New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-01-21
geh 0rIsans 9ailp Crssfsnt.
M e s S A Ct e
or THE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.


such exhibit Of the affairs Of the State of Lonisi
ana, as may better enable you to discharge the high
and solemn functions Of egslating for her wants and
the development Of her resources.
The condition Of the State Treasury, according to
the Report Of the Auditor, shows balance on the
first Of January, 1885, to the credit Of the General
Fund, OF fortyeght thousand four hundred and six
teen dollars, and forty-three cents
The receipts into the Treasury proper for account
Of the General Fund are estimated by the Auditor at
one million one hundred thousand dollars, making an
aggregate OF one million hundred and fortyeight
thousand four hundred and sixteen dollars and forty
three cents 10 be applied 10 the general and extra0r
dnary expenditures Of government for the ensuing
year. The estimated expenditures for the same pc
rod, including the unexpended balances are fourteen
hundred and eighteen thousand eight hundred and
three dollars; showing deficit in the General Fund
account for the fiscal year of two hundred and seventy
thousand three hundred and eighty-six dollars and
fftyseven cents. The total receipts less the unex-
pended balances, from the accounts of the various
Special and Trust Funds, estimated for the year
1885, at twelve hundred and twenty-five thousandfye
hundred and sixty dollars.
1t will be readily perceived that the current general
resources Of the State are gradually sinking below the
general and extraordinary expenditures and each
year the State has been forced to borrow larger sum
from the Special and Trust Funds OF the Treasury to
make good this continuously swelling deficit. It is
time this vicious practice was arrested, and the
expenditures Of the government confined within
the limits OF its own proper revenues. To accom-
upon the General Assembly in the strongest language
the necessity of the most rigid economy This econo-
my is demanded Of the government not less by con-
sideraton OF our peculiar exigencies than by the de-
pressed prices OF all the great staples Of agricu
fure, and the pecuniary distress which prevails
amongst the commercial and industrial classes OF the
community. -
1t twould be gross and objectionable offence were
the disbursements Of the State not now made with the
frugaty which individual citizens have been forced
to adopt, in the conduct Of their own affairs Iwoud
particularly call your attention several items of
penditure which should be reduced. At
The annual charge for public printing is over forty
Thousand dollars, large part of whict s incurred for
the publication, in French and English OF the debates
Of the members Of the Legislature. These debates
are not made public for weeks and months after they
occur, and the cost OF the whole machinery of re-
porters and translating is incurred together with the
expense Of printing, without obtaining the slightest
practical benefit. Another serious charge upon the
Treasury IL the profuse expenditure incurred for OBJ
Jects of charitable and educational nature. / am con-
WINGED that will be far better to leave the support of
many OF these objects to individual benevoence and
private enterprise The interest OF those who have
the conduct Of such noble institutions is far from
being increased by the continued aid Of the State In
the inception of such objects ii may be well to foster
and encourage them by governmental assistance, but
the habit OF leaning upon the State for aid begets
anything else than vigorous personal attention to
and interest In their good management and economi-
cal administration Aside from the leading charities
OF the State, such as the Insane and Deaf and Dumb
and Blind Asylums and the Charity Hospital the
Legislature should make the most sparing appropri-
ations to this class of objects. -
also deem it my duty to urge upon the Legisla-
tnre the repeal Of the Act which throws upon the
State Treasury the costs of criminal prosecutions in
the several parishes of the State. This new item of
expense to the government is estimated by the Audi
tor OF Public Accounts to require for the coming year
the sum OF fifty Thousand dollars When these charges
were borne by the several parishes they were sub
ected to the audit Of the Police Juries and the i'm
mediate taxpayers had direct and personal inter.
est in seeing that they were kept within proper
bounds.
Only by economy and retrenchment can the State
hope to retrace her steps, and prepare the way for
that reduction OF taxation demanded by the times
The continued encroachments by the deficits of
the General Fund upon the Trust Funds Of the
State have already attracted the attention of the
General Assembly, and l doubt not that the Acts
passed by the last Legislature taking the vast sum
due these Trust Funds entirely out Of the Treasury
Will thus efeetualy check the tendency to extrava
giant and wastefnl expenditure which has marked our
past history.
In compliance with the above Act, was furnished
by the Auditor with statement exhibiting the
amount due by the State to the Free School Fund
and the Seminary Fund, respectively By this state
ment appears that the sum of $529 900 is due the
Free School Fund, and $l36, 900 the Seminary Fund
In pursuance Of the Second Section of said Act, L
have issued six hundred and sixtyive coupon bonds
ior $1,000 EACH payable in forty years from the ls of
ia
per annum, and payable semi-annually
In conformity with the Seventh Section of said
Act, on the LIST of April, caused advertisement in
the New Orleans papers inviting proposals for the
exchange of the State bonds thus issued for any of
the bonds receivable by the State as security for the
circulation Of the banks established under the free
banking law, and on the first day of July the propo-
sails received were opened in the required by
law. The most favorable offer made for the exchange
of City Railroad bonds at difference of five DER
cent. in value-i e.. ninety-ive cents for the CITY
bonds, and par for the State bonds. One proposal.
offering an exchange of $l000 900 Of Consolidated
City bonds, was received at the same rate. This
difference in value did not, in my Judgment form any
inducement for making the exehange and exercising
that discretion vested in me under the Act rejected
the proposals, and have placed in the hands Of the
Secretary OF Stat and State Treasurer the bonds
issued, believing without any desire or intention to
disparage the value of other bonds, that the best
security that the State can hold for its Trust Funds
is to be foand in the bonds of the State principle
which is recognized in the Thirteenth Section of the
Act referred to- which requires investments for Ger.
tain funds to be made in bonds of the State at par in
preference to any other securities.
During the past year, the investments of interest
aecruing to the Redemption of State Debt Fund and
the Free School Accommodating Fund have been
made, after due form OF law in State bonds at rates
varying from SSl $500 to $50. In one case four
teen City bonds were taken at seVentythree cents to
complete the amount required.
refer you to the Report of the Superintendent of
Public Education for full statement of the opera
tons of that department oFthe last year. There are
many valuable suggestions contained in that Report,
which present themselves to the careful consideration
OF the Legislature
The Internal improvement Department has been
actively engaged in the performance OF the labors
imposed upon it by the last Legislature For full
statement Of the resources and conditions of said
department | refer you to the Report of the State
Engineer.
You will perceive, from the Report of the Register
Of he I ma hat tba aaf, ~
dred and ninety-eight thousand two hundred aud
seyentyeght dollars and eighty cents have been
ceived for the sale OF lands during the past year. On
thousand six hundred and thirty five dollars and
eighty cents School lands thirty.two thousand and
nine hundred and forty-one dollars and twenty-five
cents Internal improvement lands, thrty.eight
thousand and six dollars and twenty-nine cents
Seminary lands, thousand six hundred and thirty
six dollars and forty-One cents.
The Report Of the Swamp Land Board will place
you IN full possession OF its operations during the
past year. The recommendation Of the Commits
soner of the First District for the building Of pro
claim and drain swamp and overtiowed lands, SHOULD
meet with the hearty approval of the Legislature.
would recommend the propriety Of an enactmen
requiring the Sheriff of each parish, or other Office
charged with the collection of State taxes to pubisl
in their respective parishes. for thirty days, list
delinquent taxpayers, before settlement with th
Auditor; said list TO form basis for that settlement
deem it my duty TO call your attention TO the Ae
of lS46, relative to the trial of slaves This law re
quires amendment Several instances have occurred
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