Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-17
STATE FINANCES LOOK WELL
Auditor Barton Reports Balance on
Right Side Of Ledger.
EsPECTs STATE UNIVERSITY
Accommodation made that AFFILIATED
school OF Music he Made Part of
Organization of Department
Controlled by Regents.

20 the governor laker a shot AZ lue ulIFei-
sity school OF music. He says il advertises
sometimes as the university school Of music
and in other portions Of its announcements /
calls itself an affiliated" school Of music
While the auditor comnends the account
ing Of the university and its purchasing
system. he recommends that the institution
cut loose from the school Of music which
he declares r. merely a private institution
and that none Of the funds derived from IL
so into the. state treasury.
summarizing the states finances. the
auditor says: AT the close OF rhe last BIZ
eunium, November 30 1905 The interest
bearing debt OF The state amounted TO Ss56.-
Sl7.B, consisting Of registered warrants on
the general fund Of g71s $50 80 temporary
university fund warrants yl7.s4s %. At the
close Of business November 81. 1910. the in
terest bearing debt o. the state was ylsz.-
"a q. all OF which was temporary univer-
sity flmd. The last Of the general fund
warrants was taken up January o. 1910.
and there is now in the general fund f154-
20. o. and in the redemption fund sl.l2i SO
showing an Improvement over two years
ago OF s744s7.71. In the registered univer-
sity fund warrants there is an increase OF
t54,ts7.r these warrants are a part Of the
states investment
balance on Right side.
Statement No. sfcws the total
estimated income OF the general fund for
the fiscal period commencing April /. 1911.
and ending March 81. 1918, 20 be tA675 502. a
Against this estimated amount OF income
in the general fund is placed the estimated
expenditures 70 maintain our state depart
ment amounting TO S4.5os. So leaving a bal
ance on the right side Of the ledger OF Sl71,-
sl2.1.
Tt should be gratifying 70 the citizens
Of Nebraska TO note the splendid financial
condition OF our state and most especially
TO point with pride 70 statement No. q,
which shows investments 10 be:
Permanent school fund ............ s Og7. 10 Al
Permanent university fund ....... 2U7 SO n
Agricultural college endowment. AZ SIS "A
Normal endowment fund ........... 800. 20
Total IS So 500
'The interest for the last biennial per
iod amounted to S56s7D.S.
state school Finances.
Through the state accountant I have
audited the accounts Of the state normal
schools the state institutions and the state
university. We find that great improve
ment could be secured by having these sew
eral institutions adopt a uniform system
Of accounting and HAVING a report sent 20
this office once each month. This report
would give a complete cheek on the insti-
tudon and for comparative work would be
Of much value
During the bieaaium Just closed the
auditor continues farther, the business
Of the bond department Of this office has
far exceeded the business OF any ike
period In the history OF the state II hav-
Ing examined. approved and registered ss7
separate issues OF bonds Of the different
counties, precincts. drainage districts
cities. villages and school districts amount
ing In the aggregate to S4S1,07l. besides
handling almost 100000 worth Of de-
pository bank bonds filed by $50 different
banks OF the state"
other Recommendations
In his report. the auditor recommends
reports of refunding bonds annually by
county clerks; re-enactment OF statute Tor
voting OF lighting bonds to include vii
lagos; that county treasury examiners be
paid 81, 500 a year same as bank examiners;
legislative attention 70 condition whereby
uneolleetable taxes are carried by counties
as a state asset
Most particularly do I desire to call
your attention to the department Of In
surance," says Auditor Barton. Every
in this department Of state.
During the last biennial period this
department produced revenue for the state
in an amount OF So, sl0s OF fees ana
sizes s1O74 OF taxes; a total OF S244 IN 60
The entire amount appropriated by the last
legislature for the maintenance Of this de-
partment, salaries, office expenses. etc,
was only so. It is practically impossi-
BILE TO give the state the proper service
with this meager. inadequate appropriation
and. believing that It Is the desire Of the
people 10 establish and maintain a strong
working department. We have asked for
the necessary appropriation to carry on
this work.
Life Insurance Premiums.
The citizen OF Nebraska during 1903
and 1903. paid out for insurance S2i7l7.sss
This amount covers premiums paid for all
classes Of this industry. The companies
paid hack TO the people IN losses incurred
siOSsS. This statement OF fact readily
proves that one OF the great business in
terests OF Nebraska IS insurance"
The recommendation Of the report Is that
the Insurance commissioner be made cleo
tive, which would require a constitutional
amendment
"Our insurance laws" the auditor con
eludes, are the patchwork OF years. When
company desired 10 organize in the past
they had law adopted for this specific
purpose The results are an indefinite
cumbersome vode.
In this coming session 81 the legislature
We expect 10 have introduced, as depart
ment measures only. a few bills touching
the most important points to be remedied;
but In the interest OF our state and as our
legislative period does not give the proper
time for the grave consideration these laws
deserve, We think IL would be advisable 10
nave committee appointed for the pur-