Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-07-30
STATE GOVERNMENT.
what it Costs TO Run Them-Tennes-
see One Of the Lowest On the List.

Chattanooga Times.
The PrOUjdeBce Journal estimates that
the State Government Of Rhode Island costs
each inhaGitant Sl.99 year. The State
| expenses of the little Commonwealth are
S4j2,jjS. In Vermont the State Govern
meut cost Ss}43, SD a year, or Sl.04 a head.
in New Hampshire SIj2, 900 a year. or a
] cents a head, and Delaware 81. 3.S, or p
cents a head. Rhode Island is evidently
eXtravagant. for though the lie. islators
work for a dollar day, somebody gets the
money. The highest State salary in Deia-
ware is that Of the Chancellor, $3.50.
These estimates are, of course, for State
expenses only. not including interest on
State debt
According 10 the census Of $50. Ten
nessee had a population, III round figures.
Of 100000. The expenditures by the
State Government, not including payment
of interest on State debt, is something near
100000 per annum. We may safely say
that full census would give us a popula-
ton Bow of 100000, and that. therefore.
our State expenses, for strictly government
al purposes, is fO-ty-SiX cents and fraction
Of a cent per capita Of the population.
The bonded State debt, as given by the
last COmptrOller's and Treasurer's reports.
and as ascertained by the funding and
registry law, is, in round figures, S2l,OOO,-
600; the interest on which will be Sl,2G0,-
600; making the total State expenses for
all purposes 81. $4,000, or Sl.43 per wear
for each inhabitant to pay.
Thus, we see that our State expenses
proper, are less by three-fourths, consider
ing Our population, than those of Rhode
Island; less than half those of Vermont.
and slightly below New Hampshire. Yer
mont has no State debt, and is now LAYING
aside sinking fnnd, upon the interest of
which she will, in a few years, run her
State government. This levy for a sinking
fund in that State is nearly one-half the
State tax: but still the fact remains that
Vermont is not as economical as Tennessee.
Another point needs 10 be considered.
We pay our public servants decently remu-
nerative salaries, while the States referred
to in the statistical paragraph quoted, pay
them beggariy stipend, which probably
leads to questionable practices among the
officials, looking to their own interest. and
increasing the burdens Of the State.
Looking at these facts we can see no
good grounds for the fears. that the present
State levy will have To he increased: and
much less can we perceive the patriotism
o. honesty Of those who CRY aloud daily
against the fearful burdens of State taxa
ton.
The present rate of 40 cents on the
hundred dollars Of taxable property, is
amply sufficient to meet all our liabilities.
1t can be greatly reduced in the next four
years-perhaps in the next two. Tie prop
erty of the State is rapidly in
creasing in value, and next year
the railroads become liable TO taxa
ton. They will add at least 100000
to the tax duplicate. Capital for invest
ment is coming to us in larger quantities
than to any Southern State. 1t is not at
all visionary, if our credit and standing be
not in the mean time impaired, to say that
bv 1850 the State can carry all its liabili-
ties and lay aside handsome sum as sink
ing fund each year, on a tax of ten cents
on the hundred dollars valuation.