Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-12-28
coMprRoLLBR's REPORT.
What MIR. Mccall Recommends Re-
EnrdinE the General Revenue.

Of general revenue he says:
The balance on hand. August 81
1898, sls7,425.75: receipts during the
year, s2,Oi2, 1913; total receipts during
the year with balance on hand. s2,23O.-
1905; disbursements during the year.
S2lio,12iO; transfers, adjusting ac-
Counts, etc, si2.5s9.13; total. S2.l917l3.23;
leaving balance on hand August u,
1884, S3s,443,S5.
Il win be observed that the cash
balance on hand, August 81. 1894. was
3s.443.S5 There was outstanding
against this balance registered war
rants amounting to S4S0.993.57. The
state should at all times be In posi-,
ton to protect her credit and pay all
adjusted claims and demands when
presented at the treasury, and TO en-
able her TO do this she must have suf-
llclent money In the state treasury.
The legislature does nOt seem to un.
derstand the difference between cash
balance and a surplus.
The bulk Of the taxes reach the state
treasury during the period Of four
months, leaving eight months to be
provided for, during which time the
disbursements greatly exceed the re-
ceipts II We have not cash balance
on hand sufficient to pay warrants
when presented against the fund this
condition OF affairs VIII be US they are
now; the state will be unable to meet
her obligations and the officers and
employees of the state will have TO sell
their warrants at n discount The
purchaser reaps the benefit Of this
condition of affairs for the state viii
nave to pay the warrants dollar fo1.
dollar Why not make provision be.
iOrehand for taking care OF the states
to do SO. First find out how much
money Is needed to run the govern
ment efficiently and euonomlcally and
when this Is done levy tax sufficient
TO meet the demand. No taxpayer will
object to paying the tax on his nro-
perty which is iudiciously expended for
the best interest OF the state. Our
taN rate loo on the 500 valuation, is
100 low TO meet the just demands
against the general revenue fund, ns
evidences the present condition of this
tund IN the state treasury; and the
only way | see how to relieve the pres-
sure Is TO increase the tax rate; ana
the sooner 1t Is done the better ii viii
be Tor the people, for each year viii
hind. '''S'
In my report Of 1890 It was shown tba,
the tax OF 90 cents on the 500 valuation
had provided ample revenue 10 meet
existing appropriations. and / cautioned
against the reduction of the tax. as Is
shown by the following extract, vie:
1t ~ not wise policy to pile up a
eash balance IN the state treasury,
ana 1t Is equally unwise to atterunt
TOO rapid a reduction OF taxes because
or healthy cash balance The state
IL growing values are Increasing vet
IL should he remembered that the do
nahus upon tho state for appropria-
lions may grow In proportion.
10 the casual observer il may
seem unnecessary, II not unwise, to |
carry so large a cash balance. ana II !
would indicate that the present roto
or taxation for general revenue nnr-
poses might stand reduction In.
great care should be exercised In tbis
matter. The state treasury should ~
an times carry sufficient cnsh boi,
lIlcs 10 ude over any emergency TINT /
M ~ aIlse, Demands for extraordin- |
MY expenditures viii no doubt he COW |
sidered by the legislature whlcb o,o
moi included in the estimates for M
preparations In this report for sha
ncNt TWO years. In View OF tbis a.,
me question should be carefuIiy cos
slIered before any action Is taken
COOKING TO a further reduction Of tha
present low rate OF taxation"
fet. Notwithstanding this cs,,.,o.
me Twenty-seoond Legislature raJ,,o y,
w, tax rate to l6 2-3 cents on tha go
Naluauon FOR 1891 and Is cen+s - sleV
alter' The deficiency that oonsrorts
US IS not caused by extrava ront a'-
INSPIRATIONS but arises from Inc fas,
~, a me TAX levy was below a rate
IN , NSu'u provide sufficient amount
70 meet the efficient and pc,rn,,,tl1
uemands OF the state government
There "a but one way to ~, a.
auleulty and that Is by increasjns the
'aN rpte. l do not recommend ne ' ~
sung OF bonds, Tor the reason no, ~,
ny ohly Issue $500 900 and this won,S
p plyIne S ,ns,,, our bonded debt, without
ON August u. 1883. the cnsh h,,,,
20 the credit Of the general rs,,s,,,s
was S5i5, l6i.23 In 1884 the ieglsist 49,
.Gduced the tax rate from % 10 :.
!, l-s cents on the 500 valuation, ~
rate proved Insufficient, and In iSs5 ths
f,slsIe.ure was compelled to raise ths
.SS,n rs 20 20 cents, to provldesfor Inc
% provide for the deficlenSv n.hisS
NaS apparent would occur nniar ~
snuctien made the preyinns 80
llus we see that the reduction 80
'ents IN 1854 consumed the baInnoe
lal,,, and caused a deficiency which
,,e,,, 81, 81 ~ teoruary, 1886, when nav
hent was suspended for short IN ,
lnd made i necessary to lneressa' ks
'ate II cents in one year, 's me /
m 1858 the state received fro,,, a.
lnltea states government an ~
iemnity fund OF s922 81. 81 wh,eh m
h ne easn balance on hand Aueus at' ~
NJ, s,,.eylse, q. This indemnify fun5 c
'rs a ~ among The people by s
or that year the rate helpy ~ ttNes
ents instead Of IS This red,,os, ~
'louSnt Gown the cash balance IN M
Ist 81. 1850 TO st2s, iiO.5s. me p h,i aug
= hand August 81, 1891. was S a ans
800 ~, y ane reduction Of the tax Tor issl
NJ beis vn,s ,o 70 20 cents reduced
$50 s2s. thereby CONSUMING ri, " 10
MUGS :, collected Cor one year and ssss
sLe' o. NE balance ON hand 4 e,,-
lSr REDUCTION OF tho tax rate after