Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-09-08

| | *The census of 1858, is as follows: White males. 136,943 White females. 12O,64O | Free colored 602 Slaves 6O,O48 Total 31S,3l3 The whole revenue of the State, after de- | ducting commissions of collecting officers is, in round numbers. $1500OO This does not in- 1 clude, of course, the amounts received from sales of State lands as these go to separate or special fund The expenditures apart from the l landed interest of the State are about SSO,O0O,
 but under existing laws great deal of the ex- pense incurred in distributing the different funds
 and supervising the landed interests are paid
 out of the general fund, when each fund, of right, should pay all its own expenses. It will be seen that the receipts into the trea-
 sury far exceed the expenditures and leave quite
 margin over.
 In 1857, the total amount of property upon
 the tax-books was $S9 100000, on which the State-tax was $l55,OO0. To this must be ad- ded the taxes on merchandise and deduct seven
 and half per cent commissions and the mileage of collectors. The tax-books for the present year have not all been received and it is impos-
 sibe to tell what the precise amount will be. Owing to imperfect assessments on account of
 high waters in the spring and the refusal of large land-holders to pay taxes or to list lands bought from the State, together with the deci- sion of the supreme court declaring that certain
 lands are not subject to taxation, the increase will not be as great as was supposed. The
 amount of taxable property will not fall short of one hundred millions of dollars and may
 reach one hundred and twenty millions. The salaries of all officers of the State are
 quite low and with few exceptions the duties
 are very onerous The Governor has other du-
 ties to perform, such as perhaps are not required
 of any other executive. The Auditor is in fact
 commissioner of lands, the treasurer disburses several funds and the secretary of State is com- missioner of public buildings and superintend-
 ent of common schools. To show the economy
 
 with some other States. The salary of the Governor of Arkansas is $1,8OO. The salaries of the governors of Missouri, Kentucky and Alabama, each g, 500; Texas, Georgia, North
 Carolina, Pennsylvania and Tennessee, 5000; South Car oIina and Massachusetts, S3,500; Mississippi, New York and Louisiana, S4OOO; Virginia S5,0O0 and California S6,OO0. The salaries of the executive officers of our State
 amount to $5,700, which is, with two excep-
 tions, less than is paid by any State in the Union. The average amount of salaries paid
 to the officers answering to our Governor, Se- cretary of State, Auditor and Treasurer, iii other
 States, is S9,933. The salaries of judges of the supreme court and reporter here amount to
 $500. The average, in other States is Sl6,- 100. Thus, it will be seen that the most rigid
 economy is used as regards pay of officers We
 shall now proceed to show that the charge Of
 heavy taxa ton is false. We have compiled,
 from authentic sources, table contrasting the
 amount of taxes paid in other States with the
 amount paid in Arkansas. lt is difficult in
 many cases 10 find the exact amounts, but there
 are several ways of stating the question. and
 each statement produces nearly like result
 To those persons out of the State, who may
 read this article. it may be necessary to give summary of what property is taxable and the rate ol taxato in Arkansas. The following are subject to taxation. Lands and iown-lots with improvements thereon. slaves between the ages of five and sixty years. saw mills, tan yards. dis tillenes, all household furniture over S200 in value. pleasure earrings, horses and mules over two years old, jacks and jennies, neat cattle over two years old, merchandise, money at interest beyond the amount on which interest is paid, capital in loats, bridges, ferries and manufacto- ries and gold watches and jewelry. Lands can not be valued at less than three dollars an acre; all property is assessed at the value placed upon and sworn to by the owner or his agent Lands of non-residents are valued by three house. holders.
 The State-tax is one-sixth of one per centum, or sixteen and two-third cents on hundred dol lars. The county-tax varies, in the different counties, from one-twenteth of one per centum to one fourth of one per centum. To this may be added road-tax, which may be paid in la- Dor. The average State and county taxes, ex- elusive of the road-tax, are thrty-six cents on hundred dollars.
 We had prepared tables showing the amounts of taxes in each State of the Union but they would occupy several columns, and we must content ourselves with giving synopsis of their showings. Using round numbers, and estimat- ing the State-ta1, on all taxable property, at $16O,OOO; the county-tax at the same, and the poll-tax at S40,O0O, we have total of S36O,- OOO The number of inhabitants of State is at least 100000. This gives as tax, one dollar and twenty cents for each inhabitant. In look ers ofthe different States we find that this is less, with three and perhaps four exceptions, than is paid elsewhere. The average in all the States is S5 70. In the eastern States we find different town rates, etc. In some States each town is required to collect sixty cents from each inha- bitant as school tax. When you add these rates and taxes together you find the average to each inhabitant, as high in some cases as eleven dollars; in two cases only less than one 
 %Thc returns for the year 1858, not to be derended upon The law requires the sheriff make his returns by the 10th of pr and the past spring ons of remarkably high waters and heavy rains. Those sherilis who commenced late unable to complete their work and some of them acknowe edged that they had hot visited whole townships of their county. in some counties, where it i. well known that there have been accessios of from fifty to two hundred families, le present returns fall below those Jf 1854. Theie is nc good reason why the returns should be made immediately, and if the census is taken at all, 1t should be done thoroughly. It seems to Us, that lime should be allowed and the re- turns presented to the county of each county which shonld carefully examine, and certify to the proper officer, the total of each item, and whether it was not in the judgment of the court, fair and full enumeration of the classes of inhabitants and other items required, by law. to be enumerated- Those counties whose slerifis have naglaead . ,ar