The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1858-01-09
Expenses of the State Government.

The following is the report of the Com
mittee of Ways and Means to whom was
referred the subject of the expenses of the
State Government for the ensuing year
To the Honorable the House Of Representatives.
Of the State Of Minnesota:
The Committee to whom was referred so
much of the Governors Message as relates to
the finances of the State, would in connection
with report of the necessary expenditures
for the coming year, respectfully submit the
following
In calculating the expenditures necessary
for the coming year, we have had but little
data from which to make the estimate. We
have, however, availed ourselves of what
means were in our reach, and find that the
sum of one hundred and forty thousand dol
lars will be required for the following pur-
poses
In the Legislative department. $4,000
Printing Laws and Journals .............3 $4,000
Executive department, .................1OO 900
Should the State of Minnesota be obliged
to pay the expenses of the Constitutional
Convention, the sum of forty thousand more
will be required. Your committee are of
opinion that a tax should be levied for that
purpose, and should the United States after
wards refund the sum paid, it can be used in
detraying the further expenses Of the State
Government. In calculating the amount ne
cessary for Legislative expenditures it was as
sumed that the present session would be four
months in length, The vast amount of busi-
ness necessary to be done to set the machin-
cry of the State in motion, would forbid an
earlier adjournment. The salaries of the
Ju ges of the Supreme Court being includ-
ed in the estimate ofjudlcal expenses, it may
be we'll for this Committee to state the
amount which they have allowed to each
one and their reasons. The salary of Judi.
cal officer should not always be determined
from the amount of business which he NAV
have to perform. 1t must be borne in mind
while, perhaps, five or six weeks in each year
would be sufficient in which to perform all
the labor that might be required of our Su-
preme Court, from necessity of the case they
are forbidden to practice to their profession
and the dignity of the position precludes
them from engaging in other means Of sup
port, rendering necessary that their salary
should be sufficiently large to afford them
comfortable support.
From these considerations, your commit
tee are of the opinion that each of the
Judges of the Supreme Court should have
the annual salary of three thousand dollars. |
The salaries of the six District Jud res should |
be varied in proportion to the comparative |
amount of labor. In some districts the du- |
ties of the Jud &c will be laborious and diff
his constant attention -
whilst in others, but little time will be re-
quired to attend to all the business that NAV
arise. Nine thousand dollars under our es-
innate being required for the salaries of
the Supreme Judges, and other incidental ex-
penses in that department as may be provid-
cd for by law, the sum of sixteen thousand
dollars.
The most difficult problem for this COM
mittee to solve is, how these expenditures
shall be met The sum above mentioned 10
daily accruing, and there is no money now
in the State Treasury with which thew are to
be met. The tax to be levied cannot he COL
lected in season to answer the present indeht.
edness OF the State, while the demand for
payment is none the less imperous. and your
committee see no other way but to adopt
the course provided in the Constitution. and
create loan OF one hundred and eighty
thousand dollars in State bonds. for sucb
time and at such rates as the Legislature NAV
lind necessary to obtainan an early disposition
Of the bonds.
1t cannot be expected that the bonds
IAN be negotiated at par, as provided for
he Constitution, unless a higher rate of
interest shall be allowed than is usual in such
oans All SIX and seven per cent bonds are
lot only at discount, but at the time of
heir issuance were sold at less than par
our committee have taken pains to ascer.
ain what rate of interest will be necessary
o insure an immediate sale of the bonds,
which is the result earnestly to be desired.
from the best information that can be Or.
aimed, we are of opinion that those honds
annot be cashed at par with less rate ofin-
crest than twelve per cent, and that too
must be done in this city. Tnose bonds. everv
With twelve per cer'... if thrown into the
new York mar let, we are confident would
y ~. ol,ns pr. The confidence of our own
-, IN the resources of the State, and
'"' probability of the passage of liberal
banking law, which will render the bonds
available for banking purposes, with the ne
cessity for circulating medium, will induce
capitalists among US to purchase the bonds
at par. Under these circumstances, and
rom the above considerations, your commit
tee would recommend loan of one humid
red and eighty thousand dollars, for defray-
ng the current expenses of the State for the
coming year. Two results will be attained
oy this loan. One hundred and eighty thou
,and dollars will be put in circulation, and
The State will be able to perform energetcal-
y its natural and necessary duties.
JAMES G. Dow,
Chairman Com. on Ways and Means.