The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-08-06
Tte spirit Of TDe Ags.
MONDAY, AUGUST 2, ls4l.
TO the FreemGn Of Vermont.

FeN0W ClNeeAS!-lhe undersigned having Oeeh
appointed committee by the Reform State Con-
ven,ion holden at Chelsea on the 23d Of June,
ls4l, to address you on the present condition of
the fiscal concerns of the State, enter on the dis
charge of the duty assigned them with full con-
viclion of the great Importance of the subject TO
the presentand the future welfare of its inhabitants
In examining this subject, we shall proceed to
enquire,
/. Do the ordinary annual expenses of the State
exceed the annual revenue of the same BY the
annual report of the Auditor of the Treasury, made
on the 3Oth of Sept. 1899, (see Journal of the
Hcuse,) it appears that the whole amount Of the
State expenditures for the preceding fiscal year,
which had been audited, amounted TO seventy
seven thousand, eight hundred and sixy-three dol
lars and eightysx cents; in this sum, however,
are included several items for interest and money
loaned to individuals, banks, and taxes, to the
Sate-amoun,ing in the aggregate 10 one thousand
nine hundred and eleven dollars and sixty-iour
cents; and as it is presumed that the principal on
which this interest accrued, constituted portion
after, we have deemed it proper TO deduct the same
from the above amount of expenditures, which will
leave balance of expenditures Of seventy-iive
thousand, nine hundred and lliy-two dollars and
TWENTY-FIVE cents. If 10 this amount be added the
interest then due on the whOle amount of the State
debt, which is assumed TO amount to eight thou
sand dollars, but which it is believed not to vary
essentially from the truth, the whole amount of
expenditures for the fiscal year, will be eighty
thousand, nine hundred and fily-two dollars and
twenty-five cents.
By the preceding report of the Auditor, it ap-
pears that The amount credited to the State as re-
ceived during the same time, amounted to seventy
seven thousand, eight hundred and siSty-three dol
lars and eightysix cents By deductlns this amount
from the amount of expenditures, we shall obtain
the following result, viz.
Whole amount Of expenditures, $s3,952,22
Whole amount of credit as revenue, 77,S63,S6
Excess Of expenditures above credit, SG,OSs,36
But in the foregoing amount of credit or revenue
there is one item of three thousand. one hundred
and seventy five dollars and twen'y-six cents, be-
longing to the safety (und; and also several other
items of cash paid in by banks; of cash received
for pcdlers licences, and for principal and interest
on school fund-amOunting in the aggregate to
eleven thousand, five hundred and f(ty-seven dol
lars and forty cents. Now we believe that II Is
evident that these two items constitutes no part OF
the revenue Of the State but on the contrary, II
used by the State, constitutes portion OF the State
debt; and so the Auditor has considered the item
of eleven thousand five hundred and flly-Feven
dollars and forty cents, having charged the same as
portion of the loan from the school fund TO the
State, to which fund by the law of the 18th Nov.
1925, establishing the school fund.- i, evidently be-
longs, as the first item docs TO the safety fund;
these two items amounting in the aggregate to
fourteen thousand seven hundred and thIrty-two
dollars and sixiy-two cents, ought to be deducted
from the foregoing amount of revenue. on credit;
and the result will be us follows, viz.
Amount of credit on revenue, as per
report, $77,s63,sG
Deduct, us above stated l4,732 sc
True amount of revenue for the fiscal
wear, 500, l3l 20
If, then, from the amount orexpenditures for the
fiscal year, the foregoing amount of revenue be de-
Quoted, we shall obtain the true excess of the en-
pendi;ures above the annual revenue, as follows,
viz.
Whole amount Of expenditures, Ss3,952,22
Whole amount of revenue, 63,l3l,2o
Excess of Expenditures above revenue, O,S2l ,O2
Thus it appears that for the fiscal year ending
on the 3Oh of Sept. 1889, the excess of expendi-
lures over revenue was twenty thousand, eight
hundred and twenty lone dollars and two cents
We will next proceed 10 examine the Auditors
report for the fiscal year ending on the Both oil
Sept. 1910. From this report it appears that the
whole amount Of expenditures for the year was
ninety thousand, seven hundred and twenty-four
dollars and ninety two cents In this amount are
included several items for interest on moneys loan
ed from Banks, &c. amounting in the az. egaic to
two thousand, three hundred and eight dollars and
twentv-nne cents, and which for reasons assigned
in the foregoing, we deem proper to deduct from
the amour. of expenditures; this being done there
will remain a balance Of eighty eight thousand,
four hundred and sixteen dollars and lxty-,hree
cents. In the amount Of expenditures is also in
cluded one item of three thousand five hundred
dollars, paid the revsers of the Statutes, and also
another item of one thousand four hundred and
fifty dollars and three cents, paid for military SER
vices OH the northern frontier Of the State-whlct
items amount in the aggregate to four thousand
nine hundred and fifty dollars and three cents Now
as these specific charges will no, probably soor
occur again, it ia deemed proper TO deduct ih
amount from the amount Of expenditures, which
being done, there will remain balance of eighty
three thousand four hundred and siSty-six doar'
and six,y cents. To the foregoing amount ado