The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-01-18
STATE FINANCES.

On the 18th December, 1850, there
were in the State Treasury SG43, 1873 90.
The amount received into the Treasury,
from December 16, 1860, to December IA,
1861, inclusive, was 81 ,995, 020 DINA
king total on hand and received of ST.
1853 80. The amount diShurSed du-
ring the same period equals 81 ,24S, 573
S2-leaving in the Treasury on December
IA, 1861, $4S9,764 48. Among the dis.
burSements were the following items In
tereSt on State Debt under Act of 1857,
$2G7, $50: bonds redeemed under said
Act, $96,379 81; bonds redeemed under
State School Land Fund, 1880; erection
of State Reform School, $24,931 81 !;
construction of State Capitol, $42, 2GS 10;
canceling State Prison Contract, Sl37, 800;
reclaiming Swamp Lands, sd, 657 O6 !;
support of Schools, SSl,7l3 60; Geolog.
ical Survey, $4,000; Special Extraordi-
nary Appropriations paid to date, $50,
367 20 making total of extraordinary
expenditures of 1874, 967 "a, which, by
deducting from the total expenditures of
the year Il ,249,573 S2) leaves a balance
of S463, SOC 4S, as the only sum which is
legitimately chargcable to the ordinary
expenses of CARRYING on the State Govern
ment Of this last amount the sum Of
$237,05S 80 was for mileage, pei diem
and contingent expenses Of the Legisla-
ture and the sum of $43,6l2 80 for
printing and tranSlating. This is too
much for the Legislature to expend on
itself, and should be reformed. The as
sessed value of all property in the State
for the year 1861 is $l47,8l!,61 16,
showing a decrease since the previous
year Of 1881, 1929 SO, mainly attributable
to the decrease in the value of live stock.
The expense Of collecting the State reve-
nue. should be reduced, and should not
cost over fifteen per centum, whereas It
now costs twenty five per ccntum.
THE FEDERAL WAR TAX.
Provisions should be made by the Le-
gislature for the collection of this tax
by and through the agency of our own
officers; or its direct payment assumed
and made in such a manner as to tighten
the burden as much as possible, and pre-
vent the confusion and conflicting ele.
ments that must for while arise in the
untried and complex system of Federal
and State direct taxation.
TIE INDIAN WAR DEBT.
The nation owes US $2lS,468 81 on &C.
count of Indian wars prior to 1854, for
the payment of which appropriation was
made; but owing TO the ruling Of the
Secretary of War, the funds to pay the
above named balance have not been re-
ceivcd. The State bonds covering this
sum mature in 1862, and provisions should
be made for their payment. The Gov
ernor intimates that the State might set
her share of the Federal war tax against
so much of this indebtedness,]
SPECIAL SALARY'FCND. .. .--
AS under the General Appropriation
Law the Controller cannot draw his war
rant for any sum until the money is in
the Treasury to pay it, much embarrass
ment occurs, and special salary fund
should be set apart to pay State officers
Of every kind.
THE REVENUE LAW
OF last session is an excellent one, and
should not be altered save to make it ap-
ply alike to all counties.
TIE STATE LIBRARY
Now contains 90, S39 volumes, and its at.
fairs are in fouriShing condition. The
Library Fund realized last year $1,000.