Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-01-13

hundred and nInety-tWO Thousand,
eight hundred and seventy-six dollars
and ninety-four cents. Il will be per-
ceiyed that the expenses of the Go
vernment cannot be sustained hefeaf
fer, without a change in our whole sys-
tenn of assessing and collecting the
revenue. Not more than one half of
the taxable property in the State is
ever assessed, and large portions of
the taxes collected are never paid into
the State Treasury.
The Constitution specially provides
for the election of nearly every State,
District and County officer, but makes
no provision for the election Of Asses
sors and Collectors. 1t is therefore,
competent for the Legislature TO
change the method Of their appoint
ment. Accountability can never be
obtained unless the power of removal
is vested in the Executive, and some
i control given him over their appoint
ment. Ii is indispensable that the Of
| fee of assessor and collector be diVi-
!; ded in every county. If the taxes
were all duly assessed and faithfully
collected and paid into the State Trea-
sury, our animal revenue would be al
least two hundred and fifty thousand
dollars, a sum amply. sufficient to pay
: the ordinary expenses of the Govern
: ment, and leave surplus to extinguist
; gradually the outstanding pay war
d rants of the Auditor. Our revenue
!, laws are unequal in their operation
: and earnestly recommend revision
: of the whole system.
e The law authorizes the reception o
it the pay warrants of the Auditor to b
: received for taxes. In order to plac
n all our citizens on an equal footing
n and to enable the small tax payers
e obtain such paper, | directed the Al
h ditor to issue his warrants in favor
d the public creditors in such sums
d they requested. The large amount
lie warrants remaining unpaid, will pr
Ly vent any money being paid into IL
re Treasury for many years, unless pr
V, vision is made for funding them. M
I'd nv of the outstanding warrants are
e. large sums, and it is believed that {
he holders would be willing to extel
ur their payment for several years, If tn
TX were made to bear interest, and mea
nd provided for the annual payne
e ID | thereof. | therefore recommend
passage Of a law Authorizing the Au
O5 tor to take up the unpaid warrants,
81 30 issuing Others payable in two, tn
y and four years, bearing interest. 81
warrants should not be made recei
90 BILE in payment Of the public dues,
til after they mature. 1t is desira
80 also, that they should be accepted
- registered by the 5tdso Treasurer
AZ fore they are put in circulation. !
ex- The embarrassed condition OF
ex- classes Of our citizens, and the 81
Try, difficulty Of collecting the small
ven mount of taxes now levied, admor
and us Of the necessity Of greatly retren
ga inc the expenses Of the Governm'
I'M Il becomes us to abolish all offices
five absolutely necessary, and to red
), of tho salaries of all officers 10 at !
Fhe one half the present standard.
the Constitution prohibits the reducIn
the salaries Of the Circuit Judges,
Z a. AZ. 4
AZ several other officers during their
+ W tinuance in Office. The terms OF
0 90 the Circuit Judges, and one, OF
Judges Of the High Cour' OF FL
O OO and Appeals, will expire next Nov
" her. Unless their salaries are re-
. 90 ed at the present session, it will be
. W of our power to lower them Tor
y m wears. The avidiry with which
offices are sought, prove that col
tent officers could be obtained on
ter terms. 1t is confidently bell
that the ordinary annual expens,,
the State Government,may be REQ
fifty thousand dollars without
ment to the public service. 81
the Legislature hereafter assefnpl
once in two years, further su
6ftv thousand dollars would be
nialIy saved. In a free countr
citizen can expect to accumulate
es by remaining in the public Sc
A desire of obtaining distlnctlo!
of benefting the community, WI
1853 81 WAYS enable us to have our
,oz e. well filled. flour Treasury wa
~ 49, and the public burthens light we
more afford to be liberal. When our
oeot ces become flourishing,. it will b
nee en-, o. enough to give large salaries to
g lal- officers. Should the proposed
. pay ton be effected, justice demand
large the Treasury should be placee
con situation TO meet the demands I
!, 80. no;3 in par funds. er.,
Dur s5proved February Ia, 1889,
nefaily pr;ates all fines, penalties. lori
and amercements 10 sundry
We usu- mics and other institutions I
lem a. able TO say whether much BEN
!. accraed from that law II is P
mlnalIy that but smaff portion OF TIT
ast nye s collected from those sources
ever, o. Maid over. II appears from =
rom the srz reIurlls Of the Marshais
4 n