The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1872-02-01
The Auditors RePorE 8Iaowfng Ghe
Condition Of the stats Finances.
Increase of Ind e Daedne@~ AMI
aCalI for Higher Taxe-


The Auditors Report, which y-e pub
lished without comment in a recent mum
Der, presents ANYTHING but pleasant
prospect to the tax-ridden people Of the
State 1t shows that her financial con-
dition has been growing from bad TO
worse ever since the Inauguration Of Rad
ical rule in January, 1870. At that
time the indebtedness of the State as
by outstanding warrants was
but little over 5000, 900, Now, it has
increased to 81, 146, 521 in warrants,
bonds and outstanding Alcorn-Musgrove
issues and this, TOO, for the ordinary
purposes of the State government, and
at rate of taxation unparalleled in OPP
pressiveness.
In proof that the financial situation Is
growing worse notwithstanding the enor-
NOUS taxation, the report demonstrates
that the expenditures Tor the year 1871,
were 81, 729, 046, and that til excess of
disbursements over receipts WIS $780,
.895, which is the sum the State has ex-
pended beyond what she has collected.
At this rate, it will be readily seen
how soon she viii be plunged into
a condition of deplorable and remediless
bankruptcy; and how essential TO her
safety is some powerful aud immediate
corrective.
In his report of january 2nd, 1871,
the Auditor estimated the expenditures
for the past year at s1,319,62 In his
present report as stated above, he exhib-
its the disbursements to have been 81 ,729-
046. The excess Of expenditures over
estimates were, therefore, $409, APO A
sum exceeding the average annual cost
of carrying on the entire State govern
ment under Citizens rule when the value
Of their property was $500, 900, 900 instead
of about $3.50, 900, 900 as at present
The Auditor accounts for this astound-
ing discrepancy between his estimates
and the expenditure by stating that the
former were based ON Legislative
session of sixty days, whereas it was
twice that long and that appropriations
were made by the Legislature largely
exceeding the amount anticipated. And
yet on turning to his Report of j January
II, p. Ill, we find that the most liberal
estimates were made under every head.
Thus, for expenditures on account Of the
Legislature for session Of sixty DAYS,
$3.50, 900 were estimated. Under Citi-
zens' rule the highest cost of the Legis-
lative Department for any one year from
1913 to 1861 was 500, 900; and the av-
erage was about 100000. Musgrove
estimated only for S135, 900 under Car
pet-Bag rule and fell immensely below
the mark.
For expenditures on account Of the
Judiciary, his estimates were 1928, 900.
The cost of the Judiciary under Citizens
rule ranged between from S75,711 in
1913, and s144, 500 in 1861.
In the estimates for 1871 commissions
for assessing are set down at the enorm-
Gus figure of S175,00O The cost Of as
sessing under Citizens rule averaged
about SIS, 900.
The expenses on account of the Exec
utive Department in 1871, were estima
ted at S34, 800 exclusive of the 81, 600
Executive Contingent fund The ex-
penditures under the same head in for
mer times varied from So, 900 to S13, 600.
In his estimates ON account of the
Lunatic Asylum repairs the Auditor
fixed the figure at $1H, ia sum so
liberal that we are not permitted to in
fer that he undershot the mark in that
instance.
In view of the estimates of 1871 COM
pared to the expenditures of years UNI
der civil (and Citizen's) rules, the public
will be amazed to find that they exceed
ed the actual expenditures upwards of
$500, 900, and the actual receipts $500
900!
These results show that at the present
rate of expenditure and of taxation dis
tressingly oppressive as it is, the State
will soon be bankrupt and the entire
property of her citizens mortgaged to, the
otfice-holders who will hold her oblga-
tons and to the Railroad Companies to
whom subsidies have been voted and who
are clamorous for more. At the mo-
ment of expectation for relief from a
measure of taxation which is eating up
their substance, the people are notified
by the Auditor that it is not sufficiently
high to save the State from redemption-
less bankruptcy and that in order TO
meet the obligations already incurred
and to pay the accruing expenses of the
State government, taxes must be increas-
ed from forty cents to ninety cents on
the hundred dollars worth, in addition
to the county levies The Leg
islature dare not do this 1t is not
the change the people require. They
demand that the cost of carrying on the
State government in all its departments,
shall be diminished, and that taxes,
State and county, shall be reduced. No
other remedy should be thought of.
GEoRGIA-May be considered to have
passed entirely through the shadow of the
valley Of part,t4f- har ,,ssrtla Che loo