The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-01-06

for the year 1882, which were
as above 81 ,436, 900.6 5
The total amounts OF the items
last mentioned for which no es-
Inmates were made..-.-....... 325, 295.42
Leaves III, 6O5.23
This amount, it will be perceived, falls consid-
erably below the estimate for 1882.
THE ASSESSMENTS AND THE EXPENDITURES
The estimate required by law to be made by
the Auditor OF State to the General Assembly at
each biennial meeting, of the expenditures to be
paid from the Treasury for the ensuing two
fiscal years, cannot, of course, anticipate all the
expenditures which may prove TO be necessary.
There are always, in the case even of items in
cluded III his estimate, appropriations which ex-
coed the sums estimated, and there are always
appropriations for other proper and necessary
objects which naturally could not be foreseen
when the Auditors estimate was made. A chief
purpose of the Auditors estimate is TO euable
the Legislature to perceive within what limits
other disbursements must be confined. in order
to avoid the necessity of a higher rate of taxa
ton. When appropriations, however, have been
made by the Legislature in excess of sums eSti-
mated, or for objects not included within the es-
Inmates, it is proper that they shall he brought
TO public attention, in order TO undergo a fair
public scrutiny.
1t will he perceived that the receipts to the
general fund from all sources during the fiscal
years 1881 and 1882 have fallen short of like re-
NN'PN oNAih- 1T hoNhA tthi AoOOs 1 TT FNtlh
to the general fund in 1880 were 81 AT, 900 go,
and IN 1882 were only 81, 26D,4o1.64, a falling
of of $2l7, 20S % during the latter year. The
cause of tins decrease is as follows:
The Rppraisement of all taxable real. estate in
this state was, prior to the Passage of the statute
of 1881, required by law to he made once i'll five
years. The last appraisement was made in
1880. The next preceding one was in 1873,
when the prices of real estate were vet Inflated
The appraisemeuJ OF 1880 fell below that of
1878 S155, 424, 597. The assessed value Of per-
sonal property in 1880 was also less than in
1879 by S54, 223, 545. None of the taxes levied
under this lower assessment were payable to thu
State Treasurer until in May, 1881. AT that
time half of the state taxes for 1880 were re-
CURED by law to be paid into the treasury. The
other half was not required TO be paid into the
treasury until in January, 1882. The taxes col
lected for the fiscal year 1881 were one-half col
lected under the high valuation OF real estate
made in 1875, and one-half under the lower val
uation of 1880. The taxes for the fiscal year
1882 were all collected under the lower valua-
ton of 1880. The taxes received into the gen
eral fGnd of the State treasury fell short of the
taxes received IN 1850 for the reasons above
stated, S42.l75.33, and in 1882 fell short of the
taxes received in 1880 Sl5S,O63.9 81. During the
last fiscal year the State government has had TO
be conducted on less revenue than for several
years preceding.
Although, however, no newlappraisemen of the
real estate will be made for the purpose of taxa
ton until the year 1856, the great increase of
personal property has negun to be apparent on
the tax Lists, AID by 1854 will probably have
swollen the total value of taXabies TO as high an
amount as they have been in any recent period
of the State's history.
An addition to the revenues of the State will he
apparent hereafter by the higher appraisement
OF the state Board Of Equalization, during the
years 1881 and 1882 of the right of way and other
property of railroad companies. The enlarged
earnings OF these companies were deemed To
justify an average Increase to the extent of 10
per cent. in the valuation of property returned
10 them for taxation. In addition to this in
crease there has been an increased assessment.
through the vigilance of the Auditor State, by
securing an assessment of buildings and i'm
prOvenlents, such as machine shops and other
extensive structures. situate on what the CDuTta
have interpreted to be the fright OF way"
of these companies, which, since 1879, had,
for the most part, escaped taxation. The reve-
nue., however, from the taxation of such build
lnSs and improvements, would be- still further
augmented, without an infection of injustice, by
a requirement that they shall he appraised by
local officers in the townships in which they are
situate. The State Board Of Equalization can
never ascertain their value with satisfactory ac-
curacy.
Under a loose Interpretation given to our
statute concerning voluntary associations, the
States revenues from insurance companies are
being diminished, and an injury ia being inflicted
upon many communities by irresponsible and
fraudulent insurance companies. from other
transaction OF business under the shelter of that
enactment. These companies have so far al
fected the business of sound and responsible
companies doing Il fair and legitimate business
and honestly paying their taxes as seriously 10
diminish their earnings and to make some of
them contemplate a withdrawal of their agen-
cieS from the STATE. There is need for prompt
adoption of such measures as vii put a stop to
fraudulent and speculative schemes which,
sheltering themselves under the law OF the State,
infiict great injury upon our citizens and bring
reproach upon the State itself.