Arizona republican., 1921-08-05
SPECIAL SESSION GALL NUT LIKELY. GENERAL BELIEF

Talk of a special session of the legislature had somewhat subsided yesterday and though no announce 1 Iaent was made by the governor and though no hint was thrown out by him as to his action, it is the pop clsr impression that he will not issue a call
 1t is generally understood that a special session would fail of the pur- rose for which it would be called, that of cutting down the appropria- tons made in the regular session, though the legislature should meet TOW at the earliest moment and every member of it should be in favor cf the reduction proposed and could agree at once on q program of re- srenchment-
 It is pointed out that not enough time remains before the expiration et the limit next Monday, a limit that seems to have been unobserved by those advocating a special session The board of equalization is now in session and its work must be com pieted next Monday. If at that time tt has not made the levy a levy of sk cents enSues automatically under paragraph 4S35 of the Revised Stat uteA law that was put upon the books in the old territorial days and which was carried into the Revised Statutes Its existence was not gen. erally known for the reason that no such situation as the present arose 10 call attention to it's existence.
 The board of equalization cannot extend the time beyond the second Monday of August for making the levy and transmitting it to the boards cf supervisors. It was suggested that the action of the board might be held up by an injunction until the legis- iature would have time to act. But such . proceeding is estopped by the Enguage of the statute, but if for any reason the board fof eQualiza- tion) fails to sit or the board of supervisors fails to receive the state fment of rate of tax ordered by said hcard of equalization, the rate of eeventy-five cents will be deemed to be levied and the board of supervis- orx of each county in making up the tax roll required by law shall com rute and carry out in the proper col umns q state tax at the aforesaid rate
 State Librarian Con F. Cronin sug- geeted a way by which the situation might be relieved 1t involves the calling together of the heads of all the Departments and the laying before them the necessity O. retrenchment 1t would be useless, said MT. Cronin. for one to say that the expenses of his department could not be cut down. There are circumstances in ~hich the force of every department would have to be cut down. Tn my own department said Mir. Cronin, T could not reduce my force without greatly affecting our efficiency. We would simply have to do the best we could If there was nothing else to do There is not an office about the state house; there is not an institu- tion for which appropriation was made by the Fifth legislature, that cannot get along with less if it were compelled to do 60. It would have to proceed after a fashion.
 The levy, though. would have to 6e made and the money would come into the treasury or In the books. but it would not be spent. Say the re- trenchmenf that might be agreed upon at the meeting of the heads of tho departments would amount to as much as 25 per cent. even more than Was recommended by the taxpayers committee
 ThAt saving would go over to the next year, so that the state board of equalization could take that into ac- count in making next years levy. N04la oc q A5k-t Ofic
 The thing aimed at immediately is the relief of the taxpayer and if happens this year that 1t is the large taxpayer who is more greatly in need of relief. There are some men, own CTS of a great deal of property, who are in a situation that leaves it diff ficuit if not impossible for them te meet their tax bills
 For the relief of the taxpayers tht next thing would be the declaration Of . moratorium. for which purpose the governor might call the legisla- ture into a conference"
 It was suggested to Mr. Cronir that in the case of moratorium al to the payment of taxes, not onl, would those avail themselves of i who would be compelled to do so, bu taxpayers generally would hold out.
 That" said MT. Cronin, "is some thing that woud have to be consideret but I think that ,or any situation il which taxes would not be paid coul' be met by the enactment of anothe anticipatory bond tax law in spe csa1 session.