The Mena weekly star., 1919-03-27
GOVERNOR DROUCH FOR "SAFETYF|RST"
Says Will Not Call Extra Legislative Session Unless Assured That Both Houses Win Stand by Him in
 Placing State on Cash Basis.

Little Rock, March 20.--The politi- cal and economic question that is up-
 permost just no wis that of calling
 an extra session of the legislature.
 Governor Brcugh will not call 1t
 unless he has the assurance of ma
 iority of each house, that they will
 stand by him, and assist in the en- actment of Legislation that will assist
 in placing the state on permanent
 cash basis.
 in reply to suggestions made by
 Col Thomas c. McRae of Prescott, that drastic action be taken as re- buke to the legislature for it's failure to take care of the financial situation, he says:
 T fully agree with you that a grave mistake was made by the Gen. eral Assembly in failing to take care of the budgetary requirements of Arr kansas for the next biennial period | fully agree with you further that it will be necessary for me to either veto or withhold considerable amount of the impending deficit
 However, Judge McRae, wish to say this in defense of the General Assembly, that 60-day session is entirely too short to adequately con slider both local and general legisla- tion--1252 bills were introduced and approximately 800 of them were passed by both houses.
 "In my opinion, our legislators should be put on a salary basis, as the defeated Constitution proposed, and allowed to remain for such time as necessary to transact the business of the state. The Budget Commit tee of both houses worked day and night, but unfortunately the appro- ipriation bills were considered only the last week of the session.
 Furthermore, it will be impossi- bIe to veto the entire $630,000, which approximately represents the excess appropriations, because to do so would cripple and almost paralyze several necessary state departments for the period between April 1 and the converting of the extraordinary session of the legislature The state comptroller's department advises me that if 1 should withhold the entire amount, such action on my part would involve the crippling of the charita- Dle and eleomosynary institutions of the state.
 "The administration presented a | plan, which passed the Senate but was defeated in the House, for the levy of one mill for one year for the support of the general revenue fund, which would yield approximately $550,000 on the present basis of as- you suggest, to consider the plan of levying one mill for one year. But, of course, it would be folly to do this, sessment. 1t has been suggested that the Tax Commission increase the per centage basis of assessment from 50 to, say, 75 per cent, but this seems unwise, inasmuch as it would mean the increase of the tax rate for all purposes from approximately $27 per Sl000 to $41 per 5000.
 "The millage fund, the county gen. eral fund, the State Confederate Pension Fund, the road fund, the school fund, the sinking funl, and a number of other funds would be re- plenished in an effort to strengthen the one link in our financial system, namely, the General Revenue Fund.
 T greatly appreciate the fact that you were one of the ablest and fore | most advocates of the budget system in the proposed constitution, the op- eration of which would make such a 1 situation as that which now con- fronts us impossible, and would be 1 designed always to keep the expendi- 1 lures within the revenue.
 Inasmuch as it seems that I can withhold only approximately $200,000 | of the estimated excess of $630,000, l l am seriously considering calling an extra session of the legislature, as unless l can be assured of the sup port of both houses for this pan.
 T shall also probably embrace in the call for the fifteen days session, which would cost approximately S9,000, the question of re-submitting the constitution of 1918, in which the most objectional features were stricken out by Senator Vaughan and the legislative committee, and shall also ask the general assembly to consider the wisdom of passing general highway bill, linking up every county seat in the state.
 q shall communicate with the members of the General Assembly in regard to their approval of call for