The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-12-28
OKLAHOMA SCASHBOX
Auditor Hopkins Makes the
Fourth Biennial Report.
OUTGO NOT EXCESSIVE
Except for Printing = What
Would Increase Income.

Guthrie, o. T, Dec. 27.-(SDeciaL) 1.-The
fourth biennial report Of the auditor Of the
territory for the fiscal years Of 1897 and
$685. was submitted TO the governor today.
It contains a full statement of all fnan-
cial operations Of the territory during
that period. Such reports are necessarily
a matter of figures, and contain much that
should be of interest to all taxpayers and
citizens who have the welfare of the ter
-.tcry and its people at heart
The net general fund indebtedness out
standing is $3.50, "a and attention is
called to the fact that the expenditures for
the year ending November 30, 1897 are
$50, 1881 greater than for the following
fiscal year. This is principally due to the
expenses Of the fourth legislative assem-
bly,, and 10 the transfer of s35, 900 from the
public building fund to the general fund,
warrants bearing per cent interest hav-
ing been drawn on the general fund for
this amount in favor Of the public building
fund. During the biennial period covered
by this report the general fund indebted
ness increased $50, 1855. The heavy ex-
penses to the territory are found in the
care and maintenance of the insane and
prisoners, and territorial printing The
cost for the care and maintenance Of the
insane for the biennial period, except the
last two months, amounts to sT9, s79.11
including a deficiency of s7,13S.27. This is
an increase for this purpose Of S14, 5000
over the biennial period ending November
so, 1886. The expense for the care and
custody of prisoners OF the territory for
The biennial period is 81, $50. a. against So -
1898 for the biennial period ending No
vember- 30. 1896. The expense of the ter
ritory for printing for the two years
amounts to s4O.4s7 The three items above
mentioned aggregate $15l, s,245 for the BIZ
ennial period and Is about three-fourths
Of the territorial expenses. Each biennial
report since the organization of the terri
tory, after the first only shows a marked
increase IN the territorial indebtedness, and
Auditor Hopkins renews the assertions of
this predecessors that the difficulty is not
found in excessive expenditures, except in
the item Of printing, but in deficient reve
nueE
Auditor Hopkins does not attempt to do
more than roughly estimate the receipts
for the next two years. since he cannot
even approximate with any degree of GER
Sainty the assessed valuation of these
years. To make an estimate of the ex-
penditures is equally difficult, owing 10 the
amendments that may be made to the
present revenue law by the coming le=ls-
iature. Presuming that no great changes
Will be made in the law affecting receipts
and expenditures, the auditor estimates
the receipts for the year 1899 at 5000 and
the expenditures at $121, 1867, and for 1900
the receipts are estimated at SO, 900 ano
the expenditures at ss5, 22S The marked
difference in expenditures between the two
Years is due to the expenses of the Iegisla-
ture and legislative printing Auditor
Hopkins includes the following suEges
lions in his report:
First-Issue bonds sufficient to redeem
outstanding general fund warrants
Second-Give the territorial board of
equalization power TO add % per cent to
levies for delinquent taxes.
Third-Provide for the payment of IL |
brary fund warrants.
Fourth-Provide means for a more thor
ough collection of the cersus and agri-
cultural statistics.
Fffth-Levy an annua tax Of 800 on |
liquor dealers.