The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1859-01-11

The tables annexed to this report will
give information touching the subject men
toned in the caption Of each table.
An increase has occurred in the General
Fund receipts of the last year, compared
with those of the year preceding, IL tue
sum Of S3S5,1jl -, Of which the sum OF
S266 600 arises from loans authorized by
the Legislature, leaving sll9,15l I, III
creased revenue from specific and deIin-
s,uont taxes: from which latter source the
Increase Is about 100000 90.
The operation Of the tax law as amend
ed, together with tho decision of the Su-
preme Court upon leading principle gov
crning sales of land for delinquent taxes,
have combined 10 work q manifest adyaut-
age To the revenues Of the State, which can
bc estimated by reference to the tables en-
titled, State Tax Lands. and Tax Sales, .
as compared with Ike tables Of former
years; the improvement in this regard in
sales of State Tax Lands. between the
wears IS51 and 1S5S, being from onetwen-
tieth Of the land, offered to one-cighth Of
the same amount. and the proportion Of de
/ linquent taxes collected having advanced
( from two-tbirds in 1857, TO four-fifths in
1913.
The Act supplemental to that providing
for the construction Of the Ste Marie Ship
Canal, approved Feb. l2,lS53, reqnire~ the
Auditor General upon satisfactory evi-
deuce that any y' sid lands are held by
the original contractors, and have not been
sold by them, to receipt the amount Of any
taxes, assessed within the period fixed upon
in such contract, and returned to his office
for nou-paymcut, and to charge the amount
thereof to the General Fund BY PJo-
riso to the FOREGOING, the State l. to look
to Canal tolls, to bc reimbursed for the
same -nti the last year, no evidence
contemplated by the above provision We
furnished in order to render the same et
factive, but the Canal Company have paid
the taxes. as returned 70 this Office, under
protest. and arc now seeking 70 avail them
selves Of the privileges of the Act above
referred TO, and with that view have mad'
a case for the Supreme Court, with the A,
tornev General, in order to test the conSt
tutionaity of the law Should the Cana
Company prevail, n claim will doubtless b,
presented before the Board OF State Audi
to.s, covering The different amounts already
paid, which, together with those for the
wears ISIS and 1853, will reach the sun
Of s5o,Goo, for which provision should b
made
Il Is Obvious that upon the ordinary Re
source, If the State, no d,penianee can bc
made. except for ordinary expenditures
wherefore. it viii become necessary, IN al
cases in which appropriations are made
that tie means be provided by the Leg'sla
ture TO meet them RemissnesS in this Re
gard. leads - the same confusion and en-
barrazSmeut in State finances, that inevita
blv follow from improyidence and want @
proper calculation IN private affairs Tn
: verv act IF throwing of the resp5nslbillt
of providing the means required by differ
ent AUTHORIZATIONS. f itself, leads 70 reck
lessness and extrlragance. The power an
the responsibility must 20 together; /
which c9sa, the one acts - 4 check and ba
ance upon the other The organic law {
the State also holds this Obligation planl
in view. when it imposes the du-y upon tn
Legislative power to provide for an annu'
tax. sufficient 70 meet the estimated eypeI
, ses Of gorernmaut, the interest of the >ta'
debc. and contingent DEFICIENCIES.
As authorized by Joint Resolution y
=, laws of IS5s. | have made a settlemel
with Washtenav county, by which Il
amount agreed and determined to be DR.
; the State from the county, July Is, lS5
i. vas 9,632 0S.
). All Of which Is respectfully submitted