The Coconino sun., 1927-04-01
LEGISLATURE STANDS
AND ANSWERS GOVERNOR
HUNTS VETO OF HIGHWAY
BILL; NOW UP TO S0LONS

supreme court OF the state OF Arizona
has declared that the official records
of the legislature were sufficient rec
cord Of the degal enactment in law
of any BILL
at should be evident to all that
that the governors duty is to decide
as to the merits or denerits of the
bill solely. Why should the COVER
nor question a decision of the sup
RENE court?
1.-TWO days prior to his veto, the
governor gave his approval to house
similar procedure. Furthermore, the
governor, two years ago, signed the
general appropriation bill which was
passed in similar manner TO this
highway bill and he is now drawing
his salary under that appropriation.
''The governors second objection
was to the general provisions of this
BILL His first point being that the
bill fails to outline comprehensive
highway program.
"a study of the qualifications, pow
ers and duties of the proposed high
way commission is ample justification
of our contention that this bill does
make provisions for business-like
administration of complete highway
system throughout the state, with
particular attention to the per cent
system, not restricting the commits
sion in the compulsory construction
of specific highways based upon poll
itical expediency. In the opinion OF
the legislature nothing would so inter-
n fYss,4i
of highways as to burden the conn
mission with a 'log-rolling' program
such as would result if the legisla-
ture ordered the commission to pro-
ceed forthwith upon the construction
of large number of specific projects
without allowing the commission to
exercise due consideration to the
needs of the state as whole.
ssThe second point refers to the 28-
cent levy for highway purposes.
''The governor contends that in
spite of this rate the highway depart
ment is still not adequately financed.
Of the 28-cent levy, 10 cents is re-
quired to pay back debts of the pres
ent department and to replace it up
on a cash basis.
''The governor demands that the
highway creditors be paid and the
legislature agrees they should be
paid A separate appropriation as
the governor insists would not alter
the amount to be raised by taxation,
nor decrease the levy.
at was necessary to appropriate
S2S5 200 to take advantage of feder.
al aid which would lapse within the
next few months, this together with
the creditors fund accounts for Il
cents or one-half of the 28-cent levy.
'"The proceeds from the other Ia
cent levy for the fiscal year 1927
% is made available to be used BY
the commission for the operation.
maintenance and construction in the
manner deemed by them most expedi
ent.
The governor has endeavored to
create the impression that the tax
rate of 28 cents for highway purposes
has been fixed for every year. As a
matter Of fact the levy for the second
year viii amount to approximately
Is cents, and ten cents for each year
thereafter.
"The proceeds from the aforemen-
toned levies viii be expended approx
imately as follows for the year 1927,
%:
General operation ......-.-....... s2oo, ,ooo
"Motor vehicle department
operation .--..----.--.-.--.--.-- 100000
Maintenance ....--.-.-..-..-..-. 100000
Federal aid projects .... 100000
"State system other than
per cent .............................. 267,500
"The item of S1,O0,000 for federal
aid projects noted above will, if prop
erlly matched, cause to be expended
on the state roads for each year a
sum not less than $2,500,000.
after considering the above set
up the legislature was convinced that
| the highway department was ade-
quately financed and if administered
as provided in this bill could proceed
on a cash basis to properly construct
and maintain a complete system of
state highways.
Investigation has shown that the
use of the imprest fund has been
abused by all past administrations,
The present legislature feels that this
fund should be reduced to $4,000 and
an itemized record of the same be
kept in order to eliminate as far as
possible future misuse of this fund