Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1896-01-18

; contradisting uished from the enact
ment of laws, II Is believed the public
+ service has been equally commcnda-
bic, 1t Is no more than justice to my
associates OF all departments 10 Say
+ that the government has been admin
! istratered economically. efficiently nno
faithfully. In no department OF the
service has any scandal or unfalthful-
ness appeared aud In all II high order
i OF official integrity and fidelity has
been exhibited. Proper regard for
newspaper space viii not permit even
general review OF the whole service,
but reference TO some OF the more Inn
4 portant Is appropriate.
The management and conduct OF the
( asylums and other benevolent and
charitable institutions have been emf
nently satisfactory. Largely increased
numbers were accommodated. their
wants literally supplied and the
properties maintained and preserved ut
/ year.
The general and financial manage
I mcnt OF the penltcntlarles has been
marked by humanity. conservatism
aud ability. For the past year there
I was an average Increase In the number
2 OF convicts OF 2is. the net increase OF
4 receipts from all sources. including
| products OF the state and share farms.
| the Industries OF the two penitentlaries
and receipts from farm contracts ana
| railroad leases was s5i.952.3O, and yet
| expenditures were comparatively re-
| duced. The appropriation out Of the
| general revenue was not used, there
was a cash balance ON hand january
! !. Of Sii.h7i6S, and the penltentiaries
are more than eelf-sustplnlng. An
earnest effort has been made TO reduce
| to the minimum the competition be-
tween convict and free labor in manu-
| tacturing. us wen as increase revenue.
| by Increasing the number of cCnVicta
| IN non-compctitive employments like
| the sugar industry. and accordingly
there was an increase OF ninty-nlnc
men thus employed for 1895 as COM
pared with 1891 and 2s2 for 1896 as COM
| pared with 1895.
The railroad commission has rem
| dered valuable and conspicuous SER
| Vice during the year Aside from the
! general duties performed In preventing
| discrimination correcting abuses ana
inequalities ana enforcing the stock
| and bond law, It has been Of great
| value In the past ycnr II made eleven
| commodity tariffs fixing the freight
| rates ON them and adopted the rates
| OF freight and classification on general
| merchandise. With the exception Of
! lumber, the rates upon which seem not
| 10 be complained Of, II has now estnb-
| llahcd partial rates on everything with
| In It's authority and general rates have
| been fixed on the great hulk OF arti-
/ Nl'FH nv ANAAbn ANlAAA bf'NAnt hlftltA-
| tive September I, 1894. The general
merchandise tariff. which involved
| great labor, went into effect August O.
| 1895. ON the former there was reduc-
| tlon In rates of 30 cents per bale aud
| on the latter. as well as all others,
| there was nm average substantial re-
| duction. on December 2s. the commls-
sion made for me the following APP
| prONimate estimate OF tho amount
| saved In freights by the operation Of
all commission tariffs from January
| IL, 1895. to December 81, 1896;
on cotton OF the crop of 1910,
100000 bnles at 20 cents... s25O,00O
| on cotton OF the crop OF 1866.
| l,200 600 INSTRUMENTATION. 800, 600
on frelRhts other than cotton
| at the rate OF S72O.00o per
year........ ..............,.. 100000
Total neutrality-suspicious.
on January 10, 1896. when the prea-
| ent administration took office, the total
| deficiency In general revenue IN round
numbers was S7ss,0o0. TIA condition
| OF the treasury was not the result OF
extravaganza, but was due 10 the pny-
mont OF s25O.000 public debt de-
| foiency of 100000 In u preceding adj
minlstration, and the reduc ton Of tax
| alton from 20 TO 10 cents. The eN-
| istinE rnte of taxation would not dis
! charge this deficiency and support the
| government, and consequently In
| creased taxation was imperative. Ex-
| penditures were reduced aa heretofore
| stated and the rate fixed as low as wan
consistent with efficiency being 20
cents for 1895 and 70 cents for 1896
| The comptroller estimates that by
| March 1. 1871, the expiration OF the two
| appropriation years. this deficiency and
| current expenses Will he paid, leaving
| $4,000 In the treasury.
There was also large deficit In tho
a.. a ..sI.a -.
| $3.50. 46S.b0 on August 81, 1894. largely
| attributable TO the increase IN
scholastic population from 10000 IN
| 1891 TO 60S.000 In lS94-b and 7iS,000 In
| 1896. This deficit and the requirement
| OF the constitution that the schools be
| open for ut least six months of the
| year necessitated an increase In the
| rate OF taxation to 20 cents for 1895 and
| IS cents for 1896 With this the de-
| fclency has been paid and the schools
are practically on cash basis. Not
withstanding the burden OF n heavy
| deficiency, the apporlionment was $3.50
| per capita. the same as the previous
| year, which will support the schools
| for four months, and II indications are
| not misleading the per capita Will be
| increased to $500 for the next school
| year, thus extending the school term
10 four and three-qunrter months.
| 1t Is gratifying that the cause of
| higher education has also advanced
| and that the Normal schools. the
Agricultural and Mechanical College
and the University are In prosperous
| condition, with an Increased average
attendance. 1t may therefore be said
upon the subject OF state finances that
| despite the ombarrassments named,
| marked reduction In expenditures has
been made. the just obligations OF
government discharged and the great
Interests OF education pushed forward
unimpaired
You are entitled from time to time
to know the condition and progress
OF affairs and In that spirit this state
ment is submitted to your considerate
| Judgment. II has been purpoHely com
pressed into the smallest space com
patible with clenrness. with the view
Of printing II In the weekly papers, the
best method OF reaching the great
masses of the people. and / Will be
greatly obliged II the editors will print
1t. c. A. CuLBERSoN.