The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-12-13


There was conference Of the state
assessors yesterday, but the proceed
Jugs resulted in no special action in
the way of memorializing the legisla-
ture upon the subject of assessments.
1t was tScitly understood, onIthe con-
trary, that the assessors would SIM
ply act as heretofore under the stat
uteS and rulings made by the comp
troller.
Commissioner Brewster has issued
his certificate authorizing the Citi-
zenS' Insurance Company of New
York to transact fire and marine in
surance business in this state, COM
mencing January l, 1884. The COM
wpany begins operations with a cash
: capital of 100000 and gross assets of
$1,033, 1896.
Quarantine operations in this state
have been finally closed by the state
health officer, DR.. r. NJ. Swearingen,
settling all accounts due quarantine
officers. The books of the department
will not likely be reopened till next
spring.
The land fraud board has set the
18th inst. to investigate the files made
over the land located under the Glib
son certificates when the opposite side
of the question to that of the claim
ants VIII be heard.
Mr.. John Mcdonald, who has
been favorably suggested in connec-
ton with the position of supervisor
of the new capitol building, declines
40 submit his name for the appoint
ment as his time and attention will be
wholly occupied with the state to
build the Terrell asylum.
OoMPTRoLLER's DEPARTMENT.
There are only $4,000 of perma-
nent school fund left for Investment
in county bonds as reported by the
comptroller, against which amount
there are contracts out to take $4,000
Lampasas county bonds, $4,000 Red
River county bonds and $4,000 Har-
ris county bonds. Under this condi-
tion of the fund the board of educa-
tion have refused to negotiate for
Mitchell and other county bonds Of
fered. In future, when the fund has
again accumulated. they will negoti-
ate directly with the counties, and not
with private holders of such bonds.
Although the board has purchased
nearly $1,250,O00 of these county
bonds at so small premium as to
save to the state about half
a million of dollars, which.
under the old policy of
investment. would have been
lost to the state. Anticipated
Sales of the school lands under the
numerous applications made for them
to the state land board are expected
to accumulate another large cash bal
ance to the credit of the school fund,
when counties which have not been
fnrflfnnfn a IN 1iGnncn nf ni~
bonds, will doubtless have chance to
sell them to the board, and may ma
turally expect to have the preference
in the next deal.
The comptroller's report which has
just been issued by the printer, will
contain all the information which his
department affords, bearing on the
question of the propriety OF reducing
taxation. The revenue balance
whether great or small, he contends
does not materially effect the ques.
tion. The only point TO govern in the
matter, is, whether the revenues will
exceed the expenditure another year
The controller in answer to further
inquiries notified the city authorities
of Laredo that their bonds could not
be registered till the proper tax ordi-
nance was adopted.
The comptroller yesterday warrant
ed upon the treasury, upon the requi
sition of Capt. John 0, johnson, quar-,
termaster of the state troops. for $40,
600 to pay expenses of the frontie
defense. Also for $1,000 drawn upoI
vouchers to pay for the water works
ETC., for the lunatic asylum.
The annual report of the comptrol
Ter for the fiscal year ending August
81, 1883, as published by the state
printer, is a volume O
148 pages. pres nting in detail &
mass of statistics. such a
are usually presented in such docu
ments. Most of the facts OF special
interest to the general public hav,
been reported. The following, how
ever, are of sufficient interest to repeat
Amount paid for assessing taxes s 77,55S 9
Amount paid for collecting taxes l02,A90 ?
LoSses on tax rolls from errors in
assessments. etc.....-........... 2QS,09i 2
Bonded debt hOnslS outstanding. 41i9.S9S s
Investment school fund in bonds. 7l052) !
Further investments since the re-
port was sent to the printer,
swell the amount Of these in
vestments to near. ,.......... 100000 OO