why expenses
had increased, and why a compre-
hensive study of the assessment
problem must be the main ques-
tion before this session Of the leg
islature.
Gov. Rye delivered his message
in person at a joint session III the
hall Of the house of representa-
tives. This was contrary to Gus
tom, as the governors message is
usually read to both houses by
clerks Gov. Rye was rendered
al ovation before reading the
message.
The deficit Of The administration
on the first day Of the new year,
he said, was approximately ST.
025,122.34, He declared it was
due largely to d decrease in GER
tain revenues, principally from
county court clerks, new appro-
priations BY the last legislature,
and increased cost of running
many Of the state departments.
He sald the problem could be
solved only by finding new sources
of revenue, as the present ones
were not sufficient. especially since
the loss Of liquor and soft drink
taxes to the state treasury.
Tie governor traced the growth |
OF disbursements over receipts |
back to 1908, showing that since
that time they had steadily grown
larger, while Gov. Hooper, dur
the latter part Of his last term, left
many bills unpaid, to be paid by
the incoming administration.
La Analysing what his admins
tration had done with the SO, 249,-
484. 81 which it bad collected in
the last two years, Gov, Rye said
the interest on the state debt had
been approximately $1,240,000;
confederate pensions and appro-
$l,675,0OO; school APP
preparations one-third oftotal rev.
enues, $2,741,00O; pehitentiaries
and other state institutions w, 1885,
900; judicial and attorney-general's
salaries $537, 900; state prosecu-
tons $3.50, 900; expenses Of agri
cultural department $I83, 900; state
highway appropriations $4,000;
legislative and miscellaneous APP
$751;, 900
ibis leaves an overdraft on the
Of approximately $685.
200. To be added to this are all
tate salaries and the cost Of most
If the departments, running the
;otal deficit we'll beyond $l,000,-
300.
lii commenting upon this 6nan-
cial statement, Gov. Rye said:
The condition, as revealed by
lie foregoing figures, cannot be
corrected by small economics;
sources of larger revenues must be
developed. II should be bourne
n mind that while we are faced
With deficit, we are also con-
'ronted with conditions which call
Or serious and thoughtful consid-
,ration and, in the solution of
vhich much money will be needed.
There is hardly state institution
,,t needs extensions in buildings,
ands. oyerhanling, general i'm
,rovements and new equipment.
Unless necessary provision is
made for additional revenue, the
tate will inevitably suffer impair
d credit, and its proper activities
YIN cease or be largely curtailed.
10 show that the people of Ten
,essee are not overburdened with
tate taxes he quoted statistics
rom many states, in all Of which,
nth the exc option OF North Caro-
ina. the State tax IS much larger
J. .an;ta The rate In Tennessee