The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-12-20
REDUCING TAXATION.


The annual report of Comptroller
Swain is before Us. 1t contains liS
pages. 135 of which are a III OF
tables showing. in detail, the accounts
of the department, and the condition
of the various funds of the state, as
well as those of towns AMI counties,
entrusted to the states keeping. 1t
is, altogether, the most comprehen- !
sive, and at the san time, the sim *
and therefore tie most intelbglbie,
report that has ever found its way from
the department of public accounts.
Besides its very great merit as d tabu-
lar work, it contains, in concise
shape, most valuable suggestions as to
the management of the states imam
ces. When it is stated, too, that the
suggestions and observations OF MT.
Swain cover only six pages OF his re-
port, it may be understood that he
presents his propositions with sineu-
lar simplicity, so that any per-
son may understand them. Under
expenses of the government for the
fiscal year ending August 81, 1854, he
is not led to conclusions hy mere Con
lecture or estimate" The appropria-
lions end on the 18th of February OF
each year, while the fiscal year ends
August 81. This leads to the coIsid-
Grafton of two appropriations-that
part of the appropriation
for 1884, beginning Septemb 1,
1883, and ending February %, Is 4,
and that part of the appropriation for
1884 5, beginning February 30, 1884,
and ending August 81 Of the same
year. The Eighteenth Legislature ap-
| propriated from revenue for the year
ending February %, 1884, $2,08l, 496.
Up to August 81, 1883, there had been
paid out of this sum 1875 ,2S6. leaving a
balance unexpended at that time of
$1,346,21O The appropriations. then,
for the first six months OF the next
appropriation year, with a probable
deficiency on pensions and fees Of at
tached witnesses, Of $120.000, amounts
to $1,57SO33. The demands for the
| current fiscal year may, therefore,
be placed at $,135,226, to
which may be added $4,000,
to pay the expenses Of the approach
ing extra session Of the legislature,
increasing the expenditures to 50, l85,
226. The STATESMAN, some time ago,
presented it's readers an advanced
COPY of most of the comptroller's re-
port, but it now takes these figures
up in their application to the PROPOSE.
ton to safely reduce taxation for pur'
poses Of general revenue below what
it now is for that purpose The
comptroller shows that the receipts
from all sources for the year, to de-
fray these expenseses, will be $751;
500. But deductions from this sum
covered by losses IN various accounts
assessing, collecting, etc.,-amountine
to S3S1,97957, must be made, which
reduce the net revenues to 1929,
52O.43. Then deduct one-fourth, OF
1857 $3.50. IL for schools, and ther We Gt
for the current year will amo unit tt
S1.672, 1902. This will leave sur
plus, August 81, 1884, of only $37,
268.55. The comptroller presents
balance between this surplus and thai
at the beginn ng of the year, showing
difference OF 1907 ,885.68. The more
Ineligible statement is, that hat
there been no cash balance at the
beginning of the year, there
would have been a deficit
amounting to the last named sum
When it is known that the surplus
on hand at the end of the fiscal year
closing August, 81, 1882, from Il ta1
of 40 cents, was $685. 54.62, and thai
for the year ending August 81, 1883
with the tax at 80 cents, the
surplus dropped to $340, 1928
it may be seen how serious
begins to appear the proposition fol
cutting down taxation on revenue
account. Cash balances have crum
bled away, and the budget for the ap
preparation year, beginning Februar.
90, 1856, " i'll not fall short of what il
has heretofore been. The create
probability is that it will be greater
In the meantime the fence-cutter'
are playing havoc with the value O.
Texas lands. Free grass and FREE
water is their watchword, and thil
, means no more sales of Eands by thu
} state and no increase inA its taxable
, values. The governor has takeI
ground in favor of reduced taxation
He viii have to show how it may be
safely accomplished.