The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-12-27
A NARROW ESCAPE.

The rumor that prevailed in the
city, Tuesday, that the states paper
was on the point of going to protest,
will startle many; yet the report was
based upon truth, and had the war
rants then in the city been presented
on that day such would have been
the result. 1t is not known how near
the cash balance came to giving out,
but it is said the state treasurer was
on the very ragged edge of despair, and
had not collector come to his relief
with $4,000, there might have been a
capital sensation wired to all parts Of
the country. Yesterday the state
treasurer and the comptroller both
looked serious, like men just having
escaped from some terrible calamity,
and they had their heads together
shaking them ominously at each other.
The governor undoubtedly knew all
| about the harrow escape that was
made, but having announced unequi-
vocally in favor of reduced taxation, he
put on bold face, and tried to
look as though there were two mil
hons in the treasury. 1t was OBJ
served, however, that the "Sage OF
Seguin" needed comfort, and the
double.Joipted senator from New
Braunfels was on hand, his atten-
dant, to administer the needed lnVlg'
grafton. Well, it was scare which
the members of the state adj
ministration will not get over
for good many days, nc
matter how freely revenue may flow
in. 1t is said there are enough war
rants now held by the banks here tx
exhaust the cash in the treasury. The
rule has been to pay out on warrants
one-half currency and one-half silver
therefore, the banks have held war
rants as cash for convenience sake
and often there has been no inconsider
able sum held in this way. 1t was said
Tuesday, that the outstanding war
rants were much in excess of casf
with which TO pay them. Be this, a
it may, the rub was such an one a.
the officers do not desire to go through
with again very soon, and if all &C
counts be true, they stand in daily
dread of being overcome by the painful
fact, that the cash balance may become
one of the things of the past. And
here we are, just on the eve of the
meeting of the legislature. The ex
pense of this body will be nearly TIVE
thousand dollars per- day. aud col
lectors are earnestly asked to bear il
mind that the state wants none!
badly. Private means might be in
voked to aid the state, in case the neet
was not very protracted, but thi
would be only a shifting relief. Thes'
things cannot be considered in the
serious light of the states iDcompe
tency to pay, but they thus practlc
ally demonstrate that che treasury;
depletion has been going OF
at a rate not heretofore realized. Idle
money in public vaults is very poo
thing to boast of, but good reserve
fupd to meet all demands is one O.
the pleasant things to contemplate il
public as well as private finances. TIT
state should always be prepared t.
pay, and we do earnestly hope it ma!
be able to do so at all times. Tuesday
miss of an inch may be as good as on
of mile, but had some of our stat
officials been small boys the condition
of that day would have arrested bod
lily growth for at least twelve months
Our worthy treasurer is by no mean
old, and it IS fortunate that he is SUI
fcientiy developed for thing lik
this to not effect him damagingly.