Journal of the Senate of the State of Texas, Regular Session of the Forty-Sixth Legislature Page: 29
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SENATE JOURNAL 29
officers--men of whom all are proud.
Clemency has been placed upon a
merit basis, a humane program car-
ried farther than ever before in the
State Prison System, with resulting
faith and confidence in the State Gov-
ernment. The prohibition amend-
ment has been repealed, strict regula-
tion substituted, resulting not only in
increased revenues but in a more in-
telligent approach to the problem.
The greatest general building and
civic improvement program in the
history of the State has been carried
on, with the help of the Federal Gov-
ernment. Our insane asylums and
other eleemosynary institutions have
had more additions than in any other
like period of time. A great Cen-
tennial celebration has been staged,
appropriate monuments and markers
erected throughout the State and,
with the assistance of the National
Youth Administration and the State
Highway Department, we have built
hundreds of beautiful roadside parks.
The deficit in the school fund has
been wiped out, the per capita ap-
portionment increased to the highest
figure in history, appropriations for
institutions of higher learning and
all other educational enterprises sub-
stantially increased and, at the same
time, the school ad valorem tax rate
was cut from 350 to 74, the lowest it
has been in over twenty years.
There are many "carry over" mem-
bers of the Forty-sixth Legislature
who have been a part of the progres-
sive program of the past four years.
I am sure they share with me a par-
donahle nride in what has been ac-trol several times requested the Legis-
lature to provide enough money to
allow at least the average of $19.00
per month prevailing in other states
and to take care of these borderline
cases.
It has been no easy task, however,
to raise, as we did by additional taxa-
tion, the nine and one-half million
dollars of State money to be matched
by like amount of Federal assistance
now going to old age assistance. In-'
deed, as I view the practical and
political difficulties through which we
have passed, I regard it as no small
achievement to have provided this
much money and to put even this
number of people on the rolls.
My successor in the Governor's of-
fice will have his own program for
maximum constitutional "pensions"
to every person over 65. I have no
desire to intrude upon or embarrass
his program in anywise. I know,
however, the practical difficulties with
which he will be confronted. I know
that all will not be in agreement as
to the wisdom of paying "pensions"
to everybody over 65 years of age
regardless of their need. Therefore,
I urge, indeed I pray, that the mem-
bers of this Legislature, even though
they may not believe in "pensions"
for all, will make provision for the
thousands of needy old people in Tex-
as not yet on the rolls who need as-
sistance; and that you will not forget
that allotments to those already on
the rolls should be increased if they
are to have the bare necessities of
life.complished. We must, however, "think I feel about it now just as I did
little of past achievements" and, with when I called the Forty-fifth Legisla-
the incoming Governor and newly ture into special session in Septem-
elected Senators and Representatives, ber, 1937, and urged them to provide
"much of what is to be accomplished." at least two million dollars more each
year for the old age assistance fund.
Old Age Assistance In addition to this there is still an
outstanding indebtedness against the
As of January 1, 1939, approxi- fund of $1,330,880.50, the balance due
mately 114,500 persons over 65 years certain banks who purchased interest
of age are on the rolls drawing an bearing warrants in the fall of 1936.
average allotment of $13.80 per These warrants were issued by order
month. This is not enough. There of the Legislature to tide us over the
are many borderline and worthy cases winter months until sufficient reve-
which should be on the rolls, which nues should accrue under a tax bill
would have been on the rolls had the passed at the Third Called Session
money been made available by the of the Forty-fourth Legislature to
Legislature. monthly match cash provided by the
As you are aware repeated, though Federal Government. Had this not
unsuccessful, efforts were made dur- been done, all on the rolls that win-
ing the past four years at both regu- ter--over a hundred thousand--would
lar and special sessions to secure ad- have been left destitute.
ditional funds for old age assistance. I directed this indebtedness to the
In addition to the Governor's recom- attention of the Forty-fifth Legisla-
mendations, the State Board of Con- ture at the last special session andSENATE JOURNAL
29
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Texas. Legislature. Senate. Journal of the Senate of the State of Texas, Regular Session of the Forty-Sixth Legislature, legislative document, 1939; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth145993/m1/29/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.