The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-01-12
THE GESSAGE.
THE AFFAIRS OF STATE DIS
CUSSED AT LENGTH.
GOVERNOR HENDRICKS ON THE
SITUATION.


UNDER GOOD ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS RE
FoRMs-THE LOUISIANA OUTRAGE.
Gentlemen ofthe Senate and House OF Repre-
sentatIves:
During the two years since the last meeting of
the legislature, the people OF Indiana have been
blessed in special degree with general health
and Dountiful harves;s, and again invoke the
continuance of a kind Providence over them.
REVENUES AND APPROPRIATIONS.
The assessed value of the taxable property of
the state in 1874 S954 57 s75 which was an in
crease of more than three hundred million dol
lars since 1872. That increase in the assessment
was attributable in part TO the increase of values
in the stale; but it was largely caused by the OPP
Grafton OF the revenue act passed at the special
session OF the last legislature. The act required
that taxable property should be assessed at its
value ESTIMATED at the fair price il woald bring
at a fair, voluntary sale" Prior laws had re-
ues, but long administrative construction and
usage had allowed much lower valua-
ton. BY the exercise OF a diligent supervision
the auditor OF state was able TO advance the
valuation in the spirit as well as in accordance
with the letter OF the law: The appraisement at
the fair value fixes plain rule, which Is easily
understood and which excludes ali discretion
defeats favOriiism and Partially, and promotes
equality and justice toward all. The law also
constituted the GOVERNOR Iieufenanr eyover,or
secretary of state auditor OF state and treas 1rer
OF state board OF equalization, with power to
assess tlie property and stock of corporations
including railroad companies. With care and
great labor the board sodght TO make the valua-
lions so that the assessments should oe lust to
the people and fair toward the railroads The
action of the board increased the assessment of
railroad property in he state from about Sll eco
OC0 In 1917 TO nearly Sf00O000Oin 1874
There are 26j,COU persons in the state who are
SUBJECT 10 personal or poll tax of % cents each.
The assessments OF property, amounting to
nearly Sy0opOO,0VO. and the personal or poll tax,
constitute our important sources of revenue In
estimating what may be realized at any pro-
posed rate of levy, experience has shown that a
deduction must be made of 20 per cent. for delin-
quencies. When YOU shall have decided What
appropriations of the public moneSs YOU will
make for each of the next two years it will be of
easy calculation what tax levy must be made to
supply the state treasury. \ low levy must be
preceded by economy in the APPROPRIATIONS
This urge respectfully, but very earnestly
The appropriations must be sufficient to ena-
pie each department OF the state government to
exercise its functions without bindrance or de-
lay. Thus far there is no question or discretion.
so, Also the common schools, the benevolent in
situations, and the public safety must be Suffi-
GENTLY provided for. But the expenditures for
these purposes should be made with rigid econ
omy, and with view to substantial aud perna-
nent benefits Will you allow me to suggest
that II would be appreciated by the people
should your reforms com mence with q reduction
IN legislative expenditures. IL would be an as
surance 10 them which would promote public
ditional moral weight. Al the session OF 1871 the
miscellaneous expenditures exceeded the paw OF
members; and at the last special and regular
sessions that class of expenditures was still
greater, being about 1850 per day, though IL did
not exceed the pay of the members, hich had
been increased for the regClar session. Isuggest
the DrOprieiy of revision of the ct of Decen Der
23, 1872, which prescTibes the number and @ ASST
iicatlon of your employees, with view 70 a fur
ther reduction.
RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES
There was in the treasury March l,
1850, FIG, 6S3 20
From that day until the close of the
year ending October 81, 1873, there
was received for state purposes from
an oo , SlSl IL
there was received for state pur-
S3 09l 81
During the last session of the legislature IL be-
came cam. apparent that the revenue would be in
ate. Provision had also to be made for the
one hundred and ninety-ope old bonds, as re-
CURED by the act OF Dee. 70 1872. In that condi-
ton OF the finances the act of March 10, 1873 was
passed authorizing the governor, auditor and
treasurer treas OF state 10 make temporary loans TO
Temporary loans were made as follows:
~ per cent. due March Il, ls75...... s2OOOOO CO
AZ per cent due April l5i lS6----.... Sl0000 %
Al per cent. due Dec. l. lS7B......... 2B5OOO 20
Total revenue for state purpose re-
celVed during the two years ending
Oct. 81, 1874. including the tempor-
airy loans and the amO Mt in the
treasury March l. 1873 2.4lO9I7 OF
During the same period there was received on
account of the benevolent institutions, SSS58i 49,
This sum was realized from the labor OF the in
an { to law.
At the close OF the year ending October
TIL I' is.3 tnere was In the r. ssury s2ii 2S 7s
two years ending October 81, 1874, for revenue
refunded. for ordinary expenditures, and for the
By the act Of December II 1917, the governor,
encouragement, secretary of state and treas
urer of state were authorized 10 sstake up and
redeem" one hundred and ninety-one old bonds
issued by the authority of the state prior TO the
year lSll, which had not been surrendered under
the adjustment made by the state with her
creditors Pursuant to that act ninety-Seven OF
the bonds, with their coupons, have been sur
Ninety -four are yet outstanding, a part not hay-
ing become due, and the residue not having
been presented for payment.
For a more particular description of the bonds
ana coupons which have been paid, / refer you
to the detailed lists thereof. which accompany
the reports OF the auditor of state for the years
1873 and 1871.
For a statement of the receipts and expen-
ditures on account of the college, saline, bank
tax, surplus revenue, and miscellan eous funds
refer you TO the same reports.
STATE DEBT.
The state is indebted as follows:
Five per cent. certificate, state stock S26aoe 80
Two and one-half per cent GER
tlilcates, state stock y.......:.~...... S2S5 10
War loan bonds, six per cent dine
Temporary loan made under act OF i'''oOo "
March 10, 1873, which have before
mentioned more in detail. $4,000 90
Nineiy-four old bonds required TO be
paid by the act OF December u. 1872 $1,000 90
sI,I72,755 u
q
bonds should be added, but have no means of
asceriaining the amount, but the same will not
be large.
The Indebtedness of the state to the school
fund is evidenced by the five non-negetiable
7S3 y. - '''O''
That is known as the domestic debt
COMMON SCHOOLS
The permanent school fund Of the state is
guarded by the provisions OF the constitution,
which declares that 1t shall be perpetual-that 1t
may be increased, but shall never be diminished
land that the income thereof shall be in violaby
to the support of common schools |
and to no other purpose whatever.
The fund is made up follows:
LIST. he amount which the state owes
II. aud which is evidenced by her
non-negotiable bonds bearing in
T. rest at the rate of six per cent?. So 9o37gS ~
Additions from fines and other sour
s7,Is7 "a
Amount held In the counties. and
loaned by the auditors on mortgage