Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-12-01

all efforts in his power to obtain authori-
tative information as to his duties and
responsibilities in the assumption of SO
great a charges? Should he not be cons
1nended for his energy and activity IN
obtaining this information? What more
important duty is involved in this great
trust than the states finances?
Has the joint committee stated the
facts? In their report they say they had
before then the Governor, auditor and
treasurer of the state. Who is better
prepared to give the committee the de-
sired information than these three Of
flcers? Do the facts sustain the report
ofdhe committee? Let US see.
Governor Oates in his biennial mes
sage to the pending. session of the gen.
eral assembly 0see page of the pamph-
let> says: ION Dec. l. 1894 the state
owed the New York Security and Trust
company 100000 advanced through Gov
Jones and payable in instalments of $780,
600 on the first and middle of January,
February, March, April and May 1885,"
In addition to hisindebtedness he shows
that on the same date there were sums
against the treasury as follows
Deficiency in appropriation for feed
NIB anu IeIiONiHS pFlSOHeIS, 2oo,OVoi SUI
plus of solicitors fees to be distributed to
the several counties about $4,000; due
the agricultural bureau, $4,000. "aggre-
eating a deficiency of s647, 500 independ-
ent of a. deficiency on account of COM
Wet fund OF $4,000
The 100000 mentioned above as being
due the New York Security and Trust
company, on the 1st day of December,
1894, contracted for by Gov. Jones, had
not been consumed on the first of Decem-
Der, the date referred to in the message,
by at least half or more. A large part of
1t was used after that date to meet the
demands on the state treasury. includ-
ing S1S9, 400, due on the first of January.
1886, as semi-annual interest on the bond
ed debt Of the state, and about $4,000
due the public schools of the state,
warrants for the pay rolls of which are
required to be drawn at any time after
the 18th of December. In this same
message Gov. Oates states that he again,
in 1896, contracted with the same COM
pany, a debt of $510, 000 made up of $780,
600 borrowed on the first of August, $780,
900 LIST of October and November and
100000 placed with the fiscal agents
OF the state In New York to pay the in
terest coupons ON the state bonds matur-
ing Jan. 1, 1886" Gov. Jones, in his
message to. the, general assembly of 1884,
95. page %, house Journal, estimates the
deficiency in the treasury at the close of
the fiscal year. ending Sept. 80, 1894, based
upon immediate demands at $319,317.36.
Gov. Oates in his message quoted from
above, page 10, shows from the auditors
n 4 Ia~ fhaf. nj a
tured demands against the state amount
ing to about $S2O,000 From these figures
it seems that the condition of the treas,
ury had not materially changed in two
years. t,a
BY reference to the auditors report for
the fiscal year ending Sept. so, 1895, We
find that the total receipts into the treas
ury for the year amounted to $2,O3S.64S,05
including two temporary loans of $780,
900 each. The same report shows that
the total disbursements from the treas
ury for the same period amounted to a.
DAT, 966.41, including a temporary loan or
$100, 900, showing an excess of disburse-
ments over receipts of $4,000 in round
numbers. ti--. t.- -+74--
In the report of the same official for the
fiscal year ending Sept. &c. 1896, the total
receipts into the treasury for the year
are shown to have been 81, 999, 930.13. The
total disbursements for the same period
are shown to have been $1,96l, 912.SS. In
the latter is included the payment of one
temporary lean of 100000 the two sums
showing an excess of receipts over dis
bursements of 3S017.25. These figures in
dictate that the treasury was in better
condition on Oct. /, 1896, than at the same
date two years prior by about $4,000.
From figures given in the message of
Gov. Jones to the general assembly of
1923, and by Gov Oates to the pending
legislature, as quoted above, the treas
ury was not able to meet the demands
on the 1st-o January, 1895, by 100000
unless we dispose of the matter by say
ing that the money was not due and con-
8 lently it was not a deficiency. We
have seen from the auditors reports of
the two fiscal years during Gov. Oates
administration, that the receipts over dis
bursements were not sufficient to make
any material Improvement in the condi-
ton of the treasury. From these facts
wherein consists the injustice to the Gov
ernor? The presumption is that he ex-
ecuted the laws as he found them, and
to have characterized his administration,
wherein can injustice have been done
him? This paper and the committee have
stated facts that the records seem to veri-
fly. The fact that the two claims amount
ing to $4,000 are not due until later
date does not destroy the further fact
that they are subssting claims against
the treasury and accrued because of the
fact that the treasury was not in condi-
ton to meet claims as they fell due. and
cannot be ignored as part of an existing
deficiency in the state treasury. The on
~ Improvement that, has resulted to the
state treasury within the last two years
was brought about by the act of the gen.
eral assembly two years ago imposing in
terest on taxes where they are allowed
to become delinquent by tax payers I'm
der the operation of this provision of law
there was paid into the treasury during
the month of last Janury the sum of
$500. 900. -
CAN YOU VOTE 1T? 81