Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-01-13

and wharves after deducting the salaries of officers
and expenses amounted to Sl3 .92-less than two
Der centun on seven hundred thousand dollars The
latter sum is much below the estimated value of this
property No blame is attributed to the officers in
charge of the warehouses and Tharves for this result
They have exhibited earnest desire to protect the
interests of the State and their operations have no
doubt been attended with little expense as possible
II is clearly the interest Of the State to sell this
The receipts, during the fiscal year. from license to
eaten oysters issued under chapter ISL of 1865,
amounted to 81 1920. A much larger sum will be
reazed before the close of the license year. the st of
June next but 1t Is not believed unless some means
oe provued Tor the speedy and effective punishment
OF the yoaters of the law that the receipts from this
source will exceed, in any one year $50 600 fax of
two or three cents per bushe if its collection be
prIaGGtlcaDie, rae would yield much larger revenue.
Inc Act should be amended in several particulars
respectfully suggest that Justice of the Peace be
authorized to adminiSter the oath required of the ap
pncant 1or dredging license. The expense and trouhe
Oh ylslt to TINS ohce may thus be saved to those who
reside at distance. '"'
There have been no sales of the land scrip amount
ng 10 nearly two hundred and ten thousand acres
which was donated to the State by the Act of Con
gres5 of July 3D. 1862 for the benefit of agriculture
nu I'M tne ecndnlG arts. Inc prices offered therefor
II will appear by statement IL )" that the assessed
value OF the real and personal property in the State
nape 10 direct taxation, is $2IS 507 5l9 heing de-
crease from the assessment of last year of S. S36
This difference caused by the fact that ali assessments
on account OF slaves were deducted from the tax
BOOKS, as required by chapter 1l3 of 1865
The Importance of a general assessment was urred
upon the General Assembly at its last session nv INV
predecessor. respectfully but earnestly reitergte
the recommendation. 'V
According to the general assessment made in 1889
the value of real and personal property was S26i 3I9
ooO exhlbltlng an increase of S49667S25 when com
pared Wl'h tue year Immediately preceding and oF
9o4,492,55, or nearly hiuy-three per cenfp59. when
cIImpared Wltn the general assessment of 1884, only
When tits considered that more than thirteen years
nave eldhsed since the assessment in 1852 and that
the state mas rapidly increased in population wealth
ana general prosperity, and that the assessment of
the present year exceeds the general assessment of
ISo2, but in the sum of ST. % 9 or less than eercn
per cent"m, 1t IS not unreasonable to suppose that
new assessment would insure taxable bosi. Of al
least $500 100000, Notwithstanding tho large invest
securities
i the result should prove the correctness of this
estlmate large increase of revenue will be secured
to the general treasury and TO the schools. LEU
a reaSSesSment Is necessary, also. that the bur-
thens OF taxation may be equally distributed. In
some portions of the State property has greatly en-
hanced IN value in others only to an nconsiderabe
extent Many persons, too, regardless of the moral
and political obligation to bear their lust proporton
OF the taxes necessary for the support and good
credit Of the State secrote their securities and per
maps other property. when others, more honest and
the farmer mechanic and tradesman generally are
assessed to the full value of their estate This inc
quality IS heavy grievance, and is aggravated by
There are other subjects ofinterest which desired
to refer TO- butn the absence of accurate information
ana Tor the want OF time they are deferred 1t will
De my agreeable duty furnish any other facts within
the reach of this department, which may be desired
by your honorable body. ."
1t is gratifying to be able to state, in conc uson
that although the condition of the Treasury is such
rs to demand grave consideration and careful ecOno-
my IN the expenditures yet there sufficient cause
for, the apprehension of serious embarrassment,
Unless there should be some untoward interference
with the revenues of the State in the year 1867 will
again commence the rapid reduction of the State
debt. Within the current year all liabilities on ar-
count OF bountles will probably be discharged after
which, the excess of revenue over the ordinary ex-
penses of the State, approximating half million
dollars, annually, may be applied to that object.
In the discharge of the onerous and complicated
duties of this department. it affords me pleasure 70
say the hearty cooperation and valuable assistance
ot the Treasurer has been readily given.
Respectfully submitted
RoBT J. JUMP COMPTROLLER