Milford chronicle., 1930-12-19

naaHlA- n1l1gsp 1e...
up-not looking for faults, but look
ing for better methods of making the
government serviceable to its citi.
aens.
I'm reviewing the work done by
the League, it Is perhaps fair to say
that in the last four years it has
been the foremost agency in the
State in analyzing and in making
more generally understood the finan-
cial practices, operations, and cOndi-
tion of the State government. 1t may
perhaps be fair to claim that the
League is largely responsible for the
more general realization by officials
and citizens of the growing surplus
in the States funds-a surplus which
has increased from $4,000 in 1916
TO over twelve and One-half million
dollars on June 80, 1880. Also, its
analyses of the States bonded debt
and sinking fund have, we feel, con-
tributed in some measure to the con-
sideration which in the last two years
has been given to this important
problem.
Praises State Officials
Il must express a deep feeling that
there is not adequate public appre-
citation of what has been achieved by
State officials as a result of the bet
ter understanding of the States fl
nancial resources. The Legislature
of 1929 eliminated the last vestige of
a State property tax by repeating the
15-cent tax on real and personal
property for school purposes. By
legislative action, the State also took
over the payment of county road
bonds and provided for the elimina-
tiOn of any county tax on account of
these bonds. The legislature also
slmplified the franchise taxes, in
creased the income-tax exemption,
and reduced certain business taxes.
/ feel that the Legislature Of 1929
has not received adequate credit for
these accomplishments.
'In the reduction of the States
bonded debt, the record is even more
remarkable.
"In the first two years of the ad-
of our present COVER
nor has been retired (including what
will be retired on January u rs $40
per cent of all the highway bonds
issued by the State. The achieve
ment of Delaware in retiring rs per
cent of its highway bonds is one that
cannot be duplicated or approached
by any other State in the Onion.
Money Saved For State
Il have made careful calculation
of the interest and sinking-fund
charges that will be saved to the
highway fund by the retirement of
these bonds, as compared with what
it would have cost the highway fund
il they had run to maturity. 1t
to an average annual saw
ing of over $496,0O0 for 40 years. The |
total is the astonishing amount of
more than $19,870, ,000-saved to the
Department and diverted
from debt charges to the construc-
ito nand maintenance of State high !
ways. The credit for this unparal-
leled accomplishment is due entirely |
to Governor Buck.
Another of the Leagues earliest !
on which we are still work |
ing is that of the States accounting |
II should like to describe what |
work the League has done in study |
ng the possibilities of a consolidat-
I'd budget of all the States revenue
Ind expenditures, so that for once
ne could have a complete picture of
he States entire financial program; |
he consolidation of special funds for
he better conservation and use of !
he States resources; the attempt to
MEASURE the extent of practicable
AK reduction; modern methods of
deeds and other legal doc
lments, and other subjects which l
ave not even time to mention. These,
lowever, must pass by and come to
ny last point. -i a
Aids Governor Buck
shortly after the Inauguration of
Governor Buck in 1929, he asked the
'axpayers' Research League for its
ssistance in studying the possible
of a department of pub
C welfare for co-ordinatfng the in
titutional and other welfare activi-
es of the State, with a vi"w to CIV :