Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-10-23
The ComplroIIer,s Renort
We continue, to-day, our extracts from the lucid
report of the Comptroller;
ESTIMATED RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES FOR THE TWO

The receipts and expenditures for the next tw
years will be somewhat larger than estimated in tn
| following tables. there are several funds whic
90 into and out Of the Treasury without in any 9th
er manner affecting its operations. Among thes,
| the most prominent is the Sinking Fund which wi
| annually increase hereafter, and will amount IN tn
next two years 10 several hundred thousand dollar
! These estimates are made with view to leav
such balance in the Treasury as will cover an,
specific or miscellaneous appropriations by the Lee
| lsature not estimated for They are made. TOT
without putting in the receipts the S25OO29.49 con
| tidently claimed 10 be due from the Bank of Ten
nessetO the Treasury-SI4S GOO of which is as indis
! putably So by virtue of the act of 1856. as it il
! possible for future legislation TO make it. For
| fuller understanding of this matter reference il
made TO the correspondence of the Comptroller witt
the President of the Bank published in a subsequent
page OF this Report Whatever may be received
from the Banl, Of Tennessee of the amount claimed
will TO that eXtentswell the balance in the Treasury
So will also the balance in the hands Of delinquents
reported to District Attorneys.
The expenditures for the next two years include
the payment of the public debt falling due in lsGl
-S66,666 90. 4 reasonable allowance has beer
made for the increase of such items as have beer
gradually enlargeing for the last few years. Tn,
weights and measures expenditure Is estimated al
what the Superintendent can probably complete IL
the coming two years the expenses OF running the
State line Its probable cost beyond appropriation
the appropriation TO the State Library at about
1
property; the estimate for the Insane Asylum al
more, perhaps. than will be required the pay pa
tents aiding very much to make it seif-sustaining
The estimate for it has been made for the maximum
number of pauper patients, four for each Senatorial
District, at the same rate allowed for pupils in the
Deaf and Dumb and Blind Schools which also pays
the salaries of officers. There Is no reason. that
am aware Of making it more costly to support these
patients than the pupils in those Sch0ols-the ad-
vantage of cheapness being in favor of the former
the Institution being in the country, with farm at
tached TO it. and many OF the patients being able to
work upon it and raise supplies to feed themselves
1t is better, also, to make specific appropriation for
this any other purpsse than to levy specific
taXUpon property. The first is direct. straighfur-
ward. and certain; the other is uncertain to the
amount, complexities and Confuscs accounts. mys-
titles the tax payer, and is often intended 10
heavier appropriation than would be voted directly
No estimate has been made for the Pcnitentary.
presumng it would, It ought to. sustain itself for
the next two years by leasing hiring the cunycts
upon railroads or adopting some other plan suggest
ed by those more conyersant with its operations.
Its present management is said to be excellent: but
ever since its organization it has been a vampire
upon the public Treasury. Financially, its condition
may be improved by making the smaller tclpnies
mlsdemeanOIS. or by limiting the term of COHtiHc
ment 10 not less than three wears in any case I'm
der that time the convict is by no means an adept
in vocation. makes little for the institution.
and certainly does not pay the costs of prosecuting
him to conviction and conveying him to prison
The amount to Common schools is about equal TO
the largest sam ever given TO them by the specific
tax of y cents upon the 500 OF taxable property.
together with the interest upon the several funds in
the Bank Of Tennessee. appropriated 60 that pul-
pose, and its various other sources The adoption of
the suggestions hereafter mac. some other plan
TO simplify it, would render its management more
easy and comprehensive.
As before remarked. the receipts for the ensuing
two years do not embrace the sum claimed to be
due from the Bank of Tennessee, or the amounts in
the hands of dellnquents reported and to whom
perhaps majority receivable warrants have not
been issued. These will increase the estimated sur
plus in October 1861. to the extent Of payments
from these sources. But without them, l consider
It safe for the Legislature to reduce the present
State tax from 10 llB cents to cents upon the 500
Dt taxable property. The cents are intended TO
include the present specific taxes of p cents
tor Common Schools, ] cent for Lunatlc Asylum
and lilo Of one cent for State Library. If these
be continued as ! think it not polite to do in
hat shape then the State tax proper might
be reduced to one and tiftcensiXtCenths cents But
% be more easily COmprchended | will speak of
he cents State tax upon the 500 Of taxable prop
'rty as including all taxes upon property colcctl-
Die by Tax Collectors. Upon SIOOOD0U0O of taxa |
Die property an average for the next two wears
much smaller advance in value than has been |
made since 1915. tax Of cents upon that and the |
present poll tax would yield SIlO2l5 more than is
balance to cover any over estimate |
rom any or all other sources OF revenue In the, !
,o tax were reduced One-half and State tax brought
q > cents. there would still be a balance of over
$4,000 not set down from that source to cover
if any. But if there be no increase
. property. cents upon the 500 worth, with the |
present poll tax, would yield SS1.2l5 more than oS-
mated to cover deficiencies from other Sources. |
Without some UQloOked for revulsion, or dcrangc-
nent from the ordinary sources of revenue, or the |
allure Of the Bank of Tennessee To make six per |
ent profits upon her CaDital-and il has made and |
aid into the Treasury more than that for some |
can be no question of the safety Of re-
ucing the State tax from Is ll6 to cents. light
r tax than the people of Tennessee have paid for
years, and perhaps the hghtest tax OF any other
tate in the Union.