The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-12-18
The Auditors Report.


wishes township collectors DISPENSE" 'v'' 's
collectors Of State taxes, and county 'ie''s"i.''
a. ,.orcorp, the duty. He recommends the
-na,.,;o, or the number of townships III
each county to three. lie gives g"oo 'e''''''s
for both recommendations. lie wishes e'ei
county to nav the expenses Of the crl'nlhai
prosecutions within its limits. Not practlc;s-
bic. we think.
Mr. T.y,oR treats at length Of the state
debit. Tie desires TO see it paid but he pre-
srnts no f,attcring picture OF the cendltioh Oh
the State. In round numbers he estimates
the debt at sis,00oooo, of which Sl6,o00,ooo
are assigned to West Virginia, leaving 49,
o0o, 900 as the amount The interest on winch
we must provide. The interest on TINS
amount is 81 $4,000. He estimates expenses
of the Government at Si,l00 ,000-makihg
5000. 900 to be raised 10y taxation. he estl-
mates the receipts under existing rates OF
taxation ut Sl.s76,257.S2, leaving dchcls OF
slI4374a.lS-a bad showing. If the int
rest on the public debt is paid on the first OF
next month there will be in the treasury on
the first of july next only s2'S,oSl."'' AT
which time there will be due interest to the
amount of S960.Ooo.
slr. TAYLOR reports S235,ooO as the sum
total appropriated last year to asyi'''lIs. lie
recommends that the sum needed for them
lc raised By special tux of scycn-tcntlIs OF a
mill in the dollar on property. lie makes
like recommendation as TO the sum to De
r,i<rd for free schools; the tax in this case to
tr one mill in the dollar. But, if deemed in
cxreGlicnt. he reluctantly advises the rcduc-
ton of the school tax by onc-haIf. lie thinks
that from one to two hundred thousand dol
ltrs at least above the expense OF collection
cnud bc collected from oysters. lie recon-
rucnds additional taxes upon the manufacture
{, well as upon the sale of ardent spirits.
Also tax upon stamps. lie desires that
railroad companies shall either be taxed or
Clearly exempted.
Criminal charges have decreased from S119,-
S5i.GG in 1870 TO *l4?,794.2G in 1871 (cndinS
c'rli year September 3oth).
Mr.. TAYLOR deems tho feature of the fund
ing act providing for the payment Of taxes
with coupons not Objectionable; but he
thinks only very small portion of the taxes
will he paid in them. "Whatcycr the rate
"or tax may be which the General Assem-
.'}Iv nmy impose, it will be Impossible to
"r,-,lizc any revenue thcrclrom prior TO the
list day of July next
The Auditor congratulates the Genera!
no If e.
"mcnt everywhere around us. Our rove
mites have rarely been more promptly paid
Ethan this year. although f,ro ycarS thrcS
"hncc hcc, coiicctcd toJcther.'
According TO the assessment of lSI0t total
value of lots in the State is So, 95G, 1914,
and of lands. SIG, acknowledgements,
500, lG. nG03S. The total decrease in the
value of lands since the assessment of 1876 is
$1,000, 1G0.S9. lin Richmand city as en-
Eugcd there was an increase of S6,9S2 ,il2.)
The Richmond hanks paid $lG,3il.i3 in
tercst on deposits.
Total capitation, personal property, and
real estate taxes to he applied to frCc-school
purposes, si90,3l3.9I.
bly, from those of the Auditor. We gave an
abstract of his message. lie anticipates a de-
felt, we believe. of some 800 600 OIL the 1st |
OF July. He proposes to meet it by rctrench- /
mcnt in various branches of expenditure
Mir. TAYLOR, who urges the maintenance of
the public faith, recommends temporary
loan.
The Legislature has the whole matter TN
der consideration, we trust, with the best
motives for the protection of the public credit.
II is doubtful whether the Treasurer has the
power to pay out any money in redemption
o. The coupons OF interest due on the lst of
January upon the bonds issued under the
funding act, and it is supposed that the
Treasurer will not solny out anything unless
he i, authorized to do so 10y an act of the |
Legislature.
So that there will not be anything done |
without the action of that body. We cannot |
too earnestly urge the public representatives
10 careful examination Of the subject. That |
the public di>trcsses, as fur as they affect the
ability to meet the moderate tax now levied |
upon the people, are exaggerated we have not |
Il doubt. The First Auditor, who has excel |
lent opportunities TO know much concerning |
the financial condition of the country, makes
an encouraging report of the improved and
steadily improving state of things.
Taxes are always unpopular. We have
Known great outcries against taxes i'll the
best of times, and we have known men
elected upon the cry of reform aud reduction
Of taxes when these were light and the peo-
Pie were rich. A cry with which we have
been familiar in the best of times is not start
hug at any time. 1t is an old hobby with
men whose deserts stood in need of little
assistance.
The people, indeed, have their serious trou-
hleS. But times are getting better 4 little
extra resolution now will soon take us all
over the period of trial. And it is an inn
portant question how far Nirginians can al-
ford at this time to allow the public credit to
DC impaired. Immigrants of means and ca
pacity will hesitate long before selecting as
their place of abode q State whose obliga-
h"ns are indefinitely postponed. Capitalists
will not have an especial liking for such
Commonwealth. In our opinion, one of the
best means Of inviting Immigration into Vir-
i5l'lia is to redeem her plighted faith That
will be far better than immigration societies.
-------------------------
AKERNAN.--From the published CORE
spondcnce between the President and Mr..
AKERMAS this gentleman's resignation takes