The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1869-02-01
OUR STATE FINANCES.

'cPoTNa u lue HuultoI, iIe"s"ic'' 49,
which We consider worthy Of apassing no.
ticr. R-.H
The report Of the Au litor isu full sum.
nnry of the financial workings Of the
State. It shows that the balance re.
naming in the State Treasury on Octo-
barl 1858, was S4.s95 SO
and that the receipts du-
taxation Of all kinds were 5000 10
in addition to which there
was received from the
general government $4,000 90
Making a total receipt Of s7C9,G95 e.
From this amount the Au.
di,or claims to have dis
hnrsed during the year 1851 ,395 81
Leaving a balance in the
treasury, Oct, ], 1868, Of $1S,S0Oll
\ The Trcusurcr's report shows that the
same amount was received during the
year, but it also shows that disbursements
during the year amounted to $76l ,SS2 IS
and that there remains in the Treasury
but the pitiful sum Of S7,sl3 OC-show-
ing discrepancy Of more than
$4,000 90. Thus it will be seen that
with au income during the past year Of
more than three quarters Of a million Of
dollars, our State Treasury is. in man
ncr. bankrupt!
Whatha become Of the money? Let
us sec:
The first item 10 the Au.
ditor's report is for "ex.
penses Of the Board Of
Equalization Of Lands $5,496 16
In the Auditors report e
for 1867 we notice an
item for same purpose, Of l,C7S 60
Making atotal Of S6,574 IS
Now, in the names Of all tho Gods a.
once, for what purpose has this money
been used? We know that our county
was blessed (?) with the attention Of those
gentlemen. and that they increased the
valuation Of our lands 20 per cent. so
that notwithstanding the reduction Of the
State tax to 90 cents on tue 800, we
paid $197,96 more State .ax, and s76s,9a
more School tax in 1868 than in 1867.
We know, further, that not one Of the
members Of that Board ever visited our
county, and tina. all Of them were pro.
foundly ignorant as to our capacity to
bear taxation. What did they do with
the money? There were but eleven
persons on the Board, and they received
nearly $500 each! But this is not all.
We had new assessment which cost the
State nearly $4,000. which, being added
to the pay Of the Board, makes the sum
ofS22,674,S5, which the people had to
pay! 5
We next come to an item for the regis.
traticn Of voters, amounting to $7.5OO,OO
but this not proving sufficient to carry
the election, the Auditor. without any
authority Of law, expended the further
sum Of $l,452,s3, making total
Of : -. 1882 S3
Add to this the amount
expended iu 1867, as per
Auditors report for that
year ~. 1C,431 81
and tho amount expended
in 1866, as given by tho
came authority s,14e SO
and amounts expended
in the three years for de-
Tending suits, under act
of the legislature, esti.
mated 1900 90
Making a total in 3 years Of S35,O31 rs
which has been expended for-what l?
Simply nnd.only to keep corrupt party
in power. t.s.
We next notice an item designated as
a"Civil Contingent Fund" Which is
used by tue Governor as be sees ft-os-
tensibly for purposes for which no appro-
priations have been made, but as our leg
islators make liberal and lavish appropri-
atoms for almost every conceivable pur.
pose, we are at q loss to know for what
purpose it is used, unless It be to feather
the nest Of our astute Governor. This
year the Auditor places the sum cxpend.
cd on account Of this fund at SS,514, 90,
and as similar appropriations have been
made every year, the Governor has had
placed in his hands at least $4,000, 90,
which he has expended, or claims to have
expended. during the past FIVE years
but for what, no one seems able to say.
We next notice an appropriation for the
Contingent Expenses Of Courts" Of
$4,000. Now, all men who have
given the matter any attention, know,