The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1910-03-09
IAN DEFICIT Be SURPLUS =?
TIM ANNUAL REPORT OF STATE
rpEASURER POPE BROWN.
rho Official Financial Figures Show
St32OOO More Money Spent
Than Received in 1909.

ATLANTA, Ga.-The annual re-
,or+ Of the state treasurer, ]. Pope
Drovn. which is now in the hands
81 the printer, shows that $132,-
z5q 81 more money was spent dur
tho the twelve months of 1909 than
nos raised by the state during the
same period.
Erom the reports of the state
+raasurer and those Of the controller
goneral it is learned that during the
I2oars 1908 and 1909 the state spent
. total of $334,582.59 more than
1ras raised from all sources.
The states total expenditures for
Tho two years, according to these re-
norts aggregated $11,099,872.57,
aoainst receipts from all sources of
$40. ,289.98.
In view of these figures, borne out
nv the reports of both these state
officials. it is difficult to harmonic
+be recent statements emanating
from certain quarters, that within
the same period the states treasury
surplus has grown 100000.
The Chattanooga Land.
The excess of expenditures over
rpceiUts would have been considera-
blv larger had it not been for receipt
nv the state during this period of ap-
nroximately $4,000 back taxes as
the result of certain lawsuits. This
money properly belonged to other
wears. and if it were so counted it
would increase the excess of eXpend-
lures to nearly half a million dol
lars.
Again, if Governor Brown had ex-
pended the $4,000 authorized by the
legislature for the purchase of GER
tain land near Chattanooga for use
as terminal property of the Western
and Atlantic railroad that excess
would still further have been in
creased by that amount.
The legislature made a contingent
4 appropriation for the purchase of
Athis property, but when the matter
Scame to be Investigated Attorney
& General John G. Hart advised the
governor in a written opinion that
III DIS oil ulOuCJ LII OlSuI udu DGCu SCI
aside for specific purposes there
were no funds available in the state
z treasury with which to make the
purchase In the meantime the op-
#tions on this property expired and
3 some Of the owners sought still fur
ther to increase the price. But the
governor had no authority to pay
more than was authorized by the leg
islature. Moreover in view of the
fact that terminal property will not
Sbe needed for the state road for
some ten years, and as there are 9TH
ser tracts available those who under
stand the situation feel that the gov
Aernor has acted wisely in not at
tempting to commit the state to this
purchase at this time. He will re-
port the situation to the legislature
when it convenes, and it may then
Feach further conclusions as to what
*hould"be. done in the matter.
Where Is the Surplus?
If Governor Brown had spent this
money and the state had not collect
fd the back tax referred to the state
would then be in position of having
expended during the last two years
500, 5S3.59 more than was raised
From all sources during that time.
But suggestions aside, the state
Fid actually expend in that time
500, 5S2.59 more than it received
All Of which makes it difficult to I'M
derstand the alleged surplus in the
state treasury on January 1st of ST.
NpOOOOO, purporting to be an increase
ri 100000 within those same two
years. How an increased surplus
Fan be built up by eXpending more
fhan is received is a difficult prob
lem to figure out.
1t may be said that many obliga-
8tlons of 1907 had to be met in 1908.