Omaha daily bee., 1921-07-11
Nebraska's Appropriation
Senator Hammer Explains Why
So Much Money Is Set Aside.
(From the Nebraska Republican, )

I
Senator Harry Hammer of Butler county
| writing in the Peoples Banner OF David City
recently, inteligently explains some OF the
causes for increased taxes, among which was
the changing of the fiscal year date, throwing
| three months extra onto the bennium; the
raising OF salaries ordered by the people through
the adoption of the constitution; the $2,OO0OOO
appropriated for the belief of disabled soldiers
sailors and nurses, and various other increases
enacted through demand OF the people. SEN
ator Hammers letter follows:
David City, Neb.-To the Editor of the
Peoples Banner: One of the most vital ques-
tons in the minds of the people today is taxa
ton, and through conversation find many peo-
pie are laboring under misapprehensions as to
true conditions of the states budget.
without question the laws and work done
by the 40th session OF the Nebraska legislature
| must in many respects suffer Criticism Some
perhaps just and some unjust
"But relative to the states appropriation let
us but briefly review some recent history OF
Nebraska. and see if the legislature is wholly
responsible for the appropriations totaling near.
ly $30000000. Not long prior to the conven-
ing OF the 40th legislature of Nebraska the con-
stitutional amendments were voted upon and
made part of the constitution of the great state
of Nebraska These constitutional amendments.
provided for raises in salary for the heads of the
departments. The people by their direct vote
are responsible for this raise and not the legis-
lature. Now the heads having been raised, nat
uraly the deputies whose responsibilities are
nearly equal and labors more would demand a
raise. OF course the legislature made the en-
actment for the raise, but the people are re-
sponsible, for through their acceptance of the
constitutional amendments they provided for the
basic raise.
Relative to the new state tax commissioner,
this was also a creation by the direct vote of
the people, and now consuming $32080 for its
existence, and put into operation by the legis-
lature.
"The 40th session OF the Nebraska legislature
had many new problems in the way of finance.
Laborng on the finance committee for some 40
preparations for the states expenditures are
very little in excess of the last bienniunl. But
now since the close of the war abnormal condi-
tionS have caused appropriations to soar
and reach record mark. As many people be-
lieve the sum was appropriated for "a months
but instead was appropriated for u. Now you
wonder why? A bill enacted into law changed
the termination of the fiscal year to June 81 This
was done to put the land tax in the state treas
ury to avoid the necessity of issuing state war
rants where funds were not available. Hence
u months instead of a. Here we can shorten
up our appropriations for the biennium approx
imately one and one-half millions.
"Also now let us consider some items caused
by the recent war. There was $2,000,000 ap-
preparation act for relief of disabled soldiers,
sailors and nurses $4,000 of which goes to their
immediate relief $o50,000 is held in trust fund
by the state, the interest from which goes for
their relief. Can anyone criticise the legislature
for this? No. There is justification in this and
we'll appropriated, for the disabled must be cared
for and are deserving of the cost of care.
Next in consideration is an item or $326780
for vocational training, or the training of dis
abled for some trade so they may be not de-
pendent Third, the memorial gymnasium, a.
h,11d fn he &c
war veterans of Nebraska, to the living and the
ones in the great beyond, the sum of $250000
to be met with $350,000 by popular subscription.
This was purely a business proposition getting
100000 building, and cost $250,000 TO the tax
payer. If it had not been passed by this legisla-
expended the whole 100000 or 100000, as was
contemplated at first Fourth, one item is $l25,-
600 for pavement of the Fort Crook road lead
ing into Omaha. This is federal fort and
through war time and prior the tonnage hauled
by trucks was considerable The character of
the road makes it often impossible. This ex-
penditure was caused by the federal government
putting up $l50,oO0 to be met with like amount
from the state Sarpy county putting up $25,000,
makes $3O000O, the estimated price It was do
this or lose the fort. which is valuable to Ne
braska being headquarters for several states.
Fifth, great many world war veterans are
in the institutions for care, thus causing some
extra expense. Civil war veterans, and Span
ish-American veterans are fast filling the homes
and needing more care, making necessary more
expenditures. And these must be cared for by
all means.
"Now an item of Sl58,3S4 for reimbursement
of Lincoln citizens who rebuilt the cattle barn
at the fair grounds where the old one was de-
stroyed by fire.
"These are all expenditures of an abnormal
condition and must be met Unlucly for the
taxpayer, though, they had to be met at the pres
ent time. So now we can easily figure that the
state government is not costing only a trihe
more than last biennun1. The excess can be
accounted for by raise in salaries provided for
by constitutional amendments. Also a rapidly
growing population in our charitable and penal
institutions. So we can say approximately $780,
600 is due to the direct vote of the people by
raising salaries through adoption of constitution
al amendments
''In conclusion, while we are looking for low
er taxes in face of the fact of rapidly growing
population in our institutions, bigger and bet
ter state university, and more reformatories be-
ing erected, we are very unfortunately looking
in vain tor few years. So we must conclude
in face of all evidence not to look for lower
tax but gradual increase Very truly yours,
HARRY HAMMER"