St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1868-10-16
The Governors Message.
F,H0w citizens Of tie .SeH,Itc
MI IIuIL.n L. Dnnr1

FtHOw clttceltS If tile SeIi,tc
aud House Of Representatives,:
Having assembled in accordance with
the provisions of the Constitution, to en-
ter upon the discharge of the legislative
duties incumbent upon the representa-
tivcs Of the people, it devoives upon the
executive to bring - your attention such
business as may appear necessary for
your consideration. 1t is your duty TO
remedy any defects in the laws, TO make
such changes and improvements As are
required to perpctuate and defend the
rights of the people, and to render sure
TO all within our borders the benefit OF
our free institutions,
You will be called upon TO pass upon
many special and local interests, that
should receive the consideration their
Importance may demand.
Inc transactions of the executive de-
partments of the government, durin. thc
past year, as contained in the reports OF
the state officers, will he laid before you.
From these reports gather some facts.
to which | would more particularly di-
rect Your att eutiou.
FINANCES.
1t is gratifying to he able TO report
that our financial condition continues 10
improve. Under the wise provisions Of
former legislatures. the funded debt of
the state has been reduced during the
wear two hundred and thirty thousand
dollars. With no resources but direct
taxation. and with extraordinary expen-
diturcs during the past few wears, amount
ir- in the aggregate TO upwards of five
millions of dollars. we find ourselves ut
the close of the fiscal year with fund
el Indebtedness. after deducting balanc"
10 credit of sinking fund, OF eleven hun
bred and sixty-cight thousand dollars
With u continuance OF the policy Of
providing for portion of the funded
debit, and with due regard 10 the eco
nomical administration of the affairs of
state, we may still further reduce the
amount required 10 he raised by taxation
The war claim of the state against the
Initel States has received the special
attention of the auditor of accounts The
JnaI lu-tcd balance due the state is now
500. 222 %. 1t Is estimated bv the
auditor that We may expect with conf
dence to receive, within the present fiscal
year, ut least one hundred and ten thou
sand dollars on these claims.
The treasurer's report enables me TO
make the following statement OF the fl
nancc5 for the fiscal wear:
RECEIPTS.
Balance in treasury Sept. 81, il,Sl3 Is
Balance to credit of sinking
fund, Sept, 1867, $4,000 90
Collections on taxes, 5l5.O2S %
Received from judges of pro-
bate, 1o.44s Of
Balance from county clerks, 81, 49, 81
Received from United States
on war claim, 57,G37 Il
Received from other sources, 1867 81
Total, S154,3 "A
DISBURSEMENTS.
Debentures of general assem-
bly,, SO. 544 40
Extra pay and soldiers allot-
lotments, 2,34I %
Organized militia pay roll SIG 81
Court orders, %, 4S1 Al
Auditors orders, lSi.69S Is
State bonds redeemed, 23O. 900 90
Balance credit sinking fund, 59,G37 Il
Interest on bonds and loans. S. 66 %
Allowance to collectors of
taxes, 16.90f SO
Normal schools, LOO 90
Balance in treasury Sept, 'GS, 1853 IS
Total. S754,3G2 A.
1t will be necessary to assess tax up
on the grand list of the state. for an
amount sufficient to meet the estimated
Liabilities, and such other appropriations
as may be made. What is received du-
ring the year from the United States
may be appropriated to farther reducing
the funded debt or applied to reduction of
the tax.
The balance in the treasury to the
credit of the soldiers for allotments of
United States pay, is now including in
terest, upwards of twenty-five thousand
dollars. The object for which the allot-
ment system was adopted having been
fully attained, it may be well to enquire,
if some steps should not be taken, having
a tendency to bring these accounts to Il
close.
The aggregate indebtedness of all the
towns and cities in the state, as shown
from the returns made to the state trea-
surer, is nineteen hundred and thirty
nine thousand one hundred and ninety
eight dollars. Nearly one half of the
debt is found in tue counties of Benning-
ton and Windsor.
ASSESSMENT OF TAXES.
1t is evident to many who have been
called upon to administer our assessment