The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-01-18
ANNUAL REPORT
THE COMPTROLLER
Treasury DEPARTMENT,
Comptroller's Office. January 4 lSGl

y y
tion 8, Of the Code Of Public General La,es.
RECEIPTS.
The total receipts into the Treasury during the
fiscal year, which commenced on the lst of OctO-
Der, 1859, and ended on the Both S ptember, 1850,
81 ,0iS 339 61; and adding to this amount the
sum remaining in the Treasury on the 30th of
September, 1885, the aggregate in the Treasury for
the year appears to have been 81, SCI ,630S3.
By reference to the Comptroer's Report for the
fiscal year 1859, it will be seen that the receipts
into the Treasury during that year were 81 20O,-
552 II, exceeding by the sum of 1852, ,2l3.l 10 the
receipts in the year Just closed. The revenue
which accrued and received in 1850 amounted
to SS94, ,8ll2 20, being S97, ,05S.46 less than that
which accrued and was received in the preceding
year
DISBURSEMENTS
The disbursements in the fiscal year amounted in
the aggregate to 81 306 043 08, exceeding the
which accrued and received in the same
period in the sum of SAIL 23l IS. In the Control
lers last report to the Legislature the probable de-
mands for the fiscal year estimated at 1914 CO.,
but at the same time it was remarked tn at the es
mate therein made :ncluded f'only the regular ex-
penses of the State Government, no margin being
allowed for extra or special appropriations" 1t is
believed that the statement then made would very
nearly have approxmated the truth but for the
many and large appropriations which the legisla-
ture, in the exercise of its powers, deemed proper
to make. The immediate expenses of that body
amounted to the unprecedented sum of sos, 574 81
Of this amount the of S39, ,544 81 was dshursed
62O.50; for printing for the House of Delegates,
S23,92437. By an examination of the Journal OF
Accounts, deposited in this Department, it appears
that 81, ,36l.35 were paid to witnesses in :Contesed
Election Cases., and to witnesses summoned to give
testimony in other cases, S775. Bv an inspection
of the same Journal it appears also that the sum OF
l9,O44.73 was paid to Committee Clerks and others
employed by the Legislature.
Of the special appropriations made by the LegS-
lature at its last session, there disbursed during
the year the sum Of Sl62, ,63998, exclusive of the
amount paid on account of the appropriation for
the purchase OF arms for the State nor does it in
clude the payments made to the Eastern Shore
Railroad Companies. These Companies received,
as the appendix shows, S44 ,09245, viz to the
Maryland and Delaware Railroad SIS 900; to the
Eastern Shore Railroad $50, 9,O92.45. There are
also a number of appropriations yet remaining un-
paid either wholly or partially.
The remaining in the Treasury at the close
of the fiscal year S255, ,5S7.75 subject however
to certain charges therein enumerated, amounting
in all to S2S4, 92O which, being deducted, would
leave balance against the Treasury of S29 26l As =
So that if all Of those demands had been made on
the first day Of October, 1860 the Treasury would
have been unable to meet them. Fortunately they
were not made, and the State has thus far escaped
such embarrassment and dscredit.
From an estimate of the probable receipts into
the Treasury during the present fiscal year, the to-
tai amount is placed at 81, ll9, ,G4SSO.
Many ofthe sources OF revenue so irregular
and uncertain to render it difficult to form sat
isfactnTy and reliable estimate, and of course the
receipts Will be inevitably affected by the none
tary condition of the country. Should the present
unfortunate and deplorable arrangement continue
(and no mortal can at this time confidently predict
its terminaiOu), they will doubtless be materially
reduced.
The probable demands upon the Treasury in the
current fiscal year estimated in the aggregate
at S99S, ,544.
DIRECT TAXES.
The receipt from direct taxes in the fiscal year
ending the 30th September last were S249, 1922
%, being Sl,928 OF more than was received on this
account in the preceding year, and more than has
0een received from this source since 1856, when
the last reduction made. These figures will
appear the more satisfactory when it is considered
that the arrears of taxes at the higher per cents
are necessarily rapidly diminishing; comparative
ly few payments having been made into the Trea-
sury in the'past year at the rates Of fifteen and
twenty cents. There is no reason to doubt that the
reduction of the direct tax, recommended in the
Comptroller's last report, might have been safely
made, If the Legislature had restricted its aprrO-
pyiations to the ordinary expenses of the State
Government, and if q new assessment (l0udly call
ed for by the principle OF equal taXation) had been
ordered at the same session.
The Collector OF Baltimore city, who holds
most responsible post, is entitled to favorable
ton, as in his relations with this Department. ex-
tending through four years, he has established the
character Of faithful and diligent officer.
''THE FUNDS"
There remained in the Treasury on the 30th of
September, 1852 to the credit of the Free Schools
Fund, S24 427S7 and the receipts in the fiscal year
were from the tax on the capital of banks S2l,-
740.54, from dividends of Bank Stock held by the
Treasurer for the benefit Of the said Fund SILL
1906 from State per cent. stock S530.l6, from
surplus revenue S34, ,069 So, and from investments
made for the of Common Schools, under the act
of Assembly of 1858, the sum OF SIC, ,413 54, making
aggregate of Sill 1922. 49, and the disbursements
for the same period were S9I, ,8S9 90, thus leaving
in the Treasury, to the credit of the School Fund,
on the 30th of September last, S19432 %.
The character ard amount of stocks held for the
benefit OF the free schools in the various counties
appear in statement g Of the appendix. The whole
amount is 1922 2G7.34. The average total receipts
for the use Of free schools about equal to the
interest at six per cent on 81 0,000, without reck
oning the annual appropriation of S400 to certain
counties By act passed ct the January session,
1860.
The receipts for the use of the Sinking Fund
amounted in the fiscal year to S245, ,367.02 the
whole of which sum- with the exception of So, l57.
G8, was promptly applied by the Treasurer to the
augmentation of said fund. The sum of S5,628.29
was transferred as surplus cash. The purchases
made by the Treasurer during the past fiscal year,
for the benefit of the Sinking Fund were of Cur
rency State per cent. stock S2l ,053. .59 of per
cent. S2l7 ,000 54, and of415 per cent So 200 The
Sinking Fund the 30th of September, 1852
amounted to S4,5S ,975. %, adding the purchases
made in the year, and the cash standing in the
Treasury to the credit of the said fund.- it appears
the 30th of September, 1867 at s., ,82S, ,367. .03.
The stocks purchased for the Sinking Fund were
obtained on an average at fraction under par
The high price and scarcity of Maryland stock in
the market indicates the mistaken faith OF the pub
lie in the ability and integrity of the State.
The control of the Sinking Fund is by law vested
in the Treasurer, and its favorable condition gives
evidence of his judicious management; and the
Comptroller embraces this opportunity to acknowl-
edge the hearty cooperation he has received from
that officer in the administration of this depart
ment of the State Government.
RECEIPTS FROM CLERKS OF COURTS.
The revenue derived from Licenses from the tax on
Commissions OF Trustees and Receivers, &C., re-
ceived from the Clerks of Courts, amounted in the
fiscal year to $3.50, ,4G5.5l; in the preceding year
the receipts om the sources were S296 489 OF.
The receipts from Licenses alone amounted to
S272, ,2S5.77, a falling off compared with 1859 of
S4,S34.73. This may be accounted for by the alter
alton made in the License law at the last session of
the Legislature; the decrease, however, is quite
unimportant, and the modification in the law was
very properly made under the circumstances
A payment OF 81 900, in accordance with chapter
3O5 of 1858, was made during the year by the ad
ministrators of one of the sureties of l.. ,. Nor
wood, late Clerk OF the Court of Common Pleas, on
account ofthe indebtedness of the said Norwood to
the State.
The Clerks have generally been prompt in the
return and settlements OF their accounts.
FROM REGISTERS OF WILLS.
The receipts into the Treasury from this class of
officers, during the fiscal year, S64 074 .G4
increase of S3, ,205.72 compared with the revenue
from the same sources in the year previous. ltwas
probable that the reverse of this agreeable result
would have been experienced, owing to the law
passed at the late session of the Legislature, pro-
viding, ''where executor administrator shall
renounce his commissions he shall not be taxed
thereon"
The Act of the General Assembly Of 1850, for the
relief Of one of the surees of Nathaniel Hickman,
late Register of Wills for Baltimore city, has had
the effect Of staying proceedings against Hickman
bond and nothing therefore has been received into
the Treasury on this account.
1t is gratifying to be able to state that in the past
year punctuality has generally characterized the
transactions of the Registers of Wills with this De-
partment.
EXCESS OF FEES.
The reveune derived from the excess of ofiicers'
fees, under the lst section of article of the Con-
stitutior, and section of article XVIII of the
Code, for the fiscal year, amounted to Sl0,Sl4.57,
being less by tho of S675 II than was received
on the same account in 1859, but more, with that
exception, than was received in any previous year.
OF the amount received into the Treasury, the Clerk
of the Superior Court of Baltimore city paid So,
200; the Clerk of the Court of Common Plea
SGl767; the Clerk of the Criminal Court 50, $50,
and the States Attorney Of Baltimore city 50
$3.50.
The attention of the Legislature has been repeat
edlv called to the difficulty and embarrassment at
tending the enforcement of the tenth article of the
Consttution-the propriety of a legislative con-
struction, and the necessity of some enactment to
render it effectual but it has been without avail
In the absence Of legislative action such an in
depreciation as was deemed fair and reasonable has
been placed upon that provision of the Constitu-
tion by my predecessors in office, and adopted by
me-mndful at the same time of the interest of the
State in receiving the excess and of the interest of
the community in securing the services of faithful
and competent officers.
AUCTION DUTIES.
The receipts from Auction Duties for the fiscal
year were Sl3, ,l2906. The proceeds of these du.