Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1896-08-22

| Al wow vi the lacG t0at Somo surprise
has been expressed that the treasury il
now without funds, the correspondent
OF the Commercial Appeal called on th,
State Treasurer last week TO ask hin
about the matter. In reply to ques
tion he said: Eyes, 1t is a fact t,.at th,
treasury is practically ,csopty. l hav'
on hand something less than $50, and 81
far as this department is concerned
there is no cause for any criticism"
what was the amount due the com
mon school fund on the June distribu
tionP What proportion OF the same
have you paid and what amount OF war
rants on this fund remain unpaid?"
"The amount due, as shown by thu
auditors books, was 1907, ,s33.Si, being
one-third OF tho total amount OF the
appropriation of S923, 500 From this
amount the poll taxes, amounting tt
S29, l25.l2, are to be deducted, leaving {
net amount due of $27s, 70s.22, which
has to be paid by the treasurer. OF thi,
amount ! have paid S23s,9lO This
leaves outstanding on this accoun
$40, 49S.22."
why were these warrants not paid?'
"Because there have been no funds
on hand to pay them WITH
What course have you pursued ir
paying warrants?"
~ have uniformly paid all warrants
in the order Of presentation. This i:
tho only way of managing the treasury
undor my construction Of the law. II
this both the governor and attorney
general agree with me. One warran,
has no prior claim over another and
am allowed no discretion in the matte
Had l the right to discriminate relative
to warrants it would be in favor of the
outstanding school warrants, but the
law, as stated, gives me no such discre
tion, neither Is there any way in which
the fund could have been provided, a.
bas been suggested by some"
what amount did you receive from
the sale OF the bonds, including premi.
ums, and how was the same disbursed?'
81 received Sl3, Cos. s.. Under the act
authorizing tho sale of the bonds was
authorized to borrow Sl5O,0OO, to pay
current expenses. Out of the proceeds
of the sale of bonds | was required to
refund this amount. The $l50,00O was
borrowed and had been expended be.
fore the bonds were sold. From the
S413, Cos. S., received from the bonds,
this amount was refunded, including
interest OF Sl,633.32 making total OF
Sl51, G33.32. This only left Of the bond
sales $269, O65 SO. Out of this amount
and receipts, which have been small,
have paid school warrants amounting
to S23s,2l0, special warrants $ls,3 1865, and
the balance on regular warrants
"Are there other than school war
rants outstanding?"
"Yes, there is money due the institu-
tions of the State, salaried officers and
others. As previously stated no dis.
elimination whatever has been made in
the payment of warrants"
"llow many OF the counties have
failed to receive their money on the
common school fund.-"
Twelve, and when the warrants were
presented the finds had become ex-
hausted. 1t was their misfortune TO be
latc in presenting their claims
when will you have money to pay
these warrants?"
ut is more than probable that all OF
them can not be paid earlier than De-
comber, as the receipts will not amo, t
tc much prior to that time. At that
tina the receipts from ad valorem tax S
will begin to come in, which is the
principal source Of revenue. 1t is hoped,
however, most Of the warrants can be
paid before that time"
"Why did the legislature fail to pro-
vide sufficient revenue?"
",The sum Of 100000 was agreed on
by the house and senate committee as a
compromise. The house had passed a
bill providing for only $3.50, 900 in bonds.
When the senate finance committee in
vestigated the matter it came to the
conclusion that 100000 would be re-
quired 10 meet the deficit then existing
and that for the next two years When
the senate finance committee met it in
vited the auditor and myself before it,
We stated to 1t that q less sum than
$500, 900 would not be sufficient The
committee by unanimous vote ac-
cepted our conclusions and agreed on
bill for that amount. A con ference
committee Of the two houses was after
ward appointed and compromised on
100000, Had the $4,000 bean issued
tie ssse coid rave promptly -tsqs i;... a
is obligations. >