Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-12-14
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE GOLD HILL DAILY xEws.l
The Governors message was read Il

When the first Legislature of a new STATE
Is deyolved a responsibility requiring the
exercise Of the most patient research anC
the soundest discretion. A carefully consid
cred Constitution has been adopted by the
people, the provisions of which are to ot
rendered operative by legislative enactment
Within its restrictions and in obedience tc
its high authority, you and / have Solemnly
sworn to perform our allotted duties, and re-
gulate and set in motion the machinery FOL
the protection and government OF the com
munity, owing to it their allegiance.
In the older States, from which most o
our people came, the ordinary subjects OF leg
islation find ample presidents to serve ant
guide, and the experience Of sister Sove
reignties may be invoked to enlighten US 81
far as subjects requiring consideration ART
analogous. But we are contemplating, with
out example, in regard to the great universe
resources, which constitute our paramount
interests, and demand the display Of the mos
iudicious management. Relying, as l do
upon the aid of Divine Providence, to dis
charge the exalted trust reposed in me by
our constituents. I shall cooperate will
you in the enactment of such laws as shall
be deemed promotive OF the public welfare
and to the protection of property, the pre-
servation of personal liberty, and the foster
ing and advancement of the interests Of thu
State. The constitution imposes upon mt
the duty of communicating to you, BY mes
sage, the condition Of the State, and recon-
mending such measures as may deem en-
pedient. By its provisions the officers OF thu
Territory were continued in office until thu
time specified for their successors to qualify
-. \ NR.f 1ryr, ell
you with detailed statements. They have
been handed to me so recently that can d
little more than commend them to your care
full consideration.
No subject will engage your attention
more intimately affecting all classes thar
that oftaxation. We embark with a debt in
herited from. the Territory approximatins
the sum OF two hundred and Sixty-four thou
sand dollars, exclusive OF the expenses Of tht
last Constitutional Convention, with an emp
" treasury and without resources for seyera
months to come. Not an encouraging pros
pect, but one understood by our constituent!
when they decided to adopt a State Govern
ment. However, if economy characterize
expenditures, and you are in framing a wei
devised revenue system, we shall be able L
place the State upon cash basis, and rem
der the burthen OF government comparatively
light. If payment Of State officials is post
poned until revenue is collected from taxa
ton, many Of them may be compelled t
dispose of their warrants at ruinous rates o
discount. Besides, such expenditures, 4:
the State may be required to make for pur
poses other than meeting salaries, will b
greatly augmented, unless we are in con-
dition to pay treasury orders upon presenta
ton.
The expenses Of the State Government
will, with the utmost economy, be neces
sarily large during the ensuing year, and vii
approximate the sum OF Sl75, 1000, exclusive
OF principal and interest of the Territorial
debt to be paid during 1865, amounting tc
So, 900. The amount of revenue to be col
lected for the last fiscal year, as shown &c
the late Territorial Auditors report, will moi
probably exceed SO, 1000. 1t becomes neces.
Sary, then, to provide for the large deficiency
l therefore submit for your consideration, the
following suggestions in this connection:
The prompt passage Of law leyying one
per cent upon all real and personal property
subject to taxation, to be assessed BY the lst
of April next, and collected before the Isl
DAY Of July following. l am satisfied that
ECdA anu pC4SChoA PAOPSASl boA SaAA OS AAOA {
readily collected at this than at any other
time Of the year, as ordinarily at that period
there is more money in the country and less
demand for its use.
A general license tax, payable quarterly,
and also poll tax TO the extent contempla-
ted BY the Constitution. The use Of stamps,
method of collecting in small sums very
I Fhnrafnrn
recommend "Stamp Tax" on all deeds,
mortgages, leases, bonds, bills OF exchange,
promisory notes, checks, receipts, ETC., ETC.,
similar in its general provisions to that ofthe
Federal Government.
Provision for our present wants might be
made BY the issuance and sale OF bonds-say
800, OO0-payable on the lst of October next,
bearing such rate of interest as would insure
their sale at par. This may be safely done,
as so much Of the taxes will have been col
lected as to guarantee the payment Of such
bonds at maturity. In any event, some eff
cient mode of raising money, for the pay
ment Of current expenses, should be speedily
adopted if we wish to proceed upon an eco
nomical, cash basis. II is more than prob
able that, with the natural flow Of capital into
the State, encouraged by judicious legislation
lOT us pIOIeCllOu, uuu Tue Progressing NC-
Of our material wealth, the amount
Of our taxable property will be so much in
creased that another year will find US able to
reduce materially the rate of taxation from
that suggested. Though the result Of some
anxious thought, am aware that the fore
going suggestions are perhaps crude; they
may however afford basis for action; but
should better plan be digested by your Hon
1rable body, shall readily and cheerfully
concur therein. In making appropriations
of the public money, | trust you will con-
SANITY keep in view these important facts,
hat the amount Of taxable property within
he State is quite limited-that our populs-
lion is comparatively small, and that our peo-
pie draw largely upon their income-cheer-
FULLY, it is true-in response to the great
needs of the Union in her gigantic efforts to
sustain our nationality. The amount Of pub
lie debt which may be contracted, and the
rate of taxation which may be levied being
confined within Constitutional bounds, you
will readily perceive the most exact and
rigid economy will have to be observed
in the management of our financial affairs,
and l earnestly hope that no Office will be
created or employment given which shall be-
come charge upon the public resources,
unless such shall be absolutely Indispensable;
and that in all cases compensation shall be
fixed at moderate rates. The salaries of such
State officers as are named in the Constitu-
ton are specified in that instrument, and l
need not suggest that they do not respective
" exceed the necessary expenses OF incumb-
ents. In this connection, you will be ex-
pected to determine the kind Of currency in
which the revenues shall be payable. You
will not overlook the fact that by common
consent, and. at the instance Of common
gold and silver form the basis Of
private dealings, and that upon this standard
for services is predicated. We
may, therefore, assume that the trainers OF
our fundamental law, in establishing the sal
aries of officers, anticipated that the Legisla-
ture would so model the revenue system as
to place State transactions upon the footing
occupied by those Of the community at large.
The interests Of the State are so nearly allied
to those of California. that we shall probably
ind it to our advantage to assimilate our rev.
enue system and laws for the enforcement OF
private contracts, as nearly as may be, to
those OF that State. They have an estab-
llshed policy which, from community of in
terest, has exerted an influence in giving
shape to ours. The enterprise and adventure