Arizona republican., 1922-03-29
LEGISLATURE:
TAKES UP DAY
DISCUSSING
.F|NANCECODE
Night Session Held BY SEN
ate To Hear State En-
gineer Express Opinion
On Proposed Amendment

gineer Express Opinion
On Proposed Amendment
The elevated points OF the session
OF the legislature yesterday were: The
nearly all-day discussion on second
reading of the financial code, ex-
tenNng into a night session: the in
PRODUCTION OF a bill into the senate
requiring of persons or corporations
using the public highways for profit
a dividend 10 be turned into the state
treasury equal to 20 per cent OF their
total receipts; the passage of House
Bill II, making appropriation for the
current and contingent expenses OF
the session for the next two weeks or
to the end OF next week: the con-
sideration OF the banking code by the
house, and last but by no means least,
House Bill SO, for the expansion OF
this reclamation district.
The bill taxing state and freight
companies using the public high
ways was introduced by President
Wilkinson and Mr.. Elliott. II re-
quires thai an individual or a COM
pany shall pay into the state treasury
annually a sum equal TO 20 per cent
OF its gross receipts. Returns shall
be made monthly OF the receipts OF
the line. and the state treasurer is
authorized 10 check such statements.
For that purpose a special depart
ment is to be created in the office Of
the treasurer.
The dividend thus received from
the lines is to be divided between
the state and the counties. the state
engineer TO determine the distance
the lines run over state highways and
the distance over county highways,
the tax TO be divided in that ratio.
Before a certificate shall be granted
to an individual or company to con-
duct a passenger and freight line a
surety bond must be given for the
payment Of the tax that may accrue.
There are. beside. penalties for the
violation OF the provisions of the
bill Needless to say, receipts from
this source are TO be credited TO the
road fund.
Take Up Financial Code
AS soon as the routine matter OF
the senate had been disposed .of IN
the morning session Senate Bill 43,
the financial code. was taken UP on
second reading and several amend
ments which had been in course Of
preparation since last Friday were
presented by Chairman Elliott in
charge of the bill.
These amendments all related TO
clauses OF the code affecting the pub
lie school fund. the appropriation for
the university and the state highway
department. They were intended. as
far as possible, to meet the objec-
tions which representatives Of these
departments had offered to the code
and at the same time 10 preserve the
structure OF the code from destruc-
ton.
The legislative COMMITTEES of the
state teachers association had de-
nanded that. the code contains con-
tinuing appropriation of not less than
Se5 per capita for the state school
fund. There had been reference TO
that in the bill as it was originally
drafted, but it had been stricken out
with the understanding that that
amount would be provided in the
forthcoming general appropriation
bill The teachers declared war.
The amendment offered by Mr..
Elliott does not contain the approp-
ration, but authorizes the legislature
to make such an annual appropria-
ton for the state school fund. The
teachers say that this is unsatisfac-
tory. and, assuming that the senate
will pass the. bill so amended. they
declare that they will carry the fight
to the house and later will seek an
amendment to the constitution to give
further permanency to their idea Of
state school fund policy. A member
of the legislative committee admit
ted yesterday that the Elliott amend
ment was as liberal as it could be u
the policy that the legislature had
adopted with respect to A financial
code was TO be maintained.
For University Support
Another amendment makes similar
provision for the annual levy for the
support of the university about which
there has been less controversy.
These matters were disposed OF be-
fore noon and Mr.. Elliott offered
amendments 10 the paragraphs OF
the code relating to the state high
way department. He stated that they
had been prepared after confer
ence with state Engineer Maddox
and they were designed to overcome
the criticism which the state en-
sineer had offered to the bill.
Mr.. Larson asked II the amend
ments were an agreed upon solution
OF the differences between the state
engineer and the committee. Mr..
Elliott replied that they were not.
Mr.. Larson then suggested that the
state engineer be given an oppor-
tunity to present his views to the
senate, and the debate on that propo-
sition consumed the rest of the fore
noon.
A part of Section 4 of the bill pro-
vides, mo warrant shall be drawn for
claims on account of new construc-
tion of whatsoever kind, the money
for which is authorized in any bin
or act carrying an appropriation. un-
til the first day Of December next
after the adjournment of the legis-
lature enacting such measure"
Special objection had been made
TO this provision on the ground that
it would effectually stop all con-
struction work after July l and until
December / While that was not sub
mitted, the provision was amended
in two particulars. one of them con-
fining the funds against which war
rants should not be drs TO those
raised by taxation and the other,
adding to the clause the saving
(Contiuued on Page Two)