Journal of the Senate of the State of Texas, Regular Session of the Fifty-Sixth Legislature Page: 28
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28 SEAEJORA
old-age pensions; provided for high-
er workmen's compensation benefits;
and laid the groundwork for a re-
vision of the State Constitution.
Because the last Legislature en-
acted this extensive program for
progress and good government, the
56th Legislature will not face any-
thing like this number of major leg-
islative proposals. Our task this year
will be to make further improve-
ments in the programs already enact-
ed and to provide finances for com-
mitments already made. This task,
of course, is equally as important and
more difficult than the origination of
the programs in the first instance.
Yes, every Governor and every Leg-
islature have problems of the day
which appear greater than those of
yesterday. However, seldom has any
administration faced a brighter fu-
ture for the State and its people.
Our population is growing at a rate
much faster than the national aver-
age. Nearly 100,000 school children
enter our schools each year. Personal
income and bank deposits are at an
all-time high. New industries are
flocking to Texas. The drought is
ended and farmers and ranchers are
enjoying better times; corporation
income is up and employment con-
tinues to grow. And Texas is still
the biggest State in the Union, with-
out a glacier.
All of this phenomenal growth plus
the corresponding increase in the cost
of governmental services has con-
tributed to the anticipated deficit and
the need for more State revenues for
the next biennium.
In this situation I shall recom-
mend to the Legislature tomorrow
that we place first and foremost the
retirement of the anticipated deficit
before the end of the fiscal year, and
I shall submit this as an emergency
matter. Secondly, I shall propose
means for providing new revenues
for the next biennium with an annual
new tax bill smaller than the last one
enacted in 1955.
Finally, I shall propose that we en-
act measures which will give greater
respect to the General Fund and the
"pay-as-you-go" amendment so as to
keep our budget balanced as intended
by the Constitution.
This third proposal includes the
need for a complete study and reor-
ganization of the State's administra-
tive and fiscal policies.
Texas today has over 175 separate
departments, agencies, and boards,and many of them have overlapping
functions.
We have 213 separate funds in
the State Treasury and 30 separate
funds deposited in banks without
ever entering the Treasury. There is
a need for certain special and per-
manent trust funds such as our Pub-
lic School, University, and other con-
stitutional funds, but I am positive
that more efficiency and economy can
be obtained by eliminating and com-
bining many of the separate State
agencies and special funds.
There is something wrong with a
system that allows its housekeeping
fund, the General Fund, to receive
nothing but the crumbs left over after
statutory transfers are made to other
funds, most of which remain in excel-
lent condition. Every bank in Texas
would have a cash deficit if it had
to keep each depositor's money in a
separate safety deposit box rather
than merely have it credited for with-
drawal when called for.
So, it shall be the aim of this ad-
ministration not only to balance the
budget this year and provide for the
needs of the next biennium, but also
to maintain the pay-as-you-go pro-
gram intended by our Constitution
and lay the groundwork for a per-
manent and more efficient reorganiza-
tion of State government and revision
of our fiscal procedures.
To you, Mr. Lieutenant Governor,
Mr. Speaker, and members of the Leg-
islature, I pledge my cooperation, and
I earnestly solicit the cooperation,
counsel, and prayers of all the people
of Texas.
In the same manner that I closed
my first inaugural message, I pray
that, with humility and courage, we
may act boldly and wisely, knowing
that there is a Hand above which will
help us on. May He who guides the
destiny of nations as well as the des-
tiny of men be with us in our en-
deavors.
Governor Daniel presented as
guests General Raul Madero, the Gov-
ernor of Coahuila, Mexico, and Hon-
orable Teofilo Borunda, the Governor
of Chihuahua, Mexico, to the Joint
Session.
The Speaker presented Represent-
ative Eligio de la Garza who present-
ed the following distinguished guests
from the Republic of Mexico:
General Raul Madero, Governor of
Coahuila, and party of four; Hon.
Teofilo Borunda, Governor of Chihua-28
SENATE JOURNAL
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Texas. Legislature. Senate. Journal of the Senate of the State of Texas, Regular Session of the Fifty-Sixth Legislature, legislative document, 1959; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth142193/m1/28/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.