, 1877-10-13

violation Of the simplest principles OF
political economy for an individual 10
allow his current expenses for n year or
longer to remain unpaid and pay interest
on the Sume for one or more years,
MI An amt 0unt NOT
drawing interest. more than sufficient
to pay those expenses, was due him,
which he could collect ut any moment.
And yet this is what has hccn, and is
being done under our present revenue
system. The plain remedy for this is,
M earlier collection of the revenue, and
prompt payment of the same into the
Territorial Treasury. County trcasurers
are required to pay over Territorial
revenue only three times each year, on
the first days OF February, July aud
November 1t must therefore frequently
occur that Territorial revenue remains
in the hands OF county trcusurcrs several
months. Ii payments were required to
he made at shorter intervals, the Territory
would he enabled to pay outstanding
warrants at an earlier period and thus
materially reduce the interest account.
Monthly payments of all balances in
the hands oil county tIcasurors would
decrease the amounts Of interest which
the Territory is compelled to pay; and
would remove any temptation which
may assail county treasurers or other
officers to use public funds for private
purposes, for few months.
The Territory credits each county annu-
ally with the amount of delinquent ter.
ritorial tax therein, but no provision
is made for the payment to the Territory
Of the amount so credited should it be
subsequently collected by the county,
by sale OF lands or otherwise The
amount equitably due to the Territory
by reason OF the subsequent collection of
delinquent taxes by the several counties
cannot he ascertained without an exam
ination of the several county records.
For the year one thousand eight hundred
and seventy five, credit for delinquent
taxes to the amount of seven thousand,
three hundred and thirty dollars and
fifty-two cents We're allowed. OF this
amount only four dollars and sixty-four
cents have since been paid to the Terri
tory. There are other unadjusted &C
counts between the Territory and the
several counties many of them OF long
standing, which cannot he settled with
out further Legislative action. From
careful estimates furnished me, am of
opinion that the aggregate amount due
the Territory is more than sufficient to
pay all expenses of the Territory for
the cunning year. Therefore recommend
that the Territorial Auditor or Territorial
Treasurer be authorized to make Just
and equitable final settlements with the
several counties, and that the revenue
law be carefully revised and amended.
notwithstanding these serious defects
in the laws, our financial condition, for
few months past, has been in better
condition than at any former period IN
our history. On the first day OF Septcm
ber last, there were funds in the treasury
sufficient to pay all warrants issued at
that date, and the Territory was in like
condition on the first utimo. This, in
great measure is due to the strenuous en-
deavors Of the Territorial Auditor and
Territorial Treasurer to secure payment
of the Territorial revenue at the earliest
practicable moment and to the faithful
ness and ability displayed in the dis
charge of their respective official duties.
1t ia also due, to some extent, to the fact
that for several years past the aggregate
annual territorial revenue has been great
er theh the annual expenses. Owing to
the causes before referred to, this fnan-
cial condition cannot be maintained.
From the first day of September last.
until the month of July, next, the war
rants which have been, and will be,
drawn upon the Treasury will far exceed
in amount the receipts, and the Territory
will again be compelled to pay interest
on warrants issued Tor rIrrent expenses.
The report ofthe Territorial Treasurer and