The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-09-24

Montg 4,S9S ,72l i5'oUItss S'7gil 4i0SSl 5000
K iI1 5,2i3 80. s29, u: i4'as 1853 $1,000
"The rate of taxation paid by Memphis
in 1870 for all purposes, if assessed through
out the State, would pay the State debt in
one year.
''Those communities most burdened by
taxation would find but little relief, even
temporary, from reduction in
THE RATE OF STATE TAXATION.
"The revenue of a State should always
be measured by the actual demands upon
her treasury. Our levy should be Just
sufficient to defray the actual expenses Of
the State Government, economically ad-
ministered, and pay the interest on the
public debt. l heartily endorse a resolu-
ton adopted by a late convention of the
Democratic and Conservative party of Put
nam county, where the State has not built
mile Of turnpike, nor expended a dollar
in aid of railroads. 1t is as follows:
Resolved, That while we are in favor of our
State meeting and paying off all her just liabili
ties as soon as practicable, yet we are opposed
to burthentng an depressing the people by
heavy taxation and are in favor OF only such
rates of taxation for the present as may become
necessary to pay OF the interest on our State
debt and 1ntse the current xferses of the tara
under an economical administration of the
State Government
patriotism of the days of Jackson and
White, Grundy and Bell; of Cannon and
Polk and Jones; of Aaron V. Brown and
Foster; Of Campbell aud Trousdale. It is
an ehunciation Of pure, disinterested prin-
ciple, dictated by a sincere love for the
welfare of Tennessee. You perceive from
these authentic statistics, that, with the
exception of bonds issued to the capitol
and the Bank of Tennessee, the whole
dn1o Of no ~.
AID to internal Improvements. And, while
much of this debt has been improvidentiy
and unwisely contracted, yet the benefits
derived by the State from her internal inn
provement policy cannot be estimated in
dollars or By figures. Under that policy
the whole railroad system of Tennessee
sprang into existence and was fOstered into
its present magnificent proportions. Many
of the most gifted SONS of the State lent
their influence TO the policy. II was
not party measure. Men of all phases
of political sentiment conspired, through
this policy, to elevate and vitalize
Tennessee from a sickly existence. The
markets of the world were closed upon her.
Trade languished. Her sons sought new
fields of enterprise, where labor and energy
met their reward No attractions We're
presented to invite immigration. Our towns
and cities were in a dying condition, but a
to loan her credit to construct thOroughfares
of trade and commerce. The principal in
itial step was taken by the General Assem-
bly, of 1912. That act gave new life to
the State and quickened everywhere the
energies of trade and commerce. From
that date to 1860, under the inspirations
and effects Of that law, the wealth of Ten
nessee sweiled from S20l, 246,6S6 to $685.
| 903, 1872, an increase Of S292, 657, 20G-more
than double. During the same period the
population increased over two hundred
| thousand, and the other results of the sys-
| tenn are that we have now about sixteen
hundred miles of railway, worth over one
/ hundred million dollars, more than one
half of which will soon be subject to taxa
| ton, which will add two hundred thousand
| dollars per annum to our revenue"
The large majority of the bonds out
| standing and not yet due, were issued dur
| ing the four administrations next preced-
| ing the war. Those administrations issued
| bonds as follows:
Trousdale's administration. 6l7, 900
| Johnson's ." ............ I,222, 200
! Harris q" .....-...... Z, S74, 600
THE PEEITENTIARY LEASE.
This is denounced by party that leased
| this institution to Ward & Briggs at a loss
of over 100000, which was paid out OF
the State Treasury.
Soon after assumed the Executive OF
fee, the qestion of leasing the State Pris-
on was discussed, and after an interview
with the Inspectors, it was determined to
lease the institution for a term Of years.
The prison had never been self-suStaining,
except, perhaps, for one or two years, since
it was founded in 1923. After several
| propositions, one from LOOney & OCOnneT
! of $4,000 per annum for five years was
| accepted, and closed by the inspectors
| subject to a ratification by the
| Executive and Legislative departments.
The contract was carefully prepared by the
Attorney General of the State. approved
/ and submitted it to the General Assembly
then in session, when it was ratified. IN
addition to paying $4,000 per annum as
rental, the lessees agreed to pay 5000 that
had previously been paid by the State to
the Inspectors, and besides to pay all the
prison expenses. They purchased ali the
| stock and material on hand, paying cast
/ therefor and thus enabled the State to ex-
tinguish the prison debt by paying out o.
the treasury only $4,000. The prison i:
to-day in better condition than it ever was
Now take five years under the lease:
Saved to the Treasury per annum. .sil4, 90
Secured By lease ---...---.-..--. $500
Saved per annuIn...-..-...-. sl4I 90
Which amounts in five years to S735, O90.'
ENFORCING THE LAWS.
The present administration Is denounced
for its ineficiency ia enforcing the laws
and protecting life AID liberty.
The Republican administration which
preceded our accession % power expended
over a million Of dollars and never detected
or punished a disguised man, althOugt
they had the State garrisOned with militia
Only within the last few weeks, without
any troops, We have detected in