The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1883-10-13
A Surplus Am the State Treasury
n. o. City Item, Oct 5.

For the first time in the recollection of any
body there is o surplus in the State Treasury
to the credit of the general fund The bal
ance is net q very large sum, but it is sotnc-
thing; and whatever il may he. is much more
satisfactory than the ever-rccurring deficits
which have for so many years embarrassed
the several State administrations. We have
II upon sufficient authority that all tho out
standing warrants payable out or the general
fund for 1882 have been called IN, paid and
eanceied, leaving present balauce in cash of
S5o ooo, available for any proper purpose TO
which the Legislature may sec proper to apply
it, The Constitution has left the disposal Of
any surplus finds that may from time to tinie
be reported to the disefetieu OF the Legisl,-
tnre. 1t will be new sensation to many of
the Old members-tlo. who have represent
ed their parishes for Il number OF years-to
have to deal with Il surplus. Heretofore they
have had to deaf only with deficiencies
+ Whatever the amountlnay be, at this lime,
to the credit of the general fund Of 1882. it is
likely to be augmented by the collection Of
delinquent taxes of that year. The work OF
collecting will probably go on indefinitely, or
at any Fate for several years. And as with
1882, SO we shall expectit to be with 1888 An
other surplus may be looked for, and, with the
careful financial management Of the past two
or three years, so on GdiatiRitum 1t has been
suggested as very proper measure, an act of
exact justice, that the Legislature should, at
JIG otstrlteSb ptaCbicaDlC lnGlheHt, JFaHS1eC al
least $30, 900 OF the existing surplus to the
free school fund, in lieu of that amount taken
from it for the support Of those important pub
lie institutions, the University and Agrieultu-
raj College, thesUniversity in this city, and
the University fer the education of persons of
colsr. 1t is we'll known that the sums of $ie,-
900 EACH taken for these institutions out of
the current school fund, reduced the amount
available for redaeationalp purposes, and greatly
embarrassed the school officials throughout
the State. We are informed that Gov. Mem.
cry is in favor of such an act OF restitution,
and will probably recommend it i'll his mes
sage to the General Assembly when it assem-
bles in May LII case there be similar sur
plus for 1883, that could be applied in the
same manner for the appropriations already
made for 1854
Ii is a hopeful symptom of the dawn of bet
ter times in Louisiana to be able to report the
first surplus of receipts over expenditures for
the general fund which has occurred since the
war. 1t shows that u conservative economy
has obtained in the matter of appropriating
the public money, which has taken care to
keep the expenditures we'll within the pros
pectiye receipts. This policy, supplemented
by an efficient system of collection and prompt
aud faithful settlements by subordinate Off
GERS has at.last enabled the State to emerge
from the chronic condition of insolvency in
which it has struggled for twenty years, aud
take her place in the front rank OF solid com
monwealths. If I'VE can fall into permanent
habit Of finding balance on the right side of
the ledger every gear, the public credit will
respond, and, as an inevitable consequence,
raise private credit with it. We hope soon
TO see the day when it will no longer be fash
ionable or popular to plead poverty as an ex-
cuse for the neglect of any duty, public or
private.