The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-12-27

taxes have not been levied in the past to
pay the expenses of running the State gov
eminent.
/ will go over verv briefly the condition OF
the State finances for the past eight years.
One of the most prolific causes of the In
creased expense is the care of the insane.
The cost of keeping prisoners has increased
with increased numbers and the inability to
find remunerative employment. The build
ing of the upper peninsula hospital for the
insane at Newberry and the Michigan Home
for feeble minded and epileptic at Lapeer,
and the increased appropriations for the
University, Normal School and Mining
School have also contributed to the result.
But when the needs of all the people are tax
en- into consideration, l cannot see that there
is anything wrong in these appropriations,
and but for the added burden to the already
heavily loaded taxpayer, they have much to
recommend them.
When Governor Luce was inaugurated,
January L, 1887, there was a balance in the
state treasury of $40, 292. SO. His admins
tration had to live one year and over on
what his predecessor had provided, and the
balance In the treasury at the close of his
first year was $94, 900. 46. The Legislature
of 1887 appropriated for 1887, ST., $50, OS5
and for 1888, $1,45s, 466. a total for two
years of So, 40S, SOL. The amount paid
for the care of the insane for the fiscal years
ending June 80, 1887, and June 80, 1888,
was 1927, $40, and for state institutions, in
Guiding insane, ST., 792, 296.
The appropriations made by the leglsla-
ture of 1889 were So, 0s5, 2O5,' or more than
$500, 900 less than in 1887. The amount
appropriated for the insane was $7S6, $50.
and for all state institutions So, SAC, sos.
The balance in the treasury December 81,
1890, the close of Governor Luce's second
term, was $6O3, 515, and on. December 81,
1891, the time when the administration of
Governor Winans would commence to live
on what it had provided, there was a bal
ance of $500, ITO, or, In round numbers,
500, 900 less than one year previous.
During this year there was . received
from the general government $500, 900,
which went into the general fund. TAX
ing this from the balance on hand Decem-
Der 81, 1891, would leave a balance of $780,
Ito, showing substantially the SAM balance
as -four years before, in the middle of Gov
ernor Luce's first term. The balance or
December 81, 1892, the end of Governor
Winans term, was $345, S7s, or 1857, 637
less than at the close of Governor Luce's
term. Besides this reduction in the bal
ance they.had received 1920, 600 from the
General government, making up to that
time a total reduction of $677,6 37.
The new administration had to live one
year on what had been provided by its
predecessor, and on December 3D. 1898,
was a balance of minus $12S, 800, and
after getting in about $500, 900 adj
vanced by the Michigan Central and Lake
Shore & Michigan Southern railroad COM
panies, and about $3.50, 00O from Wayne
county; and the overdraft mentioned was
paid by tn First National Bank, of De-
troit, making a deficit Of nearly or quite
$500, OOO.
The legislature of 1891 levied in the tax
es for the two years only 50, 1853, $50, but
they received from the general government
1870, 900, and made appropriations amount
Ing to 1854, 900, to which there was NJ tax
ing clause attached, amounting in all to 49, |
547, 25S. Among the items for which a n
insufficient tax was raised, was the care of
The insane. The estimate for 1922 was
1850, 900, but the cost was 1882, 523 or $780,
523 more than the estimate. This act seems
when it is called to mind tina. the
,ost of the previous two years was $780,
,99, or S136, 939 more than the estimates.
The foregoing figures are not exactly cor
as the fiscal year ends June 80, but the
comparisons are all on the same basis.
The legislature of 1893 levied In taxes.
or 1893, 81, 931, 214, and for 1894, s 1885,
95, a total for the two years of SO, 800, 349;
md il made appropriations amounting to
172, 900, to which no taxing clause was in
orporated. 1t is proper to say that this
sgislature was unaware of the condition of
treasury, or it is reasonable to presume
he matter would have been remedied.
The balance December 81, 1894, was
ainus of $3.50, 500, and 5000, 900 had been
borrowed to bridge over until the taxes
,ould be collected. The legislature Of 1895
appropriated for 1895 50, 733. 919, or there
lbouts, and for 1896 about 81, 800, 600. The
levy for 1895 was 49, 13, 919, and for
.s9e it is estimated 1t will be about 81
$780,.
The following table shows the amount Of
levied from 1887 to 1896, inclusive, also
he amounts paid for the support of the ed
.lcational, reformatory and charitable insti-
N N rNeAup ALL
INSTITUTIONS.