The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1847-01-12

LIE true cEIlillD1 Oh our hcSOutCES
should be accurately and critically exam
ined. and always kept in view, not only
to guard by ample provision against pos
sibilities Of another failure. %punctually TO
meet all demands upon the Public Trea-
sury. but to make provision for q system
of reducing the public Debt.
Il has been my constant endeavor. and
especially in my annual message Of jan
uary 1915, and the special message of
2Ist of April following, 10 impress upon
the representatives Of the people, the ne
cessity and importance of this subject, IN
presenting il TO the Legislature.
Al the last session IL became my duty
10 show that the lakes assessed on real
and personal estate, together with all the
other revenue that accrued within the fs-
cal wear ending 3Oth November, 1915,
were less than the expenditures Of the
year by s4l4, 1892, which deficit was
supplied ont of the balance in the Trea-
sury on Dee. lst, 1914, and by diminu-
lion of the outstanding balances due from
the several counties for taxes. On the
i Isl "a OGt. 1Otfs lliC UaldliIC ~ i4L Il I
sury was S663,85l,s8 and on the lst
Dec. 1915, ii was S3S4,SS6,09, showing
a reduction of the balance In the Treasu-
~ of s27S,965,79. On the lst Dec.
1874, the estimated amount of available
| outstanding taxes was 81 ,009, 1853: and
on the Ii Dee. 1915. they were estimated
al S874.544.50, showing q diminutlon OF
outstanding Taxes to the amount OF sl35,
1888, and making a dimiRution of the
balance in the Treasury, and outstanding
taxes during the year ending Nov. 30th,
1915, Of S~4l4,l99,32. This statement
demonstrates that the and other re-
sources, assessed and accruing within the
wear were less by the above sum than the
demands upon the Treasury during the
same period.
The financial operations Of the year
ending on November 30ih, 1916, also ex-
hibIt 4 like deficiency, but less in amount.
Thus the balance in the Treasury OH De
| cember lst, 1915, was S3S4,8S6, and the
estimate amount of available taxes out
standing at the same period was SS74,344,
50, making an aggregate amount OF bal
| ance in the Treasury, and outstanding
Taxes on Ist December, '45, of Si,259,
43O.57: the balance in the Treasury Oh
December 1916, was S3S4.67s.70; and
the estimated amount OF available out
standing taxes at the same period was
! S542.6SS,64, making an aggregate IN
| Treasury and outstanding lakes on the lst
of Dec. 1916, of 1927. 367 "a, showing
a diminutIon of the balance in the Trea-
sury. and outstanding taxes, during the
fiscal year ending on the thirtieth of No
vember, 1916, of 1892 .063,25. 1t thus
! appears that the Taxes assessed and the
other revenues accruing within the fiscal
wear Just ended is sufficient TO meet the
demands upon the Treasury b. the above
sum. Ii viii be perceived that the bal
ance in the Treasury on the Isl Decem-
Der, 1916, was greater than was estimated
in the last annual message.
The amount of the outstanding taxes
has been reduced below the estimate then
made: states that as ii was apparent that
these recurring DEFICIENCIES would soon
exhaust the balance in the Treasury, and
| all arrearageso of available outstanding tax
es. he had urged at the last session the
necessity of providing some additional
revenue to place the finances on a perma-
nent basis. He refers 10 the act passed
accordingly at the last session: II should
be modified in certain particulars; thinks
that the act Of 1916. with the increase on
the value Of property since the last hnan-
cial assessment, will enlarge the revenue
derivable from real and personal estate to
an amount equal 10 the deficiency that oc-
Cured in the accrding revenue of last
wear. Refers to the loss OF tolls occa-
stoned by the spring food, by report of
Canal Commissioners sl50,0OO. which,,
with cost Of repairs consequent thereon
! aIII,5l5, makes the aggregate losses by
these disasters s266.5I5. But for this
loss the accruing revenue exclusive OF the
balance in the Treasury on the lst Dec.
| 1915. and the Taxes outstanding would
have been nearly equal 10 the demands on
the Treasury during the fiscal year.
1t appears that the receipts from Canal
and Railroad tolls, and charges for motive
power for the year l643, were sl,oI1'-
All; for the year 1871, $l,l67,603'42;
for the wear 1915, ,969,43: 1916,
81 .295. 494. 76-showing a gradual and
steady increase during the above peried'
Even last year. Notwithstanding the
delav in the opening Of the navigation,
thew exceed those OF 1915 the sum OF
seS.5l5.33 There is good reason
therefore TO believe that if the Public
Works shall continue 10 be conducted
with the same degree of skill, industry
and integrity, with which they have been
managed for some years past, the re-
GENTS from them will continue TO IN
crease until the business upon them
reaches their foil capacity.