The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1858-01-16

The Territorial aud State Finances
Report of the Treasurer and Anditor'
Being about of age and compelled here
after to foot our own bills for Governmental
expenses, the financial exhibits of the condi-
ton of the Treasury, as made by the Treas
urer and Auditor, suddenly assume an i'm
portance in the eyes Of the people, which
they did not possess before.
Mr. G. w. ARMSTRONG, the Territorial
Treasurer has just sent in to the Legislature
his Annual Report. His letter to the Legis-
lature, accompanying the detailed report is as
follows:
OFFICE OF TERRITORIAL TREASURER,
Saint Paul, Jan. 4th, 1853.
To the Honorable the Legislature Of the State Of Asn-
nesOtd:
I have the honor to submit, herewith,
report of the condition of the Treasury of
the Territory from the time [ assumed the
duties of the Treasurer, the 10Th OF May,
1857, to the 1st of January instant. The da-
ia in my possession is not sufficiently clear
to enable me to give a correct statement OF
the receipts and expenditures previous to
that time, and consequently refrain from the
attempt to do so.
The 23d of May last an act was approved
authorizing the Treasurer to issue bonds, to
be signed by the Governor, to the amount OF
eight thousand dollars, bearing interest at
the rate of twenty per cent per annum, to
defray the expense of the Extra Session. In
accordance with that act, l sold at par, $4,-
800 payable in one year from the 9th of
May last, and $500 payable in two years
from the same time $4,50O of theprincipal
and $1,000 interest, making 6,lOO, will
therefore be due on these bonds in May next,
which it will be necessary to provide for.
My predecessor turned over to me $1,000
paid into the Treasury by the St. Peter Com
pany, as special deposit to the credit of the
Building Commissioners, under the act OF
last winter to remove the Capitol. AS the
law under which the Commissioners were ap-
pointed was declared imperative by the
courts of the Territory, l declined to pay the
drafts drawn by them. And as the statutes
declare that no money shall be paid out of
the Treasury without authority of law, have
not deemed myself legally authorized to re-
turn the money to the St. Peter Company, as
demanded, and the fund is consequently still
in my hands.
Very respectfully,
G.. W. ARMSTRONG,
Territorial Treasurer.
On examining the details of the report, we
observe that the Treasurer divides his ac-
count under three heads-General Fund
Legislative Fund-and Capitol Fund. The
first fund is derived from Territorial Taxes
the second from the proceeds of Territorial
pany. 1t is mortifyins to observe how tardy
most of the counties are in the payment of
the Territorial taxes. Chisago, Ramsey,
Hennepu, Goodhue, LIE Seuer and Stearns
have paid up in part-but from the others
not dime appears to have been collected.
The whole of the GENERAL FUND receioed
is barely SIS, ,746-of which amount Ramsey
county alone contributes $3.50 and all the
rest of the Territory but $2,0l6!! Little
Chisago county is next highest on the list to
Ramsey, having paid into the Treasury
SG93.S2. Hennepin paid but S27O.OS =
The amount received, is wholly on account of
assessments prior to 1857. No payment
has been made ON 1857 by any county.
The General Fund" Expenditures en-
brace the pay of the various Territorial Off
GERS for printing contingent expenses and
to Kingsbury, German, 10. Brown, and Hal
combe, who were so far favored over the 9TH
er members of the Minority Constitutional
Convention, as to receive pay on their war
rants in full and the balance of the Fund
(over $4,000 went to lquidate in part the
Pioneer establishments bill for printing done
for the bogus Convention.
The LEGISLATIVE FUND was derived from
the special Territorial Bonds for one and two
years at 20 per cent aud was all absorbed in
paying the expenses, per diem and mileage
of the members of the Legislature during the
Extra Session last spring.
The CAPITOL FuNDis still on hand and the
Legislature ought to provide for the return of
the $4,000 to the St. Peter Company
Doubtless it would be very acceptable these
hard times. Our impression is, that the Ter
ritOrial Treasurer was over wise, in not pay
ing it back before. When the removal act
was declared void, it voided all transactions
under it ; it was no longer funds in the Treas
ury but merely in Mr.. ARMsTEoNc's hands
as a Trustee for the st. Peter Company, and
he ought to have paid it over.
We give the concluding aggregate of the
Treasurer's Report:
REHABILITATION.
Amount of General Fund d..................$S7 TAG 20
Legislative Fund. Observation-Disclosures. 5000 90
" Capital Fund Observation-Disclosures. 5000 90
s21,746 20
Amount paid out General Fund. ..$S,737 q
Legislative Fund. 5000 90
Balance in Treasury. 5000 43
There is necessity that some means
should be found, to compel the county au-
thorities in the several counties to pay over
promptly the Territorial and State Taxes COL
lected. The people paid them at the
same time they paid their County and School
assessments, but the County Commissioners
or the County Treasurers have used them for
their own necessities, and let the General
Treasury 60 empty. This might be borne
under the Territorial Orranjzation. hr+ -