The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-13

s'Ny ~ Sn""eHe tno termination OF the
fiscal year TO June 30 is 20 mauifeet tbas ~
should be done without hesitation or dsIav
1t viii enable auditing officers to chock
ana balance accounts more satisfac tory
avoid the hiatus Of four months IN ira
payment OF State warrants every two years.
and greatly simplify all fiscal AFFAIRS. 10
90 THIS II VIII be ascessary. In view Of the
pr0vision contained In section 6. article
VIII, OF the Constitution, that approprin-
tons shall not be made for q lonrsr tern
than two years, to pass two appropriation
DIS. The first should run from FEBRUARY
70 to June 30, 1893. and the other the gem
eral bill, for two years from June 30. 1899.
with reference to personal property not
rendered for taxation, It is shown that
~. 10000 IN money In the State. deposited
In National banks alone. was not assessed
for taxes the present year, and doubtless
somewhat similar conditions exist with re-
gard TO other personal property such as
bonds. notes and other securities, With a
law authorizing and requiring asscssors to
call upon bank officials and demand under
oath. the names Of depositors and the
amounts deposited, guarding against tenn
porary Withdrawals and other fraudulent
devices, the greater part OF this money
should De assessed and made to pay It's
share OF public expenditures Personal
property, other than money could be as
sessed easily by the exercise Of proper care
and diligence on the part of assessors.
Inc Iexas Rangers, under the direction
OIL the adjutant general, have rendered gall
liant and important service in tho suppress
sion Of crime and the preservation OF law
ana order. There is no drawer and more
eHect1ye constabulary force In the Union.
ana whatever may reasonably be done TO
provide for its wants and improve its con-
dftion is eminently deserving. The volun-
teer guard, directed by the adjutant gem
erai, when called out to quell disturbances
and prevent breaches OF the peace, which
happily has been rare. has also acted with
promptness and courage. Its valor and pa :
triotism We're conspicuously shown under
the nrst call OF the president for tro,Shs In
the war with Spain. This call was limited
to volunteers from the guard, and ii should
be source of pride to all that with few
exceptions our companies responded with
enthusiasm, as did our people generally.
when the guard was exhausted. and when
second call was made. Four regiments
OF infantry and one Of cavalry were organ
lied from this State. and they challenge
comparison with any in the volunteer SER
vice. These regiments were formed and
equipped by the adjutant general Of the
state practically without cost to us, and
with unusual rapidity and skill. What the
future policy OF the National government
viii be, none may now say with certainty.
but there are strong Indications that a
larger military force of some character is
inevitable. To those Of us who are opposed
to standing army dangerous In size. the
volunteer guard presents the means of es-
cape from serious perp1exities and perijs
and consequently 1t is wise to provide for
its necessary military exercises, and IN
every judicious manner promote it's effi-
cheney.
GENERAL FINANCES.
When the present administration as
sumed control in January, 1896, the condi
ton of the general revenue account. out
OF which all expenditures are paid except
for the public free schools, was embar-
RAISING. Four years ago namely, on jan
uary ~, 1885, there was for reasons often
given no revenue on hand to pay the cur
rent expenses of government and regis
tered and uncalled warrants were out
standing against the account amounting
to 1874, 66470. The condition of this ac-
count has been remarkably improved. on
January 10, 1897, two years later, there
was a cash balance Of 5l21, 1868, or q
change OF $795, 5000. Today, January
10, 1899, the cash balance to the credit Of
this account Is $S4S534.52, or difference
in four years OF $1,523. 1892. The comp
troller estimates that the deficit the past
two years, which he shows resulted prin-
Sipuhy nun " MAKE neeueu aQ-
preparations and not increased expendi-
lures. will amount to 100000. of which
$17S,0 900 is for fees in examining trials and
expenses of attached witnesses in felony
cases. Subtracting this deficit of $21O 900
from the cash on hand all Indebtedness in
Cured by this administration which has
accrued Will be paid and there will re-
main cash balance of 1888, 534.52, or a
net difference in four years on this ac-
M inc fo - cd
mirable result has been attained by fore
ing the collection of taxes, by increasing
taxes and by reducing appropriations and
expenses. The diligence with which taxes
have been collected has already been
shown and explained. The ad vaIorem
rate of taxation for 1895 was % cents on
the $780, but for the past three years II
was only 90 cents. Appropriations We're
reduced for the four years $1,328.000. and
the actual expenses for that period, end
ing the fiscal year August 81, 1898, were
as follows. II
1895 ........ ..................$2 .329.414 81
1896 ......... ............... 2,l94,2l6 ~
1897 ........ ..........."... 2,221, 13h "a
1898 1880. .................. 2,153.766 AZ
The total expenditures for the four AS
cal years ending August 81, 1898. as shown
by warrants drawn on the general rev.
enue, amount to Ss,s9s 531.21, against
50, T98, S27.2o for the preceding four years.
or reduction of 5000, 396.0s. As the appro-
priation year ends February %, 1892, this
reduction does not include what will be
realized between that date and August
81, 1897. and Is weighted with tho heavier
of the preceding administra-
lions between the end of the fiscal year
August 81, 1894. and the beginning of the
appropriation year March l. 1895. II these
be considered the actual reduction of ex-
penses by this administration will exceed
81 100000.
Notwithstanding the payment Of this de-
flcit OF 1914, 664.70 and all increased needs
of the State resulting from her growth,
taking the total expenditures OF this ad-
as they stand, without deduct
ing amounts not fairly chargable to cur
rent expenses, the largest for any one year
is less than in 1882. 1892, 1903. or 1894. and
the average NJ the other three years Is less
than in 1852 1889 or any year from 1891
to 1894, inclusive. 1t Is also to be borne In.
mind that while the rate OF taxation was
yet these results have been ac-
complished when for the past three years
the total ad valorem rate OF taxation for
all purposes was lower than for any year
from 1874 To 1851, inclusive. only half a
cent higher than for 1885. 1886 and 1887.
and lower than In any other State OF the
Union. Not only have these reforms been
effected ON moderate rate OF taxation
and without detriment to the public SER
vice. but permanent additions to. State IN
3 ks,>.~ at