Imperial Valley press., 1945-02-16
Sen. HuIse Tells
Rofarians of
MeIoIand Set-Up

Prospects are bright for creation
of a non-degree agricultural college
at Meloland to replace the under
nourished experimental station, de-
clared state Senator Ben Hulse in
a discussion of pending legislation
at the Thursday noon meeting of
the El Centre Rotary club.
Senator HulSe is home during
the intel i'm between sessions of the
state legislature and is using the
time to study the problems repre-
sented by the $500 bills which were
filed. Of these. he expects not
more than 500 stand a chance of
passage.
His Thursday appearance before
the Rotary club was a continuation
cf his talk before the club last week
during which only a limited por-
ton of the legislative outlook was
able to be presented.
SEEKS sI9O,0OO FUND
Legislation was filed by Senator
Hulse whereby Meloland would re-
cieve approximately Sl90000 bien-
nially for its support and mainten-
ance as an active branch of the
state agricultural college at Davis.
The plan is receiving favorable con-
sideration from all quarters, he said,
and is to be investigated personally
by c. B. Hutchinson, dean of the COL
lege who is expected to arrive in Ell
Centre, February ~.
The gist of the senator's summary
was:
A strong battle is being waged in
Sacramento to see that the So
called cow counties" will not be
neglected in the postwar develop
ment programs in favor of the
metropolitan centers.
Example of this is senate bill 625
entered by Hulse. This would set
aside 100 million dollars, from the
expected surplus of $50 millions, for
distribution chiefly to the smaller
counties. This money would be used
for development of postwar county
programs such as roads, county
buildings and the like.
An effort is being made by the
state government to use surplus
funds for government buildings,
while metropolitan centers are try
ing to obtain all possible fer i'm
provements which chiefly would
benefit the large cities, Sen. Hulse
declared.
Additional legislation submitted
by Hulse provides for use of the
state surplus to liquidate all state
debt which is not otherwise self-
liouidating. This would divert scme
26 millions of surplus funds for this
purpose.
SEES BRIGHT PROSPECTS
There is p;rgE-v prospect, Hulse
declared, fer the enlarged veterans
loan program, one phase of which
would place approximately II mil
lion dollars in the hands OF the
state Veterans Welfare bureau and
which could be used to construct
headgates or other essentials to
homesteading new land such as the
East Mesa here in Imperial county.
This would be strong inducement
for the federal government to cffer
such land to veterans. he pointed
out.
While the governors proposed
state budget for the next biennium
is the largest in history, the in
creased size is in direct ratio to
increased population and income.
1t thus represents no increase in
individual taxes.
The reductions in taxes including
sales tax, income and corporation
taxes which have prevailed during
the current biennium period, prob
ably cannot be continued in future
without necessitating other forms
CT taxes, declared the senator.
Hulse was introduced by club
president w. w. McEuen, and was
roundly applauded when he told OF
the prospects for development OF
Meloland and the determination OF
the agricultural counties TO receive
fair share of state funds.