The copper era and Morenci leader., 1921-08-19

| interfere with highway deVelopmeH' in this state.
 The Governor places highway con struction on a par with public school ing and insists that whatever econo- mics may be effected in other depart ments, nothing shall be done to thwart the development of the state along educational and road construc- tion lines.
 | Following the demand of tax reduc- | tionists for an extra session Governor Campbell sent out an inquiry to the legislators asking their views. A con- posite of their letters. he says, would read about as follows: l I have been impressed with the great need for economy and believe that some reductions could be made in the appropriations for various State | departments and institutions but am not in favor of interfering with our l schools, crippling our educational in- stitutions or curtaiIng the permanent highway construction of the state. In letter to R. Norton, chairman of the Nogales Taxpayers Conference Committee, the Gover1for, in outlin- ing his reasons for declining to call an extra session at this time pointed out that through executive action the state might be saved $505, ,73O.00. Re ferring to the method of arriving at this figure, the governor said:
 l did not take into account or con slider any reductions from specific ap iof fnfa hi r11xr amounting to $SO5, 100000, nor do disturb the present levy of five mills for continuation of road construction and maintenance contributed by and expended within the various counties. This for the reason that with one eX- ception all of the special appropria- tionS referred to for highway con- struction have either been expended contracts have been let, or they are pledged on Federal Aid projects, including likewise the major portion of the five mill tax on the various counties which make said contribu- tion to highway construction and maintenance. The exception referred to consists in the specific appro- priation of $75,000.00 for use in re- pairing the Apache Trail contingent upon it being met by $250, 100000 to be contributed by Maricopa County.
 Governor Assumes Responsibility
 For this desicion,'' said the gover- nor, T must and do assume my res Ionsibility, believing in doing so 1 am acting for the best interests of all the people"
 Before reaching his decision as to advisability of an extra session, Gov ernor Campbell called upon heads of ,.fn tnl tot iy1ct ha | duction proposed by the tax commit l tee would affect their departments. Thomas Maddock. state engineer, | wrote the Governor that the entire | uneXepended portion of the state road appropriation might be cancelled, but brought out the fact that such action, CT any cut IF fact would be a step | backward, and counseled against it. His letter in full reads as follows: Engineers Viewpoint Hon. Thos. E. Campbell,
 Governor of Arizona.
 State House, City.
 Dear Sir:
 Your letter, together with petition from sixty taxpayers requesting the reduction of the expenditure for the Arizona Highway Department, re- ceived
 The total road funds raised by tax ation in two years as the result of legislation in 1919, was $2,625 O0O. This years legislature passed laws providing for S1,735.OO. The Omnibus 1 BiII-Senate Bill 51-is included in these figures which are based ori $500 .OOO, ,OOO State valuation for this and next year. The 1919 legislature provided 5O@o more funds to be raised l bv taxation than did the legislature of 1921. Road construction, therefore is not the cause of any increased State tax rate.
 Back to the Good Old Days If advisable, however. a further cnt ! can be made in the State road eX- renditures. not only in the items sug- 1 gested by the sixty taxpayers, but, II l necessary. the entire uneXpended DOT tion of the state road appropriatloh might be cancelled. People lived ln the state without railroads. automo- piles. trucks or good roads, and. ii re- duired, can no douH. again do so, l People existed and wee happy If | this State without zee. electricity 1 telephones or innumerable modern 1 conyeniences because they were un' known or it was impossible to get them. The, efore, if conditions war | rant, all state highway work can DC abandoned.
 Specially, of the sSO5 900 appropria
 tion in Senate Bill 51, $609,O0O h2
 been expenG"d; s309,o0O being a ten porary loan to other projects. Of this $500 .OOO, $13S,OOO has been paid bacf by Federal Funds received since th' adjournment of the Legislature: Practically all of the $8O9,OOO I either contracted or is being eXpendet by State forces. Most of this sur is tied up with agreements with tn Federal Government
 Where the Money Goes The S6O 0O0s Prison Fund is now 3e ing expended at the prison camp.
 The S3O,OO0 WickenhT' G-Parke
 Fund is being held for cooler weathe ] and also additional Federal Aid.
 The e.s25 900 Winslow-Holbrook nun \ is likewise being held for matchln
 with Federal Aid.
 Tho s75.OO0 Apache Trail fund