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    "label": "Longoria, Felix  [Investigation by State Legislature",
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    "ocrText": "322\nHOUSE JOURNAL\nFebruary 17, 1949\nHOUSE JOURNAL\n323\nIt is my constitutional duty to Té-\nways two things to to-reduce your\nquately and efficiently, the duties\nI shall call them to your particular\nport to you on the financial position\nneeds or secure more funds.\nand responsibilities of the State.\nattention in special messages.\nof the State.\nApplying this to the State, we\nThere is no one among us-be he\nOthers are estimates which have\nFor the purpose of this message,\nmoney for your needs, there are al-\nthe greatest taxpayer of us all or\nbeen given me by those in position\n1 shall emphasize the situation as to\nmust of course trim our expenditures\nthe humble citizen contributing his\nto know what they whould be.\nthe general revenue of the State.\nto the size of presently available\nmite-but who shudders to think of\nSimply stated. our position is es-\nmoney or get some more money. It\nIn submitting items totaling 367\nthe conditions under which we care\nsentially this:\nis that simple.\nmillion dollara which have boen com-\nfor the afflieted and the handi-\nmended to him as expecially worthy\nIf we levy the State ad valorem\n: do not think I need remind you\ncapped of our people. None, 1 am\nof Legislature consideration and in\ntax (not levied in 1948) for this year\nthat 1 am a \"no-new-tax\" man. 1\nquite sure, ean walk with me\nreporting that, as of now, there is\nand the two years of the next bien-\nadvocated no new taxes in 1946. I\nthrough some of the crumbling in-\nan estimated total of 318 million\nnium-(after which. of course. it\ndefended that position before the\nstitutions of our State, can nit and\ndollars available for appropriation,\ncannot be levied again for State pur-\n50th Legislature and that body\nread with me report after report of\nwhat is the Governor's advice to the\nposes, under which the provisions\nagreed with those views.\ntotally incapacitated people, without\nLegislature?\nof the recently adopted Constitutional\nI still feel It was the wise course,\npossible resource, who are in great\namendment)- shall have avail-\ndistress of body and mind: can\nIt la to sereen with the utmost\nas evidenced by the fact that Texas\nable for appropriation by the\ngreatly expanded ite services during\nstand with me and look upon a\ncare every individual item and re-\nLegislature from the general revenue\ndilapidated diagrace to Texas which\nquest; to assure itself that these re-\nthe present biennium and yet ao-\nthe amount of\ncumulated a surplus of around 100\nwe call our prison system; ean con-\nquested expenditures are not only\nconditions change for the worse be-\nmillion dollars,\nsider the tragically inadequate of-\nwise and destrable and abaolutely\nfore the Legislature adjourns and\nfort we are making to develop our\nneeded, but that they are more Im-\nEssentially, I am still a \"no-new<\nthe State Comptroller is faced with\nyouth: can listen to the story of\nportant, in the general plan of\ntax\" man. 1 feet that the heavy drain\nthe necessity of revising bis estimate\nof Federal taxes plus the ever-in-\npeople in our rural areas who can-\nthings, than other appropriations\ndownward, or unless new revenues\nereasing requirements of local gov-\nnot send thoir children to achool,\nmight be farther down the line: that\nare found\nernment for more tax resources,\ntake their produce to market, re-\nevery request be considered in Hight\nThe Governor has before him at\nmeans that the State #hould make a\ncelve their mail or go to the family\nof what the State can afford and\nthis writing requesta, recommenda-\ncemetery to bury their dead-a be-\nwhat the people most estrestly want\nlegitimate and earnest attempt to live\ntions, and estimates for expenditures\ncause of the conditions of their\ndone,\nwithin its means. In my opening\nduring the next biennium and for\nroads: no man or woman-In Texas\nIn the meantime, it has been re-\nmessage to the Legislature I ex-\nthe remainder of this fiscal year\n-regardless of conservatism and\nported to me that in our existing\npressed this thought in these words:\ntotaling approximately $367,000,000\n\"We must realize that Texas la\neaution and eure in the expenditure\ntax atructure-wil levies already\nor personal or public funds-no one\nmade by the Legislature-there are\n-or $49,000,000 more than the es-\ngrowing and gaining in population,\ntimated l'unds available\namong us could have these ex-\ncertain loopholes and inconsistencies\nwealth, and national stiture, and\nperiences and not know deep in his\nwhich are costing the State millions\nThere are doubtless other sug-\nprovide state services worthy of our\ngestions for expenditures just as\nState. The 1930 concept will not\nheart that these things are unworthy\nof dollars a year. As you consider\nworthy of consideration as those on\nfit the 1950 pieture.\nof Texas.\nthe entire fiscal position of the State,\nyou will doubtless want information\nthe Hest which the Governor has com-\n\"At the same time, we face the\nThere are schools to be bullt:\nIn this regard.\npiled, and their omission from the\ndeadly serious necessity of planning\nthere are vital resources to be con-\nTherefore, I have created a special\nGovernor's list is not to be taken\nwisely and within our means, to the\nserved, there ure fundamental and\nfact-finding commission of State of-\nas failure on his part to recognize\nend that an unpredietable business\nbaste functions of State to be per-\ntheir merita and the genuiness of the\nrecession will not leave the State\nformed.\nficials and staff members, expert in\nthe fielda of taxation and public\nmotives and views of their sponsors.\nof Texas in a perilous financial con-\nI underscore these facts Just au\nfinance, and have asked this Commis-\nIn the discussion of this altuation.\ndition.\nfirmly as 1 plead for financial eare\nnion to go to work immediately to\n1 desire to be absolutely forthright\n\"In other words-we must reach\nand eaution. And in so doing. 1 know\ndetermine what eun be done to\nand frank. The spirit of this mes-\nout as far as we ean into new and\nfull well that 1 speak the senti-\nstrengthen and repair our existing\nsage is to counsel with you and the\nexpanded areas of publie service\nments in the hearts of our people,\ntax structure. 1 expect a series of re-\npeople of Texas, rather than to make\nbut we must not over-reach our-\nHow then shall we proceed? It\nporta from this Commission in the\narbitrary recommendations BS to the\nselves.\"\nwould be the height of arbitrary ae-\nnot too distant future, and 1 shall\nitems in our budget.\nWhile making this very urgent\ntion for me to take the 367 million\ntransmit these to you as soon as 1\nIt would take the skill of a ti-\nplea for the maintenance of the II-\ndollars worth of needed services al-\nrecoive them.\nnancial wizard, the sagacity and in-\nnancial solvency of this State, 1\nready brought to my attention and\nIt is just possible that, with this\ngenuity of a Solmon to adjust these\nwould not be living up to the obliga-\npare them to 318 million dollara and\nstudy and the remedlal legislation\nestimates and suggestions to the re-\ntions imposed on me by the Consti-\nurge your endorsement of my de-\nwhich you may wish to pass as a re-\nsources available and satisty all\ntution if I falled to emphasize at the\ncisions.\nault thereof, we may be able to bring\nIndeed, while we speak of Texas\nsame time the very pressing needs\nI am attaching to this statement\nin new revenue which the State\nas a place of \"magle and miracles.\"\nfor the expansion of our State ser-\na list of the projects and the\nComptroller will be in position to\nI do not believe that even in Texas\nvices In many directions.\npropriations making up the 367 mil-\ncontemplate In making such revisions\ncan you streteh 318 million dollars\nRepeatedly have I expressed the\nllon dollar total mentioned in this\nin his entimates as future develop-\nto buy goods and services priced at\nopinion that we will defend succes#-\nreport.\nments may indicate.\n367 million.\nfully the rights of the States only\nSome of these things are of course\nIt has long been my bellet and\nWhen you do not have enough Vin so far as we can carry out, ade-\n**must.\" Items and from time to time contention that our existing tax"
}