The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-12-19
Funds in the State Treasury
Running Very Low.
APPEAL TO THE SHERlFfS
Over $25o,0Oo Must Be Pald
Out This Month.
HAS $50, 900 WITH WHICH TO PAY
Ar Worth Asks That Sheriffs Take Up
Pension Warrants--The Rate OF
Taxation Will Have to be In
creased Next Year.

creased Next Year.
The States finances are at pretty low
ahh-lower than ever before III recent
vears-and the Republican administrator
has hardly begun, only one antl-Demo-
cratic Legislature having had a whacN
gat them.
: Ohliqations to the amount of over Sou
600 ara due between now and January /,
and there is only about $4,000 OF avail
able cash in the State Treasurers hands
wifi which to pay them. The legislative
xvo,,;nino committee has found the ag-
eregate balance of Public and Education
al funds in the Treasury to be nearly
500. 900 less than for the two years pre-
vious to the meeting of the last Legisla-
ture.
II is also found that during the past
two fiscal years the taxable property IN
tho State has decreased in valuation near
" five and half million dollars, so 1t
will be observed, in order to preserve the
credit of the State, that the rate of taxa
ton will have to be raised or expenditures
decreased.
TREASURER WORTH'S APPEAL.
With these facts staring him in the face
State Treasurer Worth has sent Christ
mas present to all the sheriffs in the State,
which, together with the report of the
legislative examining committee following
it. sets forth the whole story. 1t is IN
the form of a hard-times circular letter,
but signed with the seasons best wish
es." This epistle, like similar one issued
from the same source about month ago
insists upon the importance of the
prompt remittance of 1896 State taxes to
the Treasurer's office. 1t says the first
day of the present fiscal year, December
/. 1896, found the State Treasurer with
less than $SS,000 of available cash in
hand. with which to meet the following
obligations falling due this month and
next:
Pensions .s.....'. 49,. 9iof,oVo
Interest on per cent bonds. -, 66,oOD
Portion of annual appropria-
tons ............ ......... O0,UOU
Half the expense of the Cen
eral Assembly ............ 10000
Total present needs. 1899. S266, 4o0
Sheriffs and tax collectors, the letter
goes on to say, can be Of service to their
respective counties, and save their cir
cuIating medium to that extent in their
communities by cashing, as far as pos
sible out of tax funds in hand, all pen
sion warrants. These warrants, Mr..
Worth says, are just as good as cash
in making settlement with the State
Treasurer, whey they are countersigned
by the sheriff presenting them.
THE COMMITTEES REPORT.
The committee appointed by the last
Legislature to examine the accounts and
vouchers OF the State Treasurer relating
to all money received into and paid out of
the Treasury during the fiscal years end
ing November 80, 1895, and 1896, and
also compare warrants drawn by the Au-
ditor on the Treasurer during these two
years, has completed their work and
made out the following report to the Gen
eral Assembly:
Annual Statement.-ShoWing aggregate
of receipts and disbursements Of Public
and Educational funds for each month
of the fiscal year ending November 30,
1895: