Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1873-02-01
Correspondence Bstwesn Blsdsos and
The Governor

the Governor
Oyyns CowrrnolLss NJ Puntio Acors, |
Austin, January ~, 1868.
To tho Honorable Legislature Of ibc State
Of Tesasi
GENTLEMEN IL hand you here's
with q communication from tho
Executive declining 10 receive my
annual report. lilo says, referring
to my report: "On page 80 you
state the assessed value Of taxable
property for 1912, and the vari-
Gus taxes of that year, which dill
fers in every itom from your offi-
cial statement to me of tho same
matters made September 20, last"
A statement made to-day Of the
taxable property in tho State is liza
bio to differ to morrow from previ-
Gus statements, for the reason that
additional or corrected tax returns
are made between statements, and
when months have elapsed,
tho statement Every materially diff
fers in every tom" from former
statements. This will readily DO
understood by gentlemen OF ordi,
nary intelligence, but is beyond
tho comprehension of the present
Executive.
Tho statement Of expenses OF
State government referred to as in
excess of actual amount, is taken
from the list of appropriations, and
was accompanied by statement
that tho amosnts embraced dis
bursements for Police and Educa-
tional funds to December 81, 1872.
The Governor charges that l
Estate tho number Of bonds for
which the State is responsible as II
Sold" In an official statement
made by the Governor, May 4,
1872, intended for tho information
ofthe financial world, and certified
with the great seal Of the State, ho
says: "The following condensed
is furnished as showing tho finan-
eial condition of Texas, April 10,
1872" and under the head OF tia-
bilities he makes this exhibit, viz:
Amount Of 700 one thousand del
far Frontier Defense bonds...S70o,O00
Amount of interest on above
bonds to March !, 1872 ..... 25.9SS0
Amount of 357 ono thousand d.eJ't.
lar ten per cent. bonds. .Y..... 357 900
Amount Of interest on. ..hbove
bonds to March !, 1s72.."" 5000
Th@closing of said report, CIV
ling tho liabilities and assets, is as
follows, viz:
AUSTIN, Texas, May "a, 1872.
| [ Edmund J. Davis, Governor OF
the State of Texas, certify that the
foregoing is q correct and true
statement from the various official
REP orts and statements on file in
my Office.
Witness my hand and the great
seal of the State, at my office in
tho city of Austin, this 4th day OF
May, 1872. [Signsd
EDMUND J. DAVIS, Governor.
By the Governor
rsignod] JAS. P. NEwcoMs,
Secretary of State.
| This whole exhibit of assets and
liabilities should DO preserved as
an evidence of tho financial capaci.
ty and genius Of the present Chief
Magistrate.
|. EXECUTIVE OFFICE, STATE OF TEXAS, |
| AUSTIN, January 20, 1873. !
! SIR-The law in regard to your
Annual Report, as you are aware,
having had it officially called to
your attention heretofore, is as FOL-
lows: "He (the Coaptroller) shall
exhibit to the Governor, on the
first Monday in December of each
year x X an exact and complete
statement of the funds of the State,
of its revenues and of tho public ex-
penditures during the preceding
year, X X with detailed estimate
Of the expenditures to be betrayed
from the Treasury for tho ensuing
year. y X X" 60, and W. Dig.
S 1879
You failed, without making any
excuse for your failure, to DO so on
the first Monday in December last.
II was only on to-day thata doc.
umcnt over your signature, and
claimed to be such Report, was re-
ceived in this office.
j I decline to accept il as your An
nual Report for tho following
among other reasons First, it is
eouched in improper language, is
libelous towards the Executive anu
othor officers of the State, and is OF
q character which, respect for the
Legislature, self-respect and a due
regard to the credit Of the State,
forbid me to accept and have pub
lished as an official report. ~
Second, you assume in it, func,,
tions which tho Constitution and
laws do not give you, by undnrtnk-
ing to advise tho Legislative DE.
partment how to legislate in regard
to matters not lying within the
scope of the office Of Comptroller OF
Public Accounts.
Third, the statements IN your
docume nt concerning the finance
and expenditures of the State Gov
ernm emit are calculated to injare
the credit of tho State, because they
are in tho most important partlcu,,
lars untrue, as appears from special
statements heretofore made to my
self over your official signature.
For cxampIe-on the 35th page,
You state the expenses, State Gov.
eminent for 1871, at So, ABS, 841 36,
| .-l:-l -S.. I~nz- A. Ia in ayeaao of