Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1841-01-16
SGIs63 GO Ia
S5O2,g65 % l-2

$500 800 % l-2
This Statement sho vs. that more Than three Iourlhs
oithe SAFE debt has been incurred in conSeq1cncs
OF several OF the State Banks having failed To redeem
their notes. taken N payment OF the public dues
Ine large suns due by the banks may BE- considered
lost Ever siuce May 1887, all the public officers
have been paid in currency greatly deprecated.
During The past year they have generally been una
bic 10 get their pay warrants cashed by lhe Treas
urg aud have usually been compelled lu sell them
at about thirty FIVE cents per dollar,
Their salaries have been nomlna " much increas
ed during The last Eve years. The depreciation how
ever, of The funds they have received from the Safe
has IN TACT greatly reduced their compensation du-
ing thai period
Thirteen tax collectors are in default for the year
1898 IN The sum OF twenty three thousand five hun
bred and thiry-lhree dollars and thirty eight cents
| and twenty one, thirty two thousand eight hundred
and fifty nlne dollars and twenty five cents Tor the
taxes Of S99. Large balances still due for tax
rs which have accrued previous 10 the year 1885,
Some Of the assessors have failed to return their
Sessmenl rolls. The Auditor estimates the taxes of
640,at one hundred and niney-two thousand eight
hundred and seventy six dollars and ninety four
cents. II will be perceived that the expenses OF the
Government cannot be sustained hereafter, without
"A chacge IN our whole system OF assessing and col
| lectng the revenue. Not more than one hall OF The
taxable property IN the State IS ever assessed, and
| large portions OF the taxes collected are never paid
| MO the Stale Treasury.
The Constitution specially provides for the cleo
ton of nearly every STATE, District and County oll-
Ger, but makes no provision Tor the election ol AS
SCISSORS and Collectors. 1t is therefore, competent
! for the Legislature TO change the method Of Their
appointment Accountability can never be obtained
unless The power OF removal is vested in the Execn-
i've, and some control gwen HIM their appoint
ment. 1t s indispensable hat the office Of assessor
and collector be divided in every county. II the
taxes were all duly assessed and faithfully collected
aud paid into the State Treasury our annual reve-
d nue. would be at least two hundred aud 6ity thous'
nsnd dollars, a sum amply sufficient 10 pay the ord'
nAry expen es OF the Government, and leave sur
pIk IL exungulsh gradually The outstanding pay
wahants Of the Auditor. Our revenue laws arc
UNEQUAL in their operation, and | earnestly recon-
mend revision OF the wloe system.
The law authorizes the reception Of the pay war
rants oil the Auditor 10 be received Tor taxes. u
order to place all our citizens on an equal footing
, aud to enable the small lax payers 10 obtain suct
paper directed the Auditor TO issue his warrants
in favor of the public creditors in such sums as they
requested. The large amount OF warrants remain
ing unpaid, Will prevent any noneiy beng PAD IT.
to the Treasury for many years, unless provision
2 is made for funding them. Many ol the nutsidhi-
ing warrants are IN ,arge sums, and 4 Is peleVtu
, that The holders would be wiling to extend men
: payment for several years, ihey were made Il
] bear interest, and means provided for the annua
payment thereof acknowledgements me pas
sare OF law authorizing the Auditor to iake "
o the unpaid warrants by issuing others payable II
Y two three and four years, bearing interest ouci
n warrants should not be made receivable N paymen
) OF line public dues until after they mature II
d desirable also that lh " should he accepted am
e REGISTERED nv the State Treasurer before they ar
!, put in circulation.
e The embarrassed condition of all classes
: our citizens and the g,eat difficulty OF colec'ln
: The small amount Of taxes now le'led' aounon's
y us Of the necessity Of greatly reirench'ng me e.
- penses of the Government II becomes Us
al abolish all offices not absolutely necessary an
IN 10 reduce the salaries Of all officers to al 'ea
ne one halfthe present standard. The Cons.l'uu W
es prohibits the reducing Of the salaries o. ''le ~
" cuit Judges, and several other oi1cefs u1'n !.
q their continuance in Office. The terms oil al u
=, Circuit Judges. and Of one Of The Judges Oh u
re Hiob Court Of Errors and Appeals WIZ exp"
Nv ner, November Unless their salaries arc
Die duced al the present session, viii Dc ou' y y
mower to lower them for four years. Inc a'' ~
ne with which such Offices aye sought, prove "
In compe,ent officers could be obtaned on Oe''
"a. ,errs. 1t is confidently believed that me Oh
p' nnry unuuol expenses oftha State Go'ero'"e