Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-02-13
PLEA FOR ECONOMY
STIRS ASSEMBLY
LEGISLATURE TURNS ATTENTION
TO SATURDAYS, MESSAGE OF
THE GOVERNOR.
Especial Correspondence

Des Moines, Feb. 12.-Bone dry bills,
the eternal enigma Of road legislation
and the biennial struggle for short
session have been temporarily forgot
ten by the legislature with the sudden
projection Of the states strained f1nan-
cial condition as one Of the essential
factors in law making.
Governor Harding's special message
Saturday, calling the legislatures at
tention to deficit Of $1,50o.000 in the
state treasury, has put the issue Of
economy up squarely to the assembly.
Legislators not particularly friendly
to the administration declare the gov
ernor has attempted, and doubtless
succeeded, in passing the buck" on
the economy business to the legisla'
ture. In any event, he has put the
question to both houses in a way that
compels them to forget all about the
pork barrel and adopt a conscientious
and sweeping plan for the reduction
Of the state budget or provide such ap-
preparations that will give the execu-
tive council due and timely warning
to increase the state tax levy this
spring.
The governor said in his message
that he is squarely opposed to any
method Of relieving the financial en-
barrassment of the commonwealth
that calls for more taxes. He said the
way to eliminate the red ink figures
is to economic by reducing employees
and appropriations and combing de-
partments. But he offered no definite
suggestions as to how the deed Is to
= "a
passing the buck" For, as one leg1s-
1ator pointed out today. If there are
any superfluous commissioners, offices
or officials, it is the duty Of the gov
ernor to point them out and not gener.
alize.
It is generally accepted that the
house has deep seated conviction on
the tax situation that will oppose any
increase in the tax levy if there Is any
other possible way to prevent 1t. But
In the senate. members declare the
present situation is not matter Of
sentiment about keeping down taxes
but situation foisted upon the legfs-
lature by the neglect and bad manage
ment Of legislatures and executive
councils of the last several years and
that the state should not be made to
suffer because of its officers mistakes.
The mistake" referred to Is the
failure of the last executive council to
raise the tax levy sufficiently to pro-
vide funds to meet the obligations as
sumed by the last legislature.
AS a matter Of fact the shortage Of
funds is due to the policy of the legis-
lature and the executive councils for
several years. Ten years ago the state
was carrying surplus OF S1,50O,O00
in the treasury. The legislature and
the councils thought the surplus was
So they began to trim
it down by cutting the levy, or failing
to increase the levy Thus this year,
there isn't red cent of surplus in the
treasury. The result is the financial
situation The state is not really in
debt. Enough money will have been
collected by January I. 1918, to pay all
the appropriated obligations of the
state. But the trouble lies in the fact
that all the money is due June 30, 1917,
and all taxes are not paid in by that
time. The bulk Of the money will come
in in October. But the state, IL demand
is made for the payment Of the million
and a half. will have to let banks pay
the warrants and pay the banks per
cent interest on the warrants until the
state has funds to redeem them.
There are those who believe the
Harding message Saturday was "roor-
back on the governor himself. He
asked for an appropriation OF 100000
to check up railroad valuations. It
will be suggested to him that economy
should start at home and that he
should get along with smaller appro-
priation, say one-half of the amount
now requested.
Chairmen Of the house and senate
appropriations committees differ on
the situation.