Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-12-08

ThNS VI SuIH % y i'a2 10 iii IiltIiIS
Fund, and the Fund for Internal Improve
ment, and also ffom Temporary Loans,
as will more fully appear from the ac-
companying document, No. |, amounted
to Sl0,757 -
e5c,l9> 81
The disbursements fc' the same period on
account OF the ordinary expenses Of Co
vernment, and for interest on the Public
Debt, the particular items of which will
appear in document No. ., amounted TO s42,9il -
Leaving in the Treasury on the lst of Oc-
tober 1910, a balance of S15,25I i6
OF which 500 IL stood to the credit of The Wash
Ington Monument Fund.
II will be perceived by the accompanying %ocumsnt
that the wants of the Treasury made it necessary, III
pursuance of authority granted by the last Legislature,
TO u borrow fthe banks the sum Of $500, 200, to meet the
interest on the public debt on the acquisitions of the
Board Of Public Works. or this amount, the sum Of
$500 was received into the Treasury before the lst
Of Oct. last, and the residue since that time, but the
whole will be refunded TO the banks from the accruiug
revenue of 1910.
In the estimate of receipts and expenditures for the
current fiscal year, herewith submitted, document 10.
- the reimbursement Of this temporary loan is ncccs-
sarlly provided tor, which, IN the absence OF any legs
lative provision TO continue the loan, or 10 substitute
some other arrangement in lieu thereof, will increase
the anticipated balance against the Treasury on the lst
Of Oct, 1871, to a sum falling little short Of 100000.
As this condition OF the finances VIII doubtless clam the
deliberate attention of the Legislature, the following sug-
gestions are respectfully submitted. II IS taken Tor
granted, there can be but little difference of opinion IS
TO the inpolicy Of borrowing money in order 10 dis.
chaiya the interest on loans previously contracted,
or TO dafray the current expenses vi Government, e&-
cept as a temporary e%Xpcdient; and the error Of such a
system IS the more ~palpable IN Il Commonwealth abound
ing with resources, and whose present rates Of taxation
State taxation atleast) are scarcely felt by the people.
On the other hand, it seems TO be unnecessary 10 IN
pose greater additional burdens than are indispensable
10 meet promptly all legal demands against the State,
and to provide gradually Tor the extinsuishment Of the
temporary debt already created by the authority Of the
legislature. If this debt be thrown out oil view, the
financial deficiency TO be provided tor by taxation, MAJ
be estimated at something less than 100000, and even
this deficiency cannot be cons dered as permanent,
lnasmuch rs in the estimated resources OF the year,
no dividends are embraced on HE large amount OF stock
held by the Commonwealth III the Bunk OF Virginia
Should the usual anlua. income derived from hat
bank, Or Il large proportion thereof, become available,
the means Of the Treasury VIII not only be directly m
creased, but the demand Of the Board OF Pubic Works
Tor interest on the public debt, will also be proportions
by diminished. Under all circumstances, therefore,
II is believed that an increase IN the rates Q. taxation
on land and property, which shall yield an additional
snm Of one hundred thousand dollars, Will be sufficient
10 meet all ordinary demands, and leave an adequate
surplus for the gradual extInguishment OF the debt
due the banks. To discharge that debt at once,
and provide also for the balance against the Treasu-
~, would render il necessary to double the present
rates of taxation; u measure which would be moon
ycnicut, and burthensome, especially III the present
condition II TIE uIItI "a ~ Nv pbSSa 49, "is1' thaS
no additional taxes, imposed By the present Legislature,
gill be available until tie close OF tie year ISL, and II
viii therefore be indispensable, IN order to fulfil the ra5.
he MIS-, that n new temporary loan should be
authorized, or that tie executive, or the financial ON
GERS Of the State should be empowered 10 issue Sitie
bonds. rrdeenable from time 10 tune, or at pleasure, IS
the exjgencirs Of the Commonwealth may require. an
addition, however, ofabout one third TO the present rates
) Of taxation is deemed css- ntlally necessary, to place the
credit of the Commonwealth upon that sure anu uflin!-
,.,,l,hin n,Gis winch n should always oCcuDy. III. Uy
,ach an addition, an annual surplus should be here
after found in the treasury, such surplus should be
carried 10 the Sinking Fund IN tull!nent 81 the clearly
indicated policy Of preceding Legislatures. 10 "
nrenared for the ultimate redemption of the public debt,
hv 4 timely and gradual accumulation OF means, IS not
; only the course Of wisdom, but of justice.
u Independently Of the views above presented, an m
,rcase IN the land tax is necessary to produce the same
,n,oun, of revenue Welded under the rc.asscssIlcn, Of
1910. which constituted the basis OF taxation Cnil the
last session of the Legislature. The REVELATION Of
1910, which nominally was greater than Tie old on,
has in fact yielded a smaller revenue by several tloi-
, sand dollars, and 4 bare inspection OF the result oil tiac
> re-valuatlon, which gives 10 the country beyond the Al
lruhany mountains, n greater extent OF territory than
in the whole Commonwealth besides, is sufficient 10
stamp at least n portion Of it as tallacious.
The accompan wing documents will disclose the ci.
rious fact. that notwithstanding the liberal approprla-
,ions made by the Legislature TO enlarge the lunatic
hospitals, and although the appropriations made BY
the last General Assembly for the support OF the pa
tents confined therein were larger IMAM III any year pre-
: cedinr. the number OF that unfortunate class OF beings
/, CONSIGNED to the county jail has continued to increase
y with d corresponding increase IN the expense OF nam
E, tanning them. There IS no doubt that some radical
J. reform is necessary in all the laws relating to the Gus
,odv oflunatics, and the accountability OF their estates
- the Commonwealth for maintenance and cnre; and
!. il il also worthy Of enquiry whether the public Ihte'
y rest would not be essentially promoted by changing
the mode Of appointment, diminishing the number
and providing a reasonable compensation 10 the coirt
% cl,ractar for tho services .lPy render. 4 nr very lac
o That those services are now rendered gratul'onsIy
must in the nature of things withdraw mtch OF mat ~
r. tenlion from the interests committed 10 their manage
o ment. which cannot be bestowed without sacrIhce, ant
wh,ch mus: have the effect of lesscning IN some degree
IS i, sense Of responsibility. The average cost to the Com
monwealil Tor maintaining each lnnatic annually Z
,f lie Eastern and Western hospital, to say nothing n t'
loss Of interest on The great outlay Tor erecting, rn!aT;!
g ;,r and repaigiag those establishments may be iai.l,
stated al something like $3.50, 4 sum which Is believes
) to he excessive in comparison with similar expenditure
: IN other States, and more than Tie average cost Of sup
port TO the laboring and productive classes Of seci'ty
: A i is presumed, however, that the legislative aiteh
II lion Will be directed to this subject, It IS deemed ucne
cessary to 90 further into details.
THE law which created the Virginia military insfitut
=, NJ LEXINGTON whilst it authorized the Board OF VISITOR
= to appoint a Treasurer, contains no direction 10 mat ON
Ger 10 return his accounts to the seat OF Government
This - = manifest departure from that general systeI
r,hcb enables the L: :rislature to supervise the expen
It d;tpre Of all moneys apprr ,riated to public institutions
y and an amendment of the Ia" WHO" sNa suPp'! -
defect is respectfully socomrnenccn. !,
At The session Of IS3c-9, the Gcnci' Assembly d
r.cted The auditor to revise the revenue avs ana r.
d nort The same TO the ensuing Legislature, wa,Sh va
&c done. From various causes, however, the report wo
: but partially acted on, and the commissioners of III
!" revenue and others concerned IN executing that in
u nor tant branch of our laws, ere still left 10 gropc the
, vway through the scattered legislation of twenty ses
= sions, in order TO learn their duties. The audiio
would be u~nfaithful TO his official trust, if he did NO
urge the Legislature at its present session, to tevot
some attention 10 this important subject, believing a
he does that the yigor and efficiency of TIE Who'll
: revenue system of the State is essentially involved !
the proposed revision.
>, All Of which IS respectfully submitted.
JAS Z. HEATH,
Auditor Of Public accounts.
Marriages.
b. Married, on Thursday, Goth ut, by The Rev. ". II. ohrnhrhno
III the Hon. Hr-RY A. MISE, Of Virginia, TO SARAH, daughter
The Hon. John Sergeant.