The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-09
TAX RATE CAUSING TROUBLE.
If APPROPRIATION ARE NOT CUT
III MUST BE RAISED.

IL the Committees Recommenda-
tiOns Are Adopted the state VIII
Be Obliged to Levy $6.3G on the
S1,OOO--The State Treasury Face to-
Face with Deficit as the Result
of Too Low n Rate of Taxation In
the Past.
Atlanta, Ga, Dec s.-The appropriations
for the state government and state lnsti-
tutions occupied the House of Representa-
tives to-day. As reported in the bill, as
1t came from the finance committee. the
appropriations exceed those of 1894 $6S7, 900,
and in order to meet them it will be nee
essary to make an Increase in the tax
levy of 1 s2-1O0 of a mill. There is a dis
position among the legislators. however,
to scale the appropriations recommended
by the finance committee and when they
get through with the bill, Il is not likely
that the increased expenditures win call
for an increase of more than one and
a half mills at the outside, in the rate OF
taxation.
The bulk of the increase of the appro-
priatons Is for the common schools which
will get 100000 more than last year, II the
bill is not amended. The next largest item
of increase is for pensions under the res
Gently ratified constitutional amendment,
which calls for $l50,O00 The other Items
are scattered among the various educa-
tional institutions, the military and the
new judges Of the supreme court.
Chairman Little of the finance commt-
tee stated to the House that the rate Of
taxation, which would have to be fixed IL
the appropriations were passed as recom-
mended by the committee, would be S6.s6
on the $1,000. During his statement re-
gardng the appropriations, Chairman
I esut1 tlaaf guf fgl loff
dsproportoned their tax bills to their
appropriations that now the state treasury
stood face to face with deficit of from
$500 900 to 100000. This statement caused
something of sensation, as the general
idea has been that everything was all
right In the treasury department. Later
on Mr.. Little explained this statement,
He meant by the deficit mentioned that
the treasury was really behind that
amount. 1t was of course able to meet
all the demands made upon It by the ap-
proprlations by taking funds in hand to
meet calls as made. In other words the
state had spent $500, 900 OF her income in
advance of the appropriation 100000.
That amount would have to be raised In
addition to the amount Of the approprla-
tions made this year to balance at the end
Of each fiscal year. He did not
propose, however, that this legislature
should undertake to make up this deficit,
| but as past legislatures had allowed
things to go on this way, he would leave
this for some other Legislature in the fu-
ture. All that is proposed now Is to make
a tax rate that Will raise enough money
to pay the appropriations made by this
| legislature. II 1t were proposed to bring
the assets Of the state up even with the
| appropriations in addition to the increased
| appropriations recommended by the
| finance committee, II would take Si,000000
more IN taxes this year than last year.
The House showed the spirit Of retrench-
ment at the outset by killing the bill ap-
proprlating $4,000 to the state normal
school, which came up as the unfinished
business OF last nights session. An ef-
| fort was made to have the bill tabled by
Mr. Boynton Of spalding, but this was de-
| feated.
Mr. Little gave notice Of a motion to re-
consider and the friends Of the institution
still have some little hopes of getting the
money to build the much needed dormi-
tory.
The entire general Appropriation bill was
passed to-day with the exception Of the
| items 70 the military to the common
schools, to the state institutions and to
/ the lunatic asylum. on motion OF Chair
man Little Of the finance committee at
the session tonight these matters were
| left over until tomorrow when q full
House would be present. All involve in
| creases over former amounts, and fight
will be made on all of them. hard fight
will be made against the military appro-
/ priation of $4,000 recommended by the
committee. ana the fight on the extra $4,000
| for the lunatic asylum was already in
progress to-day when the House adjourn
| ed The friends OF the military will make
a stand for that item, but the increased
| tax rate seems to have scared many MEM
bers. and there Is small chance that It will
go through without the pruning knife be-
| ing applied.
To-day the pay of the chaplains was In
| creased from 81 to 81 per day.
/ The Northeastern railroad bill, which
provides for the sale OF that line to the
| highest bidder, provided $2SI,000, the
| amount of the states interest In the road,
! can be obtained from the sale, was passed.
on motion of MIR. Craig of Blbb, his bill
| to fix the age at which children may be
legally employed in factories, was made
the special order for Friday.
A. message was received from the gov
ernor, stating that Hon. w. IL. Fish, re-
Gently elected to the supreme court bench,
! had resigned the judgship of the south-
western circuit. The caucus Will meet TO-
morrow night 20 nominate his successor.
/ The candidates are s. u. Littlejohn and
w. NJ Hawks.
In tho Senate to-day the session was
very quiet, the most important bill acted
upon being that by Senator Gray, reducing
the bond required OF tax receivers, which
passed. Since 1864 these officers have been
| required to give a bond In double the sum
of the assessed value of the property. The
bill reduces the bond so they Will be re-
| quired to give bond for one-fourth the
assessed value Of property returned for
taxation. The bill was passed withuot
opposition.
Il