The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1873-01-31

duu pbioOu5 CUuflCbou Vi HlluOE OiltilStS.
In order to meet the requirements Of en-
lightened public opinion upon this subject,
| would recommend the enactment of gen
eral law which shall require the establish
ment Of farm for the poor in every county,
and that in conjunction with the Infirmary,
or Poor-house there shall be Work house
for Juvenile offenders, and persons convicted
of minor offenses. Such farm, well man
aged, might be made nearly, or quite, self
sustaining.
g. J al5s FINANCES.
The reports of the Auditor and State
Treasurer, show the total disbursements
from Jan. l, 1872, to Dec. 81, 1872, to be
$l,596,828 ca. This is less than the dis
bursements Of the previous year by $780,
PIT 10. The reduction in the two items of
Legislative and public printing" amounts
to $II2,553 33. The Judiciary is the only
department Of the State government which
does not show manifest decrease of ex-
penditures, and here the increase over the
preceding year amounts to $54S02 20 the
total cost of our courts reaching the very
extravagant sum of S434,793 43.
That part Of the annual disbursement
(which may be set down as extraordinary, on
account Of additions to the Lunatic Asy-
lum (S96,527 49, Revised Code of 1871
(S37720), payment of state bonds and iu-
terest (Sl05,S04 28), railroad subsidy $751; :
96S 10Y, etc, amounts in the aggregate to
$37l,938 49, This deducted, leaves the
ordinary disbursements for carrying on the
state government during 1872, 1924 ,ss9
81, which is less than the amout consumed
for like purposes during 1871, by $233,992
65. This exhibit is satisfactory, in so far
as it shows that the policy Of retrenchment
inaugurated at your last session, has borne
substantial results. l trust you will feel
encouraged to continue your efforts in the
same direction, until the minimum outlay
at which the state government can be prop
erly administered is reached.
In considering the subject of disburse.
ment, it should be remembered that they are
made on the basis of Auditors warrapts
at an average value Of not to exceed eighty
cents on the dollar.
Deducting the discounts necessary TO
bring our transactions to the standard oi
currency, and the total expenditures for all
purposes during the year 1872, would have
been less than the amount now reported, by
$3I9,365 72, and the ordinary expenses Of
the government would only have reached
| $979,9II 93. It is therefore plain that less
than one million dollars in currency is suffi
cient to carry on the state government, aud
whatever amount above that is assessed
upon tax payers, is tribute paid to stupidity
and incompetency in financial management
and just so much margin offered to the Gu
pidity Of spectators.
The entire warrant system, as adopted by
this state is subversiye of public credit. Il
is in defiance Of commercial usage, and cor
rupting to public morals. BY no correc
theory OF financiering can an Auditor, boart
of supervisors, or other public officer, bt
suffered to issue warrant or sight draft OF
an empty treasury. A private indivdua
who draws upon an imaginary deposit, find
his draft protested and his credit destroyed
Public corporations trying the same expert
ment, fare no better. State and count,
officials, however, are permitted, unde
our laws, to draw indefinitely upoi
the treasury, when il is well understoo'
that not dollar is on deposit, and whel
there is no probability that single warran
issued will ever be paid by the officer t
whom it is directed. AS a consequence
state and county credit is at the mercy 0
spectators, and paper that should represen
par value, is frequently sold at from forty t
sixty cents on the dollar. That such
condition of credit can exist in perfect
solvent community, without any remedy,
absurd. The cure is as simple as the evil
disastrous,
After ascertaining the expenditures necel
sary to be met, provide an adequate asses
ment therefor, and require the tax to b
collected in currency. Prohibit, BY rigi
!. enactment, the drawing of warrants upo
any fund in excess Of estimated collection
and place boards Of supervisors under bond
corresponding 10 amount to the importauc
of their transactions.
II Currency should be demanded becau'
its uniform value distributes the burden
taxation equally Warrants have no stan,
+ ard nvalae and the shrewd and crafty prof.
Q by their fluctuations at the expense Of q
/ poor and ignorant, and tortie detriment
! public credit. g eisH k.a u sAa I
When these recommendations are carrie
l. out, and system Of strict economy in e
0 penditures established, Judicial and 9th
. officers will no longer be at the mercy