The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1895-04-18
WHERE THE MONEY GOES.

and don't miss u single copy.
WHERE THE MONEY GOES.
Not the least among the questions
and problems which faced the last
legislature was the special matter of
public State revenues and expendi-
lures. TO begin with it was found
that the expenditures for the years
1893 and 1894 were largely in ex-
cess of public receipts; and this was
so despite the fact that there had
been extraordinary receipts which
will not come again. TO explain
this, it may be said that $6s6.16
were received from sales of city lots;
$S,S52.3S from Wilmington and
Weldon railroad tax; 9,50l.52 from
the same road az compromise" tax
over and above what will be regu-
larry received hereafter; $4,000
from sales of North Carolina bonds;
$33, 500 from receiver in Swazey
suit for back Notwithstanding
in all to $685. This amount
may be olassed as "extraordinary'
receipts because nothing will be re-
ceived from these same sources again.
And then the State received $780,
662 as dividends from the Atlantic
and North Carolina railroad which
is by no means certainty for the
coming two years. So it appears
that during the past two years the
State administration received $144,-
1O2.O6, none of which may be GER
tainly looked for during the next
two years. ltmust be remembered
that this amount was received an ad-
dition 10 tie regular receipts from
ordinary sources of taxation.
But in spite of this nice, extra
little sum, the legislature found that
the expenses of the State had been
more than the receipts. The peni-
tertiary was in debt to the amount
of $4,000. The charitable insti-
tutions were not adequate to the de-
mands made upon them and had to
be provided for. The public school
system was rotten and was not being
conducted for as long term as was
required by the constitution. Other
public educational institutions were
sorely in need of assistance and had
to be aided in order to progress.
These matters, combined with others,
constituted very serious and knotty
problem. How it was met will be
shown in the CAUCASIAN from time
to time.
All these conditions existed, and
yet the public expenditures Of the
State for 1S93-'94 amounted to
nearly two and half million of dol
lars--to quote from the auditors re-
port, $2,442,Oss.33. 1t became an
interesting question as where all this
money went and what was done
with it. Of course, it was known
that the greater part of it was spent
in accordance to law; but let's take
q little look over the reports and see
how things look.
In some senses the reports are con-
fusing to any one desiring to get the
exact figures concerning expendi-
lures for certain objects. For in
stance the summary in the report of
1893 states that the expenses of
Capitol square are $544.4O. But a
lot of items are thrown together un-
der another head called ''contingen-
cies" and all through these contin-
gencies we find items charged to
Capitol square. The total contin-
gencies foot up, for 1893, the
amount of $34,346.27; and for 1894,
$27,sss.s5. All through this list Of
contingencies are found such items
as
sundry persons for work on Capitol square
Sundry persons for moving grass in Capito
square. ..........::.S ON
Sundry persons for cleaning rubbish il
Capitol square. .................... .slU.5o
Of course it is not our purpose tx
attempt to give any thing like a lis
only some samples. 1t seems t.
us that all these items (snd they ar
all through the reporD should hay
been classified under the head o.
Capitol square. There's no telling
without laborious effort, how mucl
money was spent this way. "The con
t;u0onc;oe', show q reyu1ar nav rol