Imperial Valley press., 1920-08-19

such individual appropriation bills by
the individual legislators as will be
approved by the governor. In short,
the grand total of appropriation bills
enacted into law next year may run
between $70,000,000 and $75,000,000
for the next biennium and including
similar bills passed in 1919 but not
available until the coming fiscal per-
iod."
"Should the University of Califor-
MIA initiative calling for the direct
taxation of general property to pro-
vide it with a revenue of about 81 900
900 year, be approved by the voters.
the state treasury would be relieved
of what it has been contributing BIZ
ennially, plus the continuous increases
that come every two years. Cham
bers said. ''This would release just
that much more money in the state
treasury for other state purposes.
But the measure is not likely to
pass. First it eXempts from this pro-
posed taxation the property of the
public utilities, such as railroads and
power companies, and places all the
burden on the property of corpora
tions not public utilities, and on the
property Of Tom. Dick and Harry
Likewise, it makes the university very
much of kingdom within a kingdom
an Independent organization free of
legislative control.
will mean an additional drain on the
state treasury of about $1,000,000 a
year. The university must have more
money.
THE school people also have an in
itiative measure before the people
which calls for $2,5OO,O0O a year or
S5,000,0O0 biennium, that the teach
ers may be better paid, and which
should be passed. although it's pro-
ponents have failed to say in what
manner the money shall be raised.
among the other demands, in
creases and requirements for the com
ing biennium are the following:
Equalization and increasing salaries
of Normal school teachers, 81 1,500,000;
orphan and half-orphan aid, $1,000,-'
900; extra highway interest on the
state, should the initiative measure
eXempting counties pass, $3,000,000;
appropriations of 1919 available thru
coming bennium S3,500000 appro-
priations of 1919 available through
coming biennium $3,500,00C; probable
conservative increase in cost Of main
tanning institutions, commissions and
offices and the units of state govern
ment, $3,000,000 Los Angeles storm
control project, s3,000,000, but to ex-
tend over several years necessities,
i S500,000
"This gives total of $40, 100000,
assuming the university initiative will
fail and not including the Los Angeles
project, or individual bills by legis-
lators.
"From present indications, from
S10,000000 to $15.000,000 will be re-
quircd in excess of an estimated sur
plus and revenue Of $6o,000,000 as
available for the coming biennium on
the assumption that the budget and
other appropriations in 1921 will total
from $70,000,000 to $4,000, 900.
"How is this money to be raised?
Various means are suggested, such as
a state tax on general property and
which has not been levied since 1910
an increase in the tax rates on cor
porations; an income tax. and CO.
partnership tax.
"Somc even have had the temerity
TO suggest more economy and greater
efficiency in the management of the
state government. The reorganization
of the state government through con
solidation and simplifcation could be
made to save $1,000,000 year. 1t
should be done. This sum compared
to the huge total may appear small.
but it is large and if not saved now
will grow and grow. and grow until
soon the waste will be $2,0O0,000 81
year.
During the last Legislature such
al opportunity was given in the re
port Of the Efficiency and Economy
committee, which provided for par