The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-01-15

years of sales of public
lands in state ............. 80, 80
From state requiring of other
state eXtradition fees. ALSO
From Elmer E. Johnston.
executive commissioner of
Lewis and Clark exposition
commission as refund of
overcharge on freight. .... 1920
Total .................. .$107,541.44
On January II, 1905, when l assum-
tess amounted to $1.250,000. of which
ABS, 900 had been incurred in Deem
dition of the general fund at that pc
riod. The legislature of 1905 found it
Imperative to appropriate heavily for
the actual needs of the commonwealth.
not since the beginning of statehood
! 40 there been such extensive improve
,Gcnt5 projected. Various institutions
aud buildings were urgently needed to
house the constantly increasing wards
Of the state. With this bonded debt,
however, and these heavy appropria-
Cons. which included more than $140,-
Coo for new buildings at various insti-
tutions. SIS. zoo for the Lewis and Clark
Iair. $144 900 for the new department
oe state highways, $4,000 for the rail-
.oad commission. and appropriations
for the creation OF several other need
ca departments the administration has
created no increased indebtedness. but
Eas reduced the bonded debt by 10000.
s., that today it is s1.24o,000, while the
treasurer had on hand January /, 1907,
a total cash balance in all funds of
si.is3.225.5o.
Funds to Revert.
Further than this, the administration
vyiN be able to return uneXpended APP
propriated moneys on March 81. 1907,
m the sum of about $4,000. OF this
tue highway department will turn
u .ct about $4,000; the board of con-
trot representing savings in its man
aeeuent of institutions, between $780,
Qoe and $4,000: the railroad COM
mission about 1900: the Lewis and
Clark exposition commission, $4,000.
The last legislature appropriated for
toe governors Office $4,000. of which
about SIO.5OO will revert to the treas
wy.
Ten special funds aggregating about
100000 lie dormant in the treasury
while Che state is paying interest on
an Indebtedness many times in excess
thereof The fund system should be
aooiished and the various fees and
,.cyeuents which go to create it should
he paid directly to the general 1uno,
an account being kept with the source
Of acknowledgements to be MADE
,,ou the general fund and credited
60 the source of receipt.
Consolidation Of Funds.
4 consolidation OF the state special
funds would permit the treasurer or
other authorized officer or board. when
a large balance has accumulated in
Tue general fund, to divert the sum
IN excess Of a reasonable balance to
tue payment of the bonded debt of the
state invested in the permanent schooi
fund. By this means within short
tune this debt could be materially re-
ouced. if not satisfied The principle
Of paying interest on public indebt-
eduess when the state is the principal
money lender in the northwest is
Nro0g and its practice is a renec-
toe upon our intelligence and bust
uess methods Such consolidation OF
these funds will save in interest
CHARGES more than $4,000 annually.
JTe aggregate balance on hand in
tae state treasury on January. 1So''
vas sI.1S3.223.5O, while the state bond
CO indebtedness on that date was sl.-
$4,000: had the system here sus-
gested been in effect during the past
two years. the debt could have been
reduced much farther without injury
8, the welfare of the state and the
interest saved The interest paid is not
lost to the public. since it is all COW
cred into the current school fund, out
the policy of sustaining a bonded IN
d.btadness while having a larger
amount of cash on hand that the sum
Of that debt, is an evil that should De
eliminated.
The permanent fund created oy tne
sale of granted lands for the oenent
Of the common schools amounted on
the list day of January. 1907, to sS'S4z'-
s3131. and is invested in state. county
municipal and school district oonos
..:,r oppual interest amounting III