Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-05-21
Message States Deficit
Looms If Money
Bills Die
BOND ISSUE
Would Have Chance liz
Recess Taken Rather
Than Adjournment

AUSTIN, May 2l-tP1-GOv. Ross
$. Sterling today recommended that
the legislature recess Its regular
session tomorrow until some day
certain" within the next few weeks.
The governor pointed out that
hundreds ~ bills would die on the
calendars tomorrow. He stated
they would keep their places II the
session were recessed instead OF =
special session being called. The ne
cessity of recognizing also would
be obvlated, he explained.
The chief executive stated he UNI
deTstOOd such a procedure. although
unprecedented. was permissible.
The governor said that using
the medium between the amounts
81 the senate and house appropria-
tons bills, the most liberal calcula-
tions left no reasonable hope for a
remaining indicated deficit or less
than S5-000.O 900 by the end of the
next biennium. The approprla-
tiOns must be decreased. Or the re-
venues increased. or both. he said.
In the event the legislature does
not recess. a special session "ap-
pears quite probable. to deal fur
Their with the problem Of revenues
and expenditures and perhaps other
important matters Governor Ster-
ling stated.
The $4,000 900 state highway
bond issue cold be considered again
in a recessed session. ~ could not
be taken UP In a special session.
The governors message was read
70 both houses. Mr., Sterling said
that Ito diSSlpate such an enormous
discrepancy between income and
expenditures nv the pruning method
would require the veto OF sc many
individual items as would likely
disrupt the operation OK the Instl-
buttons and department."
And in event NJ should be neces-
Sary,' the governor continued. in
order To bring the appropriations
within the revenues. 10 veto so
many items that the divisions or
government would be crippled. the
executive would feel compelled
rather to veto the entire bills; which
would necessltate an extraordinary
session OF the legislature 70 recon-
slider the appropriations
The only alternative 10 such N
course would be ~ raise the ad val
OrCm tax rate ID It's constitutional
maximum; and / believe the homes.
farms, ranches and other property
or the people of Texas already are
overtaXcd and are paying more
than their prOportionate share OF
the cost Of government, especially
considering present economic con-
ditiOns.'
Governor Sterling pointed u the
Generalization or the petroleum
market" stating 10 had reduced the
gross production taxes by millions.
"I know YOU ladies and gentle
men are weary Of legIslatlng and
are impatient 70 return 20 your
homes and your long neglected pri-
waite affairs. You have tOiled longer
and more faithfully. with less de-
traction from duty. than any pre-
vi0us lawmakinF assembly OF the
states history. You have well just
flied the high public trust reposed
I'm you: you have served diligently
the interests of the people who
sent you here. and YOU have earn
ed the reward of their appreciation
and confidence.
Eat the same time. despite your
] earnest c~ndCavorE. the entire pro-
ran of legislation which you have
undertaken Is short or completion
by several hundred measures: and
CONTINUED on page l0)