Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-03-23
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

The appropriations and the ktuan'
cfaI Condition of the state-Inl.
pOrfant Matters for Consideration.
The following message from Gov. Brown
was read in the House of Representatives
Saturday afternoon:
To the General Assembly of Tennessee;
Senate bill No. 264, appropristing S4O,-
600 to erect buildings for the Blind school,
No. 245, appropriating $l5O,OOO for the
erection of hospitals for the insane in East
and West Tennessee, and House bill No.
800, appropriating $4,000 to the Deaf and
Dumb Asylum School as Knoxville, as well
as Senate bill No. II, appropriating an un-'
defined sum for the purchase Of statutes
for Justices of the Peace, have been con-
sidered. These bills, together with an ex-
ira appropriation to the present Hospital for
the Insane of $15, 900, and $4,000 to the
Agricultural Bureau; and smaller sums to
other objects, amount to about 100000,
and is that much in excess of the ordinary
expenses of the State Government. l could
no., after mature elaboration, withhold my
sanction to these bills, because of the pecu-
liar objects of their liberality, which | most
heartily approve. And yet the present
revenues are not sufficient to meet these ex-
traordinary appropriations and the other
liabilities of the State; and, with view to
place the whole subject of our ability to
meet these appropriations, addressed COM
muaications to the Treasurer and Comp
troller, asking what action they felt called
upon to take under the third section of the
funding act, and herewith transmit their
replies for your information. You will
perceive that their construction OF that sec
ton makes the revenues of the State prima-
rily chargeable with the interest on the
bonded debt; and fully concur in this
view of the question. If no further i'm
provement is made in the revenue laws, our
Interest and the current expenses OF the
State Government will absorb all our reve-
nues, and leave the appropriations in ques-
ton unprovided for. The constitutional
obligation imposed on me, by the 18th
section of the Sd article of the Constitu
ton, ''tO give to the General Assembly
information Of the state of the govern
ment, and recommend for their consider
alton such measures as are expedient,"
would not permit me 10 approve the bills
making the appropriations in question,
without, at the same time, apprising you
fully of the condition In which you will
leave these peculiar objects of your bounty,
unless you provide additional revenues to
make good the appropriations. The yield
from the present rate Of taxation will be
sufficient to pay the interest on the bonded
debt, and if you perfect the assessment and
collection laws, so as to develop all the tax
able property of the State, will likewise meet
the current expenses of the State, but can.
not pay one dollar, in my opinion, to these
extraordinary appropriations.
Having discharged my duty in this pre-
sentation of The question, while you are
still in session, | leave you to meet your
responsibility in the premises as your wis
dom may dictate. JOHN G. BROWN,
Governor.
FROM THE COMPTROLLER.
ConaptroILer's Office, NGShUilLe, March
%, I873.-Gov. John 9. Brown-Dear
ST.: Your communication of this date,
calling my attention to the third section OF
an act passed at the present session of the
General Assembly of the State of Tennes-
see, entitled an act to fund the past due
bonds and coupons of the State, and to
sustain the credit thereof, ETC.; also desiring
my opinion in reference to the payment of
interest, ct =, is received, regard the pro-
vision referred to as primary charge upon
all ILe ECNOu6CS VI TIC CSaLC, w IuC OASlO-
sion of any and all demands upon the
Treasury for other purposes, and | consider
It the duty of the Treasurer and financial
officers of the State to set apart all reve-
nue., no matter from what sources derived,
until a sufficient amount is secured 10 meet
the requirements of the section referred to.
Respectfully, w. w. HOBBS,
Comptroller.
FROM THE STATE TREASURER.
TREAsURER's OFFICE, March p, 1879
| HIS EXCELLENCY, Coy. JOHN G. BROWN.
Dear Sir: Ia reply to yours of this date
l have the honor to say, that under section
3 of what is known as the ''funding bill"
1 shall consider it my duty to set apart q
| sufficient amount of current currency rev.
enue receipts, even if it should take every
dollar thereof, to pay the interest on tht
bonded debt of the State; aud that this pro-
vision of said bill is a primary claim OIL
every dollar of revenue to be paid in from
this to July, 1874. Yours truly, a.
w. MORROW, Treasurer.