Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-01-21


The total expenditures out of said fund
during the past fiscal year amounted to
two million seventy two thousand six hun
dred and fifty -one dollars and seventy eight
cents (s2, 072, 651, 7s), showing balance Of
receipts over disbursements of sixty-fve
thousand eight hundred and eighty-one
dollars and ten cents (&65, 881. 10).
There was decrease in receipts from the
preceding year of thirty seven thousand
three hundred and ninety eight dollars and
ninety-flye cents 1887, ,598. 9b). There was
also decrease in disbursements from the
preceding year of one hundred and ninety
six thousand three hundred and eighty.
eight dollars and eight cents (s196, 1885. .0s).
The following extraordinary disbursements
are included In the amount of above stated
expenditures for the last year:
| For state prison building commits
sion... OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. $lUO,uUO w
For state reformatory. 100000 %
| For improvements at Morris Plains
hospital. 1854 IA
For Camden armory.. 1895 40
| For revision of statutes............ 1900 90
For Passaic valley sewerage COM
mission. .......................... 10000 90
For Trenton battle monument. 6,60O 90
| For political and legislative his
tory of New Jersey 4.50O 90
Total. ...................... ssss. $40 81
Total disbursements. 81, 072. 651 50
Extraordinary disbursements .... 338,640 81
Total ordinary disbursements. 81, ,780, oil 20
The balance of the state fund In bank at
the close of the fiscal year, Oct. 81, 1895,
was 1859, ,628. 98-a condition eminently
gratifying and satisfactory. If, however,
1t is to be inferred that this balance Is a
surplus in the hands of the state, unappro-
priated to state uses and not to be needed
unless hereafter disposed of by the legisla-
ture, such an impression is erroneous and
liable to be harmful. This balance, as
shown at the end of the fiscal year, Is
neither more nor less than the current bank
balance of the state at that date, and does
not differ in character from merchants
balance at any particular date in his busi-
ness. The balance changes from day to
day, and, as matter of fact, is very far
below what 1t was on Oct. 81, being at the
present time only 1886, 800. "a.
The existence of this balance on the clos
ing day of the fiscal year does not justify
any effort to increase appropriations on any
assumption that the state has any such
amount of money on hand to be expended
except on the ordinary lines Of necessity,
prudence and economy.
The balance of the state fund In bank
fuctuates from day to day, and while at
some periods 1t is very large, at other pc
RODS 1t is SO low that unless large cash
reserve be maintained the state would be
Obliged to borrow money for current obli-
| cations. A comfortable balance in the
treasury is matter for congratulation, but
ought not to be used as an incentive or
argument for extraordinary demands upon
the treasury. No financial condition, how
over easy or comfortable, can justify ex-
travagance or misappropriation of money
or excuse application of the strictest rules
of retrenchment and economy.
In order that you may have before you a
comparative statement of the sources Of
revenue of the state and the amounts ex-
pended for the most prominent objects,
have compiled two tables, marked respec-
lively Schedule A and Schedule B. -
| Schedule A shows the receipts of the state
during the past ten years from the various
| principal sources of revenue, and you can
at glance perceive from what sources the
increased revenue of the state has come
| Schedule B contains statement of the dis
bursements of the state for the last ten
| years for the most prominent and expensive
objects of state administration. commend
careful study and comparison Of these
! figures to the people of the state, In order
| shat they may familiarize themselves with