San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-04-18
GOVERNOR NEFF'S MESSAGE


In his message to the Texas Legisla-
ture, upon the converting of that body
in special session last Monday, Governor
Neff said:
1T is obvious that the Legislature
must either enact laws providing addi-
tional revenues or materially reduce the
operating expense of the government.
The state should be placed upon pay
as-vou-go' basis. Conservative thought
and action will go far toward solving
our present financial problem"
Every word of this part of the gov
errors message is indisputably true, un-
less the last sentence is construed lit
orally One may we'll doubt that con-
sentative thought and action will go
far toward solving the state govern
ment's financial problem. Substitute
would" for will" and the assertion
is unquestionable. ...
The governors message as whole
is not the product of conservative
thought" He mentions the two ways
of meeting the situation, and then quick
ly recommends the non-conservative
way. Irstead of material reduction of
the operating expense of the govern
ment, he urges the enactment of eight
laws to produce additional revenues.
Is that his idea of the 'pay-as-you-go"
principle? First he says that it is posi-
bic to solve the problem by practicing
economy, and then he recommends the
adoption of a course that is opposite to
the direction of economy.
1t is rather late for the states chief
executive to begin talking about pay
as you CO." If those who spend the
peoples money had adopted that policy
before the treasury became empty, there
would be no occasion for invoking it
now. The taxpayers have always
wanted the government to conduct the
peoples affairs on a "pay-as-you-go"
basis. But experience has taught them
that the governments extravaganza in
creases with its revenues whenever in
competent officials do the spending.
If Governor Neff had INDUCED in any
conservative thinking, would he have
recommended the enactment of a state
income tax law?
If conservatism had been his guiding
star, would he have been attracted by
the proposal to extend the intangible
assets tax law?
If he had been opposed to- radical
tendencies, would he have conceived the
idea of penalizing oil producers for their
enterprising investment of money in
Texas?
Of the eight tax measures recon-
mended in the governors message, three
are distinctly radical in effect; another,
without partaking of radicalism, offers
Encouragement to business men who
have only recently begun to "'see day
light" again; still another Would not, in
actual operation, add greatly to the
states revenues, because it could easily
be evaded (this being the proposed in
heritance-tax law; and one other be-
trays a misconception of tax exemption.
This leaves only two measures to
consider: One, providing for equaliza-
ton of taxes; the other, designed to
facilitate the collection of delinquent
taxes.
If the Legislature would enact these
two measures, and adjourn without even
so much as considering the others,
fair beginning would be made toward
solution of the states financial problem.
If in addition to the enactment of tax
equalization and delinquent-tax laws the
Legislature would practice the alterna-
tive which Governor Neff mentions but
does not recommend-namely, material
reduction of the operating expenses of
the government-then it wouldn't be
long until the state government would