Weekly journal-miner., 1919-02-19
ARIZONA BROKE RECKLESSNESS
 AND WASTE
IMPOVERISHED STATE IN STITUTIONS; GOVERNOR TAKES FALL OUT OF OLD COMMISSION FOR ITS CAREFREE SPENDING.
Especial to the JournaI-Miner.)

expected as result OI GONSl hOt Campbell's message to the legisla- ture, calling attention to the wild and carefree manner in which the commission of state institutions spent the states money during the last few weeks of the Hunt admins tration, leaving Arizona all but bank rupt, with deficits in the funds of most of the institutions. Comment from over the state seems to be un divided on the question. It appears from the opinions of some that the retiring administration loaded the institutions Up with expenditures for every conceivable thing, until now, it will take over half a million dol lars to brace things up until some sorting over can be done.
 There seems to be an excuse for some of the deficits. The cost of everything had gone up so enthusi- astically since the appropriations had been made by the legislature of 1917, that funds were not big enough to cover. In fact, even in normal times some of the funds would have need ed stretching.
 Governor Campbell, in his mes, sage, makes no bones of the fact that the state was run in a reckless fasn- ion. He says in part:
 The Message.
 Sirs:
 In my message to your honorable body, January Is, 1919, l called at tention to the confusion existing iu the states finances and also to the condition of the various state institu tional funds. That the situation was serious l was then aware, even after cursory investigation, but how se- rious l was not fully aware, until at my request a detailed statement was furnished me several days since by the commission of state institutions This statement shows that nearly all state institutions had, on the 3lst day of December, 1918 either used their entire maintenance appropria- tions for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1919, or mad not sufficient funds to carry them through the balance of the fiscal year, and that various pay rolls were being held Up by reason of lack of funds.
 In other words, all the money avail able for institutional activities of various kinds appropriated by the Third state legislature for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1919, was ex- pended to date of December 31, 1919, leaving a period of six months with out any funds available at this time to maintain these institutions In addition to this condition of affairs, there now exists a deficit of $44,- | 25l.60. As stated in the commission of state institutions report, emer. gency appropriations totalling $4sS,- 287.28 are absolutely necessary to tide them through the fiscal year.
 Wiley Jones' Opinion.
 A little history relative to the pres ent financial crisis will prove not only informative, but illuminative. Under an opinion of the attorney general, rendered January 29, 1918, that official advised the commission of state institutions that it was em- powered under the law creating that body, in event funds appropriated b, the general appropriation bill for the maintenance of various institutions were depleted, to meet the expenses of any state institution up to June 30, 1919, and thus avoid the use o, state certificates of indebtedness. This opinion I am incorporating in full for your consideration.
 Governor Campbell then quotes the opinion of Attorney General Jones, upon which the commission of state Institutions based their expenditures, and continues:
 Under the license granted bY this broad and sweeping interpretation of the law by the attorney general, the commission of state institutions felt privileged and did expend without reservation, and transferred money from one fund to another in reckless disregard of the safeguards which the several institutional funds of the state.
 Refuses to Pay.
 "On January II, 1919, information came to my attention through the presentation of warrants by the state auditor I refused to honor with my signature %O32.3O worth drawn up- on the deficit fund of the state iu- dustrial school, and on January g, 1 1919, addressed to him the following letter, feeling that the attorney gem erals opinion having served its pur- pose, the facts should be marshaled for presentation to your body"
 Governor Campbell quotes the cor respondence between himself and State Auditor Boyce in the matter of the deficits, after which he concludes l his message as follows:
 Then came the deluge. Inquiry i developed situation taxing ones eredulity--funds not only exhausted