Arizona republican., 1921-08-03
STATE DEPARTMENTS. OPPOSE REDUCTIONS I'M APPROPRIATE IONS

That the state corporation commits sion cannot stand cut of the ap- propriation for its expenses from s60.000 to $40.000 as suggested by the committee of taxpayers was the bur den of a letter from the commission to the governor in reply to his com- munication setting out the recom- mendation of the committee with re- spect to that department. The conn mission points out that 1t is revenue producing department and that a 'curtailment of it's force such as would follow reduction of the appropria tion probably would result in a re- duction of the revenue which now bears a proportion of four to one for the expenditures.
 Letters have been received at the office of the governor from nearly all the other departments and all of them find that reduction of their appropriations would result in an im- pairment of efficiency.
 The letter from the commission in part. follows:
 During the consideration of the general appropriation bill by the last session of the legislature, represen- tative of this commission appeared before the lawmakers and voluntarily proposed a cut from $69.000, the amount originally asked for. to s60,- GOO. it being stated at the time that while the original amount was con- sidered reasonable the commission was willing to tighten up on its ex- penditures to the utmost in the inc terest of economy In view of this the proposed further reduction of s3 1-3 per cent will have the most serious effect of reducing the eff
 ciency of this department and the
 value of its work fully 50 per cent. 'The major part of our work con- sists of supervising and regulating the operations of the railroads and other common carriers and represent ing the states interests before the interstate commerce commission. This work has not been slackened or diminished in any degree by the busi- ness depression. On the contrary, l it is now up to us to fight as we have never fought before in the interest of | just. reasonable and non -discrimina- ! tory rates.
 within the last IF months this ! commission has been directly respon-
 sible for saving the people of Arizona upwards of s2.0o0.00o in protesting 1 the general advance in railroad rates | ordered by the interstate commerce
 commission, and which the railroads | sought to make applicable to intra- state rates The testimony of the
 railroads before the interstate com mission was that the refusal of this commission to grant the advance had
 cost them $1S2000 per month for ten
 morths, or a total of s1.320. 900. When l the interstate commission finally | ordered the rates raised in Arizona several important exemptions were | made, notably on sand and gravel for road making, creamery products, ore and livestock. The saving to the road
 makers in Maricopa county was s200.-
 900, and the saving on the other lines
 exempt will easily bring the total
 figure to $2,o0oo0o.
 "Other cases of grave moment tc
 the future of our agricultural and | industrial development are pending
 mission and must be prosecuted with all the power at our command.
 l ,"Another point to be kept in mind
 "This Is a revenue producing de. | partment We have always taken fl from three to four dollars for ever, dollar expended. We must maintain the force necessary to do the worl
 or the fees will not be forthcoming It has always been our desire ant purpose to Keep our clerical force ant administrative expenses down to tn,
 lowest possible minimum and with (
 full realization of the unhappy condi.
 tion now confronting us we shall re
 double our efforts in this direction
 and retrench wherever retrenchmen
 is possible without impairing publi, interests. The last session of tn, : legislature added materially to tn, duties of the commission and addes also to the revenues which will b ] collected by this department for tn state. This has naturally added t, the expense of administration. "All things considered we heliev, , that any reduction in this depart
 ment will fall in the class of fals economy. At the same time if 1t i
 deemed advisable by your excellenc, ' to call a special session. allow us t,
 assure you that this commission vii earnestly and heartily cooperate witt you and the legislature in reviewing } the needs of the department for tn l biennium before us and will join fl every proper effort to relieve tn | situation.