The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1924-09-10

current years revenue. In this mes
sage to the Special Session, I said:
"Yet despite these repeated warnings
Of impending disaster and in direct
contravention Of the constitutional pro-
visions prohibiting appropriations in
excess OF the current revenues, the
tentative appropriation bills now call
for n and a quarter million dollars
In excess OF any possible revenue for
the coming fiscal year, and also an
additional one and one quarter million
dollars of appropriations for the fiscal
year succeeding.
"Under the constitution and the stat
utes you hold the purse strings to the
states treasury. I do not. The LegiS-
lative Assembly alone can create and
increase the state Indebtedness.
Upon you now rests the sole respOn-
sibility Of determining whether or not
a deaf ear shall be turned to the cry
for relief from increased public indsbt-
edneSs coming from the people OF this
state.
81 know Of no legerdemain Of finance
whereby executive offices can coin dol
lars out Of thin air, even under the
direction Of legislative appropriation
bills made against an empty state
treasury.
Every legislative appropriation bill
for carrying on the work Of the state
government since and including the
year 1918 has exceeded the yearly rev
enue of the state.
During these five years apr0pria-
lions have been made by the lPgisla-
lures in excess Of the receipts, unit
now the %overdraft apprOXimates three
million dollars. The present program
now cOntemplates a further increase OF
the state Indebtedness of more thar
two million dollars.
'SThe present Assembly has alread!
naSSpd a most drastic measure impOs
ing severe penalties on city and county
officials for spending in excess
of the current city and count!
revenues and yet calmly %prOceedS 10
, wards apprOpriating more than tw'
million dollars In excess of tie stat
revenues for the coming biennium."
When the session had finally adjOur
ned. 7 found that while the Legislature
, had scaled the original contemplate
concentrations to the extent of $500
, 600. the appropriation bills, as finall
=, passed. still were about 100000 in e6
, cess of any possible revenue
=, Used Veto for Economy
In the exercise Of the constitutions
mower of the veto, that had been use
: by the Governor Of Pennsylvania tie
wears before, under a constitutions
provision exactly like u own, and
. q last effort to curb legislative apprt
nriations. I gave a percentage veto Gu
4 10 the legislative appropriations
y 100000. But the Supreme Court, o
n q divided vote. held that the percen
l age veto wa not permissible. VINE
the Legislature r~ecOnvened, my q
tempted percentage veto was sustaine
in the repassage Of the new appropri
!. +ion bills. exactly as / had vetoed ther
!, thus finally cutting down the origins
total appropriations by s6OO,OOO' as
had first tried to de by the veto.
Facing the financial situation tn
we did four years ago, in order
make buckle and tongue meet and II
A. the purpose of trying to equalize u
burden Of taxation among all forms
wealth In Montana, / recommended
NJ the Legislature that we take a Sma
roll from the yearly depletion OF o.
natural resources-Oil, coal, and me
4, ais: that we also adopt a modern FOR
NJ an inheritance tax, and also asse
.. for taxation Pullman Cars and priVa
car lines. the PullHsan Car Compal
., having heretofore escaped all arsH'
: an Montana. This was In Aecordan
y, With the policy adopted years ago
nearly svsry other state.