Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-01-27


but inasmuch as great part of the public
debt has been paid; so large an annual APP
preparation viii not be hencctorth necessary
to meet the engagements of the State. Tins
sum may be reduced in subsequent wears TO
$4,000, and the faith of the commonwealth
/ completely maintained. If the expenses of
the ar,nory should be reduced, either by the
sale of the arms manufactured, (the State
| now having sutficie nj supply fer her own mi
litia,) or by a reduction of the operations of
| the establishment, rs the committee to exa-
| mine that institution recommend, here also,
| would cnsue considerable diminution of
| expenditure, which may be safel, estimated
| at $4,000. These three sums added toge-
Their will make the amount of S91,500.
The wages of the members Of the General
Assembly were increased during the session
of 1850, from three to four dollars per
day, and the mileage from eight to twenty
cents per mile, on the avowed and sole
ground that money had then deprecated,
and consequently, that all the necessaries
and comforts of life had been accordingly
enhanced in price. Circumstances have
since entirely changed. and money was rarely
ever of more value iii this commonwealth
than it is at present. 1t behoves, therefore,
a consistent and magnanimous Legislature,
representing free, generous and coniiding
people, to take these facts into their serious
consideration and to evince to their const-
tuents, and the world, that while they can
assume the responsibility of doing themselves
justice on the one hand, so they can render it
to the people OH the other.
The committee believe, that the salary of
the adjutant general. which WAS increased TO
l ,500 dollars during the late war, when his d,l-
ties were necessarily multiplied and arduous,
now the country is in state of profound
peace, may be with safety reduced, and that
both Propriety and justice demand a reduc-
ton.
Your committee also believe, that the Of
fee of vaccine agent for this commonwealth,
may be dispensed with, and no injury there
by done to the public:
And, that two officers, a tipstaff and cryer
are entirely sufficient to attend the court of
appeals during their sittngs.
1t is presumed by the committee, that if
these last suggestions Of retrenchment be
| adopted by the legislature, the sum of
| $4,000 will, in future, be annually deduct
| ed from the amount of the present expenses
| of the government; which, if added to the
| S9I,5OO, before mentioned, will make tn sum
of 1900, by which sum the expenses of
the ensuing fiscal year, will fall short OF those
OF the present. 1t is moreover believed by
| your committee, that the balance on handat
| the end of any fiscal year, applicable to the
| expenditures of the ordinary revenue, need
| not be SO large as that which will remain in
the treasury on the 1st of October next, viz
| S26,S52 SO cents. Ii is certainly proper
| that the commonwealth should at all times
| have more money in her Golfers than may be
| absolutely necessary to meet her engage
| ments; and therefore, it may not be correct
1 TO reduce the balance in the treasury at the
| end of any fiscal year, below the sum of
| $4,000. If the sum Of $4,000, be consi-
! deTed a sufficient surplus TO remain in the
| treasury applicable to the ordinary expenses,
| at the end Of any fiscal year, the difference
| between that sum and S2S,852 SO cents,
| which will be the balance on hand the 1st of
| October next, viz : S6,SS2 So cents, NAV be
added to the sum by which the EXPENSES Of
She commonwealth NAV be educed during the
| next fiscal year. 1t follows, from this view of
| the subject, that the taxes may be lessened
| during the present session ofthe General As
sembly, ct least to the amount OF S11S,00o.
! The committee are the NOR sauguine liz the
| propriety and ssfc,y Of reducing the taxes as
| hey at present exist, because OF the large ar
| rearages which are dur from various counties
| IN tie state, and from witch 70 doubt consd-
| cradle sums, not less than $50 600 may be de-
| rived daring the present ear-provded the
| measures which will be hereafter recommend
cd i'll this report be adopted by the legisls-
ture. 1t may not be Improper also to calcu
| late that some portIen OF the large debt due
| the commonwealth by the late treasurer, will
| be paid during the ensuing fiscal year aud
| If SO, viii come IN aid of the revenue to that
| year. When the pecuniary embarrassmsnts of
| the people of thi, state are so oppressive as at
present, it is certainly due 10 Their loyalty az
well Ms to every principle of justice, and of
fair representative government, to lessen the
| burthens which they sustain, by all means of
| retTenchment and economy not inc nsistent
| with the public veal. The committee there
| fore recommend the reduction of the taxes on
| lands, lots, slaves, and horses, to the amount
of $4,000.
! Your committee have thought that it might
not be deemed ihout their province, and
that it would certainly be satisfactory to The
| legis ature and to the public, TO ascer ain the
precise amount Of money on hand belonging
to the commonws alth on the morning tho
| 18th inst. that being the anniversary of the
| late treasurer's resignation, when he deliver
| ed up his flee, and new order of this rs
commenced III the treasury With This Oh
| .ject in view, the chairman of this committee
addressed a letter to the auditor Of public ac-
counts, a copy of which IS herewith trans.
mitted marked B, to which he received an
| answer (marked with the document mark
| ed A, already referred TO in preceding part
of this report.) A letter was also address
| ed to the President Of the BAnk Of Virginia,
and to the President of the Farmers Bank
of Virginia, copy of winch is marked ID
and their answers, marked T., and f, are
also herewith delivered. From these doc
uments it appears that on the morning of
the 17th inst. there wa cash in the Bank of
Virginia, 20 the credit of the treasurer Of the
commonwealth the sum Of S135, 395 IS
| To the credit of the treasurer of
| the Board Of P. Works 962 20
In the Farmers Bank of Virginia
to the credit Of the treasurer OF the
| Commonwealth, 116,645 81
| TO the credit OF the treasurer Of