The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-03-02

Fear Report
on Finances
Members of Investigate >sSIs
mittee Refuse to y y -
Postcard ST. ~
''''''S Siren. re- w.
Treasurer Upsets Dope

Lincoln, March 1.-(Special. Demo
cratic members of the joint house
and senate committee appointed to
make an investigation of the state
finance declined to meet with repub.
lican members of the committee early
this week for the purpose of prepar.
ing a report.
The reason assigned for failure Of
the democrats to meet with the COM
mittee was that they feared to make
public at this time the truth about
state finances and complied with a re-
quest of Governor Bryan to delay the
report as long as possible.
1t was charged here today that the
governor desired to muster as many
postal cards as possible before the
fact was revealed to the people of the
state that the state finances were in
better condition than in many years.
and il the truth were printed at this
time, it would tend to make persons
stop, look and listen before they wrote
to their legislators to back the Bryan
Decline to Meet.
Both Representative Book and Sena-
tor Thielen. democratic members OF
the committee. have been in confer
ence with the governor the last few
days. and following the conference.
they declined to meet with the COM
mittee.
A few postal cards from persons in
the state saying they were i'll favor of
a $4,000, 900 cut in appropriations and
cutting the number of employees $50
were received by members today.
THE request sent broadcast by the
governor that any one desiring
1000, 900 reduction in appropriations
and cutting 80 employees off the pay.
roll should support him. is like a re.
vivalist who asks everyone who wants
to 20 to heaven to stand up" Speak
er Mathers said. "Of course, every
one wants to make these reductions
just as every one wants to go to
heaven.
Will Reduce Taxes.
'Eeyery one may rest assured there
will be a tax reduction. no matter
what plan Of government is decided
upon"
While the failure Of the democrats
to meet at this time with the com
mittee was under discussion. c. ID.
Robinson. state treasurer. issued a
statement today which shows that the
overdraft Of tho general f1nd had
been reduced s4s6 900 since January
/. The overdraft in his fund on March
l was si49 900.
Everything indicates that by June
the oyerdraft will be wiped out and
there viii be money in the general
fund." Robinson said.
The last few months have been
poor months Tor collections because
Of litigation tying up bank taxes and
railroad taxes and because of these
facts We have been forced 10 pay gen.
eral fund expenses out OF other
funds.
TAXES Now Being Paid.
However. now that the real estate
taxes have been coming in. the rail
roads have been ordered to pay IS per
cent of their taxes and bank taxes
must come IN following the recent Dc
cislon of the supreme court. we will in
one o. two months wipe out this def
cit.
"The democrats make big play OF
the overdraft. something that at this
time of year with court litigation II
Is impossible 10 avert. The truth Is
that after the overdraft has been met
the state ar this time has s3,2o4113-95
IN Nebraska banks.
THE governor. when he made the
charge that there was approximately
$4,000 600 in deficiencies In The state
treasury. never mentioned the mil
lions the stnte had I'M Nebraska banks
and at the time he made this charge
We had s2.544.757.23. in the banks
after the general fund oserdraft or
$3.50 600. existing at that time, had
l,oeu rarcf for -