The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1883-11-08
STATE CAPITOL.
The Question Of Reduction OF Tax
alton Discussed.
An Estimate of the Probable Expcndl'
lures and Receipts.
And The Redemption of Land Sold

AUSTIN, Nov. G.-[Correspondence J.
lt will be seen from the
following report Of Comptroller SWANS, for
the wear ending August 3lst, 1888, that he
materially differs with great many about
the propriety OF making re iuctioh III
taxes. The report was cent into the gov
ernor to-day and contains the following iig'
ure,. "As required by law l have the
honor TO hand you herewith, q report from
this department Tor the fiscal year ending
August 3ist 1888, embracing statement
OF the funds Of the state, oil lis revenues
aud ofthe public expenditures during the
wear, also statement setting iorth the ex'
pendiIures 10 he deiraye ed rom tne STAY :
treasury for the ensuing year, together with
an estimate of the probable receipts during
the wear from which these expenditures
are to be paid. ,,
state government for the fiscal year end,ng
August 81. 1884, we are not left to copJec'
ture on mere estimate. The Information IL
elyen ia the appropriations made by the
eighteenth legislature. 1t VIII be oorne IN
mind that the appropriations emu On INC
28th of February of each year, and to ar
rive at the amount which will be required
for the support of the government Tor tue
wear ending August 81, 1884, 1t Is neces-
sary to consider part OF two appropris-
lions. viz: that part to February Is, 1884
which is unpaid, August 81, 1888. and SIX
months of the appropriations Tor lSst
Covering the time between February Zoth
and August 3lst. BY reference TO the &C.
compAnying statement giving the apPfo-
priatiopt made bv the eighteenth legisa-
iure, il will be found that the amount sp-
propriated from the revenue tor the year
anding February %, 1884, is 81 OSl 495: OF
this there has been paid to August 81, 1858,
$40 5SI. leaving nm paid at that date 81,
$50 9l5 as a charge against the general
revenue. Further reference to the appro-
priation by the eighteenth Legislature
will show that the appropriation
for the year beginning III; aa 6ss,,en 1st,
of si2O 600 for pensio ns and fees of attached
witnesses, TO 81 SIS, 033. One-half OF this
covers the time from February 28th, 1854
20 August 81, 1884, the close OF the fiscal
wear. We thus have the demands against
the revenue tor the current year as f0llows'
viz: Unexpended appropriations to Febru-
ary %, 1884, $1350,9l5; from February ~,
1884 to August 81, Gnclnding defciencies,!
$3.50 DIG; total, 81, l39 9sl, to which amount
be added PROBABLE expense OF extra SEES
sion, say $50 900, making total chsrgs
against the revenue for The year ending
August 81. 1884, So 1S9 931. To defray their
ernenses we look to the following sources
revenue collected on hand. August 81, 1883
1915 1854 %; taxes, 1928 received since
August 81, s17O 200; taxes, 1882 ), to o0 be
accounted for by collectors say, 800 ooo;
lax, 30 cents on 1927 500, 0oO. valuation,
81, 5S3 800; revenue tall tax Sio4 ooooseu No.
ton tax payable in counties, 500 IVY;
special tax payable to comptroller, $So:Ooo;
Department fees. $95 600; from redemptiops
and jnsolyepts. 1926 900; gross receipts, $2,-
81, 5OO.23. Deduct the amount OF loss bas-
ed on the actual loss last year,
cost of assessing and collect
ing at the increased rate OF commissions
allowed by the 18th legislature, ana
other expensep, 1881 $40 81, leaving net
revenue of SO 229 $50 AZ; daducLing one
fourth for schools 1857 $50 10. Leaving
revenue for current year 81 672, l40 80 Bal.
ance on hand August 3lst, 1888 S345, l5i ~
received since August 3lst, 1888, $l7O, ZOO,
to be accounted for, $35 900; total available
revenue for year erding August 81, 1884
So 222 494 Sc Against appropriations
already made, deficiencies and piooabie
cost of the extra session, 81 1S9 93l; shown
only surplus Of revenue at the close Q. tne
wear ending August 81, 1884 OF $5Z,o65 20;
alter using ali the revenue balance on hand
ut the beginning. The practical result Is
that, if the appropriations to August 3lst,
1884 are all paid, there will be q deficiency
of 1912 500 rs, the deficiency being the dif.
ference between the balance on hand at the
beginning and the close OF the year August
3lst, 1884. aa q! a1.1 ,
There was similar result for the year
which has Just closed. August 3lst,
1882; the revenue balance on hand from Q ~
cents tax was $426 554 81; ct the close OF
the present year with ajax OF 30 cents the
balance was 45,154.2S; difference OF
$751;, 400. 49, showing that for the year this
sum in addition to all the receipts was
used
The idea seems to have been obtained In
the public mind that Notwithstanding the
decrease in taxation from 40 cents TO ~
cents, The cash balance to the credit OF the
revenue has been constantly IN
creasing. That the reverse is the fact the
foregoing statements show. The report
shows that the collections have been verv
close, the loss being grester on the poll tax,
2S IL per cent of the amount as
sessed.
The report shows the increase in taxable
values for the year to be SlO7 ,5OOVOo.
The com troller recommends making the
g seal and appropriation years end August
3lst, and advises that further time De
granted for the redemption OF lands sold
To- "a