The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1879-03-06
conptrollers Report.

Banner: The biennial report of
the Comptroller discloses facts OF
vital interest to Tennesseans, and
is a most able resume of the finau
cial condition Of the State. 1t not
only gives us the Indebtedness, but
makes many recommendations as
to the best plans TO decrease ex
penses and make available our re-
sources. That our present laws
admit much improvement no one
will deny, and if our Legislature
would set themselves in earnest TO
remedy the defects, stop all waste,
and correct abuses, much improve
ment would be effected. We have
the belief that they will do their
best. though the correction OF abus
es is a work far easier to the fire
side statesmen than to the law-ma-
ker. When the last Legislature re-
duced the State taXs to ten cents, it
was predicted by many persons
that the finances would run short,
but the very prediction carried Its
remedy, and shows what can be
done by careful and economic adj
ministration. Instead of falling
short, the Treasury finds at the
close of the fi-cal year gross bal
aimee of $47S. 346 81 in its vaults.
Deduct unpaid outstanding war
rants and there yet remains a net
ballanue Of 1921, 103.95 TO begin
with for the neat tEo YEARS. Add
to this tie ''pos~ible error Of $685. |
1873 81 that is as yet uns Explained |
and Their" is balance OF 1886, 233.-
80 that may be counted on. The |
current expenses of the State for the |
two years amounts to Sl,O44 ,4l429 |
or an average OF 1922, 2U7.I5 per
annunl.
The estimate of expenses pre-
scented 10 the last Legislature was
almost wittiout u 'pafallel ~ It's ac
curacy, as deficiencies only occur
red in two instances, viz Tax ag
gregates," and Land sales Clerks
fees Both only amounted to
$579.25, The Comptroller makes
several Recommendations TO in
crease the revenue, not by increas
ing taxes, but by lcssening eXpens
es and from their common sense
practical character they will com
mend themselves TO the considera-
ton of the Legislature. The most
fruitful source OF expense is crimi
nal prosecutions, which he propos
es to lessen by, list, compelling
a county To pay AL its own criminal
costs; end, grading the fees of
Clerks according to the Indictment
or oaeHse, and BY its result, just as
in the case OF the Attorney-t3ener-
al; 3rd, by allowing the juries to
dispense except in capital cases or
The discretion OF the court, and
4th, by taking judgement at once
against tne State for costs, instead
Df against the lnsolvent criminal,
by which means sing e ooots of
Clerks fees will be paid instead
Of double.
To collect revenue he recon-
nends the "Moffet Liquor Law" or
some similar plan instead OF licens-
I'd saloons. Also that all costs of
litigation should be prepaid except
n former panpsris, and let Judgment
20 for costs al end of suit, and i'll
he party paying it be successful,
t can be refunded him. He also
ecommends some modification of
he law collecting taxes from banks
nd insurance companies To more
certainty secure il. He then goes
nto a lengthy discnssioa Of tax
ales and railroad taxes, too
engthy for our columcs. q
The debts OF tue counties of the
tate amount 10 $3.046, 6SO, and of D
tiles and towns $6.934,533 10
ay this enormous indie btedness, c
he taxes of counties are ~ 1892,
IS 50, and OF cities and towns D
99l ,407 .0S. About one tenth are
OF include in the report Tor want "
returns. This does not show a