The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-03-12

vice OF An additional clerk, and period OF one hundred
and fty days for the preparation OF such q report
II s proper for the undersigned 70 add that since the
resolution Of inquiry your honorable body adopted
Mr. Haskett, one Of the said Commandments doubt
iDsusAed By the approaching examination upon
me undsrtened and proposed that The undsr,igned
actions. Viewing the proposition q movement TO
meet the undersigned With said litigation, he refused to
have anything 70 do with said suits, declaring that they
lad been commenced wthou. his assent agency, and
tina. if Mr. Haskell and his associate had the power 70
originate the litigation, they must take all the response
biily which attached TO IT, whether Of prosecunoo or
The undersigned has thus laid before your honorable
body plain statement Of ec These facts need no com
ment or elaboration and for such action they demand
them. JOHN KERR
Nrw YoRx. March l, $780,
THE FINANCES OF THE STATE.
IMPORTANT REPORT FROM THE COMPTRoLLER-FACTs
TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE LEeIsLATURE-ARE THE
NEW MEASURES TO BE THROWN OVERHEARD FOR
STATE Or New YORK, CoRrRollKs's OFFICE,
ALBANY, March 8, lS60. )
To HE STEAMER THE ASSEMBLY
SR-l herewith tranamit 70 the Assembly commun
cation in answer to tho resolution Of the Assembly OF the
9th instant am, very respectfully your obedient ser
want ROBERT DENNlSrON, Comptroller.
STATE OF New York, IN ASSEMBLY,
ALBANY, March 8, 1885,
Resolved That the Comptroller be requested 70 state
tax required for the wants Of his Office and OF the other
departments OF the government during the next fiscal
any appropriations for works. and 10 give other
information 10 the condition OF may
deem important to o0nmun %M R1 By SISes e,.
The Comptroller having received the above resolution
will with ouch knowledge as he has obtained during the
brief period he has been IN office, proceed TO give his
answer.
The first question is what, in hs opinion will be the
Of required for Of his office and Of
the other Departments Of government during the next
hscal Year,
His pr edeceseor in Office has estimated that the tax for
he mil
IN the dollar, stat OF that there will be outstanding
liabilities unless created by the present Legislaure) to
There oapeer Of mistake in this statement nasmuch al
Deficiencies appropriations for the present curren. fiscal
10 the Of At least $4,000 and other outstanding
account. are anown 70 sHt fhe-ssanle on such .ppro
these deficiencies Hence, 1t is deemed unsafe to didf
nish the below the amount levied last year. These
Of the current fiscal year which ~ have paid from
the amount appropriated for the next fiscal year.
There win be required, therefore, for the general fund
The Canal Department win require tAx Of u MILL TO
60 with the work on the canals.
The school tax will remain 4 Of mill, the same as last
10 pay interest on the oco deb. authorized under
section 3 article Of the constitution viii require at least
To pay interest and originate sinking fund to pay float.
ing debt authorized BY the people at the last election viii
10 pay immediate wants in the Canal Department for
inereet and 70 due the first days Of April July
q
The total tax will be as follows
For general fund y mills, producing say 81 eco
For completion Of canals y mil. 1000
For nieyess on sl2 oco eco debt X mill 10000
For and snkg fund Of 81 500 600 deb; q mill 35booO
Total sum to be raised by tax IS 40 900
This the statement which truth requires TO be made
10 you.
The next question h will the condition Of the finances
warrant any appropriations for new xorks'
The answer 70 the first question involves the answer 70
this question.
II be legislature authorize new works and provide for
their payment the will have be increased TO
or four and half or i've mills
The amount Of tax Will have to be increased
works increase The whole amount may well DO fully
stated and considered This s Alike due you and 10
the people We represent Let II be well understood,
therefore, that new works authorized, the money u
10 be raised by direct taxaion viii the condition 0! the
finances authorize The commencement Of new works :
Having al come fresh from The people, will your
sDts bear additional taxston9 In the opinion OF the
Compuo er, works, however valuable they may be,
cannot with propriety be commenced The demands Of
the condition Of our revenues may be deemed npor
tant TO communicate.
the general fund 10 nearly ali from taxes. The Il min
taxes viii yield In round numbers say. 81 .675 900
Other sources yield only about. ........ 100000
Total. q, 775, 900
The canal revenues have heretofore been the great sub
oo 70 s s ~
sioneYs Of the Canal Fund for Information these
venues. But they ara silent Usage seems TO have
port as such isom The Commsionsrs Of the Canal Fund
a. 10 the management, superintsndence, Improvement
does not give much information on The subject OF canal
except In The cherries statement summed up
the 18th page, that the caual debt ".nking fund
hopeeery destitute Of revenues present and prospective
fhe Auditors report % sent 70 The Leesstufe by the
Commissioners Of the Canal Fund.- but The Auditor Glazing
a hat any susessops sae By him Or ~ any q
the deductions or conclusions drawn from the facts stated
q assumed. have The sanction Of the Commissioner u
But all honor 10 the Auditor h statement Of the oondi
ton Of the canal and remarks thereon very
policy Of The State since 1851 has tended 70 dimnh the
revenues Of tho Canals dry up tne sinking funds and
ion under the 9Th section Of The TN asc Of the oons
tut'on.
IL other words the Cd canal policy Of requiring and
debt and interest has been abandoned, and policy
has been paugurAxd Of collecting The most Of thai debt
sion 10 ibis policy the Comptroller dssrss 70 bring % The
confederation Of the Assembly the constitutional policy Of
requiring he vast tonnage passing from The grea: lakes 70
Atlantic Ocean through Safe, 70 contribute 70
canal tolls SUFFICIENT 70 restore those revenues 70
their former iucTeasirg amounts.
% mot the cesgn Of the Comptroller 70 60 into dig
qusiron she great wsdom Of the til article Of tho
system q in,nss. Which, fairly admnsaered, would
Has Il been fairly admiH5fercds
In $780, when the Convention which Named The coust
tuition was engaged In that work. the tonnage paseog along
the line Of the canals, and from the great lakes the
Hudson river, paid tribute 10 the canal fund.
The increase during . sories Of years had become .
matter Of record and from the increase and variations Of
The rast safe calculations could Of naresse
10 tbe amount Of those revenues in The future.
Tba. increase carefully calculated BY the Conven
ton, and made The bsss Of she financial pocy uei IN
the tevsnth article.
Vide The following table J. submitted 10 the Convention
in 1885, slowing tie ability Of ,be canals provide for the
sinkng FUNDS