The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-10-30
1.-THE GOVERNOR ON DEPICTS.

1.-THE GOVERNOR ON DEFICITS"
The above is the heading to "a communcs
tion from Jefferson, published in the BERALl
this morning, in which the writer asks u
our construction of the language used b.
Governor Roberts 10 his speech made at Sa
Antonio, some ten days or more ago, where
in he refers to the reports of moneys received
and expended previous to his election. W.
had read carefully that speech, and haC
commented in these columns somewhat a
length upon ii, but no portion Of it had pre-
Bented itself to our mind in the light referred
to by our correspondent, so we examined
into that part of 1t alluded to in tn,
communication in question. We agree with
"Observer" when he says the construction
of the News is forced, we will not say q
captious one. All criticism Of public
speech or Of public mans public acts il
fair, that will stand the test Of logic and lha,
can be sustained by any correct process o.
reasoning. Now, let us look at the words
used by the governor in his speech which
are made the text Of the News, and which
our Jefferson correspondent desires us to eI.
press our views upon. The governor said
whom explaining the obstacles he had to
overcome in carrying out his policy
or "psy as you go:" "Thc task
was rendered more difficult, and In a great
measure experimental, from the fact that no
person knew, or from reports furnished from
year to year, ofthe receipts ofrevenue and of
the expenditures could tell exactly or APP
proximately, what was the net revenue, the
product of each former year or the ne. ex-
penses of each previous year. Therefore
it was, as the result proved, impracticsble to
make correct estimates of the revenue and
exp nses of the casuin. two years" While the
construction put upon these words by the
News may not be illogical, and may go I'M
seated through the crucible Of strict ress-
oning, yet we think it an unnatural coustruc-
ton, one not in itself apparent upon
the face of the paragraph. The impression
We received from this sentence
OF tho governors speech NJ the
time we first read it, and subsequent perusals
only strengthen that impres sion, WAS that
as h, was aiming to show that the states
receipts of revenue far exceeded tho expenses,
1t was due from him to explain why that oc.
Cured. twill DO observed that he said an
exact estimate could not be made from tho
reports from year to year of the receipts of
revenue and of the expenditures and this is
true because the reports include all of the
receipts OF revenue that come into the treas
ury during any one year. but are not shaped
so as to show separately "the net revenue,
the product Teach year." from the taxes OF
that year. We know of no better illustration
OF that fact than that now going on at Austin
in the sale of lands in unorganised c. unties,
by the comptroller, for taxes for this year
and several preceding years. The money re-
csived for these lands will be reported m
receipts of revenue" during this year,
although the most of it occurred ana was
due during previous years, but is now being
collected by forced sale and received during
this year. This occurs every year, the
amounts Of which may and do vary every
year. Again there is difference in any one
year between the expenditures and the eI-
penses Of that year. That is to say, If $780,
600 are paid out of the treasury during the
fiscal year, commencing January lst 1880,
and ending December Slst, 1880, $4,000 of
which went to pay debts incurred in 1878
and in 1879, the balance of $4,000 being
for debts incurred during 1880, the expendi-
lures of the year would exceed the expenses
by $4,000, and this 100000 paid out
would be reported as expenditures. There
was a floating debt of about 100000 in
Cured years previous to Governor Roberts
Inauguration, and which has been paid since,
and this will be reported as expenditures dur
ing the fiscal years in which the several
amounts were paid, though incurred as OK.
penses of the state government during adj
.ministrations previous to that of Governor
Roberts. Now we take it, that the idea
sought TO be conveyed by the
governor was, that if it had been
known what tho exact net revenue
and net expenses of each previous year had
been, then more exact estimate of how
much the expenses could be reduced, and
how much the taxes should be increased for
future years might have been made, in order
to arrive at certainty that the expenses
should be brought within the revenue, as re-
quired by the democratic platform under
which Governor Roberts was nominated and
elect d in 1878. 1t seems to us that the Ian.
guage used by the governor readily CONVEYS
this meaning, and must be so understood bv
anyone at all familiar with the operations of
the government IS exhibited in the ANNA,
reports sent to the legislature. Surely no
such person could fairly infer that the GOV.
emor was attempting to impute any wrong to
Any.otthe officers who made such reports. The
sssy fact Of his using the words met reye.