The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-07-01
The marke,..
state FInaoces.


State Finances.
That the coming constitutional conven-
ton, and that the whole people may he in
formed as to the history of our revenues
from taxation and the disbursements of the
government annually, since 1916, we have
been put to much trouble and expense, and
have spared no pains to collect and COLO
cate reliable facts and information ON this
subject. Our data are taken from the rec
ords in the Comptrollers Office, and hence
cannot be mistaken or gainsaid. Hon.
Stephen II. Darden, our excellent, most
efficient and urbane Comptroller, has ex-
tended us every courtesy in the pursuit of
this enterprise, and TO his exceeding
cleverness much of its exactness and GER
tainty Is due. We propose, in a series of
articles, TO tell the people what we have
gathered from the books in Col. Darden's
office. We will first mention the fact ttst
our population since 1916, which was then
less than 200, 900, has swelled to one and a
quarter millions, or over 200 per cent. in
less than thirty years, and that our assessed
property values have jumped from $44, $685.
900 (the assessment for 1876 to about the
colossal sum of $275, 900, 900, and this
at time when property is assessed
at the minimum, while then it was
rendered at its mGriBluR market value. II
will further be remembered that the prop
erty in sIdres, at that time and up to 1861,
was far more than one;fourth Of the aggre-
gated amount; hence could we now use
slavery Ga curse never we hope to see visited
again on any country as logic in property
values, in such augmentation of our assess
ment-taking as pro rata one-fourth, as
basis on the wbole-it would step near TO
the margin of $400, 900, 900. And we will
here restate what we have said an former
articles, that through Sambo o7,e-fourth OF
the revenues reached the Treasury, and he
was then inexpensive for the government to
keep; that now he furnishes no revenue TO
the State, and it requires from one to MToe-
fourths of the net revenues to make laws to
keep him out of the penitentiary, or to pay
the judiciary for putting him IN In 1850
our assessment was 1924, 315, G59-much
greater than any before or since and about
$50, 600, 900 of this was for the rusty sons Of
Ham. In proportion as our country has been
developed, and population augmented, and
ideas expanded, and new interests born,
perhaps in equal ratio have necessary ex-
penditures increased. In 1916 we find our
expenses always excepting the school de-
partment) $112, 033 9S; in 1860, fourteen
years later $549, 1920, or an increase of
500 per cent. Each day we shall furnish an
article until the matter is digested.
1t may seem incredible, but is certainly
none the less true, that however much we
may have groaned under the burden of as
sessments and collections Of tax tithes, our
tax revenues have eser been totally Insult
eient to carry on the government. In no
single year since we gave allegiance TO the
confederated American States has our in
come from t0satioa balanced with the ex-
pense account in the corduct Of the State
government. But for the overdue and nc.
crued claims that fell to the State from the
assets of the RogH5lic we would have lived
only by "hard rub up to 1859, when
from the negotiations previously made
in the sale of a part-c of our western terri
tory, several millions were put in our purse.
which creased the wheels Of the giant
empire machine so that il run charmingly
until ''grim-visaged war" exposed his hor-
rid front. From that good Cor bad) day
the chiDk CT gold in the State Treasury has
been less familiar than in the whilom, when
giant stacks of glittering coin bristled in
the cayernous vaults. We shall trace our
income and outgo, in this article, from 1916
to 1861, except so far as pertains to the
school fund, and it will he borne in mind
that we have no kindly feeling for the school
fund, and shall, at times, give it but pass
ing D0tice-sufiicc it 10 say here that Ten ger
cent of the revenue, from 1916 to 1869.
went to this fund, and tneafy.Jfce per cent.
of all the al baLorem tax and oil OF the poll
tax has gone into it since 1859. This ten
per cent. is not deducted from the tax rev.
enue, rs reported in this or y subsequent ar
ticle, but the figures show the gross amounts
collected for taxes. And, on the other
hand, the expenses here covered do not in
clude the public school account. The tax
revenue from February 10, 1916 (the be-
ginning of our new life as a State in the
Federal Union, TO October 81, 1647, was
f59. 0iS. S5-expenditur for the same pc
Rod we're SIP, 033.96; during this time rev
enues accrued on the account Of the Republic
aud were paid in, amounting TO Ef25. 9o3. 10.
Total tax revenue for 1852. f203 392. As I;
expense for the same time, S234, 4Gl. 90
there was now q balance on hand in cash
of S46, 564- Sc. Tax revenue for 1901,
| 1925. 4S0. 90; expense for that period, $685.
O92.4S. The rate Of taxation from 1S46 TO
| 1880 was twenty cents on the 800; from
1850 to 1858, fifteen; from 1859 10 1861.
twelve and q half; and from 1869 TO the
4 PtGeEHb &AAuEf MY tLuNo- NIX mDNIJn III
1852 3, 1856, $40. %; expenses, 1854, 387 81.
During this time the State received q, 900, ?
900 in bonds and accrued interest OF $780,
$50. 10, this oeing one-haIf Of the purchase
money for the territory Of New Mexico and
Arizona, and e, 900, 900 Of this Afterwards
weef into the ungracious school fund by
act Of the Legislature, January :, 1864,
They nov paid =. 4 II, l44.e4 Of the indebt-
edness Of the Republic, and left in the
Treasury the neat little sum Of -. 1885,
301.S4. Tax revenue for 1875; SlOd,-
212.S7. and expenditures for the same time,
$495, 097. o.. For 1867 receipts were,
As, 790. %, and the expenses. s744, Silt.
Receipts for 1859. $3.50, 5se-el; expendi-
lures, &44S, 900. Receipts for 1850 and 20
August 81, 1851, s572, BAL; disbnrsed
during the same period, 81, 0se. -. 80.
notwithstanding this constant drain OF ex-
pense over revenue, By reason Of our great
good fortune Ia realizing assets from the
Republic and cash for Q useless part OF our
doinain, we now bad, cash, in the Treasufy
$50. 262 SO, and, at this date, there stood 10
the credit Of the school fund 81, SEQ, 0e3. n.
Before We reach the starting point Of our
next article ne6a9 our eaah will be found
. mix"