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WASHINGTON GAZETTE
’ j. W. CHAPMAN, Proprietor,
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY C, 1885,
THE STATE’S FINANCES.
ABOUND AND STRIKING REVIEW
BY JUDGE BEEBE.
Th F.c.nt AcUori of tho Larlalature In
Reference to , i>, Floanclaa of tha
Btita, Reviewed and Oontraeted
With the Requirement* of
tha Oonatitntion of tha
Btate-Eto.
To Hon Patrick Wliah: \ the
la-islatiire has closed its winter cn
scu ami disposed of tho tax and ap
propriation bills, the temporary loan
resolution and the funding bill, it is
at most opportune occasion to ascer
tain what istheexactcondilionofour
finances. In order that the matter
may be understood, I propose first
to review certain provisions of the
constitution of 1877, reapecilng fln
aianec, taxation aud-tlic public debt,
-and then compare with these rcqnlre
tnents the action of the present leg
islature.
Articles 7. section 3, paragraph Ist,
flie constitution of j 877, declares that
io debt shall be contracted by or oil
*ehalff the slate, except to supply
casual deficiencies of the revenue,
repel invasions,suppress insurrection,
defend the state In time of war, or to
pay tho existing public debt; but the
debt created, to supply deficiencies
in tho revenue shall not exceed in
flic aggregate two hundred thousand
dollars. In ilia same article, soctlon
12. paragraph 1, it Is declered that
<ho bonded debt of the state shall
never be Increased except to repot In
v uslon time of war. Section 14ot the
same at tide, based on tho idea that
provision had been made by laws in
1877, or wo tld bo made by law to
raise sufficient funds by taxatiou to
pay the interest on tho public debt
and a portion of the principal yearly
until 1880, declares thst the general
assembly after 1886, shall raise by
taxation each year, in addition to the
stun required to pay the public ex
penses and interest on the public debt,
4lie stint of one hundred thousand
dollars, which shall be held us a
sinking fund to pay off anil retire the
bonds of the state, not now matured.
The term “except to supply casual
xleflclencics in tho revenue’' is twice
used in the constitution, and in tho
Same sense at each place. Whenever
the revenue raised, or to be raised
yearly by taxation from some acci
dent, chance or unexpected event,
It lost or cannot bo collected,
there is a casual deficiency. If tho
state treasurer should crnber.zlo the
public money, or robbers break into
tho vaults et tho treasury and steal,
trhereby an insufficient amount is
loft to meet the claims on the treasu
ry, a causal deficiency would happen.
■So ir through drouth, pestilence or
storm, sufficient taxes for the year
could not be collected to satisfy tho
demands against tho treasury for
that year, then there would be a cas
ual deficiency. Under our praotico
a casual deficiency is held to arise
when, after sufficient taxes for tho
•current year arc levied!, t Is necessary
ifor a short period of the year to an
•tluipate tho collection of taxes. When
.however, the revenue was insufficient
from the beginning, that is from the
time the Ur was levied, lo meet ap
propriatious. and was known lo lie so
then casual deficiency has not oc
curred, and a temporary
loan, .provided to meet
such deficiency.' ia simply
without constitutional sanction. The
provisions of the constitution prohi
biting an tucreasb of the bonded debt
of the state, except to suppress insur
rection, repel invasion and defend tho
state in time of war, as I understand,
refers not only to tho debt existing in
>187.7, but to the debt as it may be re
■si need at any time by payment. Whon
somedncedlta amount cannot bo in
creased except for the purposed there
in nan ed. Tho bonded debt of the
state cannot be increased to ab-orb
temporal') loans, even when properly
mailer, ner to pay appropriations bc
yeadtbe amount of revenue when
not changed Into k temporary loan,
unless they arc made for the objects
*et forth lu section 12 of at tide 7.
Temporary loans, unless saved by
section 12, article 7, must be provided
for by taxation, audit..is.unfortunate
that it is so. as this is certaiu to se
cure attention ami inquiry into the
action of the representatives of the
people.
l,ot msec how the legislatureofthe
state at its recent session conformed
its action to the constitution, liming
She summer ot 1554 on ac-onnt of ap
propriations beyentl the revenue ef
she state, a large deficiency occurred
exceeding two hundred thousand dol
lars, aud this amount was then ac
tually uceded to pay ini rest eu the
pubjic debt, barge appropriations,
such as appropriations to the lunatic
asylum ; to pay for artificial limbs for
tho soldiers—lo pay expenses of the
legislature alone amoanting to one
hundred anil fifty thonsam dollars
and other apprialions not nccoessary
to enumerate, absorbed the entire
revenue and left an insufficient
amount to pay interest on the bonds
of the stale. In the utidslof llte pan
ic of 1884 the governor was forced to
borrow money to pay interest on the
bonded debt of the state. Tn his
message to the legislature he called
special attention to Ihi* emergency.
With his special notice before it the
present legislature revolved to meet it
by another temporary loan for 1885,f0r
which no provision was made by tax
ation or otherwise. This tempoary
loan wilt, unless taken care of at llte
summer session of (lie legislature, go
down to succeeding administrations,
when It will probably disappear in a
funding bill. By this new scheme of
txccssivo appropriation, the bonded
debt will be increased and a scheme
constantly counteracting the sinking
fund echcmo of the constitution will
be in operation.
Tho legislature at its late session
passed a Binding or bond bill, lo
which the attention of the leading and
thinking pcopleof litis slate is asked.
It requires the governor ot the state
to issue and sell bonds bearing not
exceotlingfi per cent interest to the
amount of 83.445,135 (three million
four hundred anil forty-five thousand
one hundred and thirtv-fivo dollars)
to pay (lie bonds of the state tailing
due in 1885and 1886, towlt: 1269.100
A. and G. 6 per cent bonds; $99,000 8
percent Nulling bonds, falling due in
1886; $2.968,(XX) Western and Atlantic
railroad 7percent bonds, falling due
in 1886; S9I.tXX) 8 per cent Nutting
bonds, and $18,035 4 per cent bonds,
fulling due in 1885.
The temporary lean reso'ution and
the funding blll(o framed as lo take
up tlie hemls lulling duo in 1885,)
considered in connection with other
legislation of the late session, show that
the objectof the unusual and unwise
legislation, as I conceive, was to leave
a sufficient supply of money in the
treasuary to satisfy tho capital ap
propriation without Increasing the
tax levy above 310 of one per cent.
1 say in connection with other leg
islation at the same session, by which
Is meant the appropriation of SIBO,OOO
for the year 1885, and of the
same ajßount for the year 1886 to be
paid (Yam the re run ties of these year
lo build tho new capitol. As it may
be asked why such appropriations
were made, when tho act of 1883 pro
vkling for the erection of anew capi
tol contained provisions that the capi
tol should bebuiltonly from surplus
money In the treasury, and
that taxation should never be
increased beyond the rate ex
isting in the year 1883, to raise
means to build the capitol, I will ex
plain the causo of this “new depart
ure.” When the legislature met in
1884 it was atcoctalnori that there was
uo surplus in the treasury, and hail
not been for tci' years, and that a
system of keopittg tho public accounts
made certain amounts seem lo be a
surplus which had already been paid
but for which vouchers had uot been
received at tho treasury. It was
further ascertained at the same session
that the large amounts paid into the
treasury by the purchasers of the Ma
con anil Brunswick railroad iu 1884
could not bo used as surplus,
because such payments had
been made iu bonds of tho state.
Therefore, to avoid taxation for the
year 1885 (and secure means to build
llio capitol,) a temporary loan resolu
tion for that yoar, with no provision
to meet it from the revenues of 1885,
and a bill to fund bonds falling due in
1885 to the extent of $109,035, were
adopted. These objects of the legisla
ture are made more fully apparent
by an examination of tho tresaurer s
ro|iort, made October 1, 1884, to the
governor, aud by him transmitted to
the general assembly.
In tills report It is shown if a tem
porary loan of $160,000 for 1885 and in
the bonds falling due iu 1885, and the
appropriation of SIBO,OOO for the cap
itol should be paid in 1835 from the
revenues provided by a tax of 3-10 ol
1 percent, anil the others resources ol
state during that year, there would
be a deficiency at the eml of 1885 ol
$214.235 —an amount less by $50,00C
that the deficiency which will exist.
Wa9 there any necessity for such
temporary loan and funding bill as to
bonds failing due in 18S5? There was
(as I conceive) no necessity to make
a temporary loan to bo paid from
the revenues of 1885—no necessity to
fund the bonus falling dues in 1885. A
small additional tax of 1-10 of 1 per
1 cent for the year 1885 would nave
provided for'the tetnpoary loan of
$200,000 and for the bonds tailing due
in ISSS This, with a tewt'otary loan
i u anticipation of the taxes of 1885, a
iisii 1 practice in this state, would
have met all claims against the slate
arising from appropriations for the
year 1885. The history of taxation in
this state, tram 1870 to the present
lime, will abundantly prove that the
legislature should not have resorted
to a temporary loan anil to funding
bonds due in the year 1885, but should
have imposed an additional tax be
yond 3-10 of 1 per cent on the property
of the state. In 1870, upon a property
worth $226,119,519, a tax of 4-10 of
1 per cent produced $904,478 00. In
1871, on property worth $234,492,468,
ataxof4-10of 1 percent produced
$937,939 (X). In 1872, on property
worth $243,620,466. a tax of 4-10 ot 1
per cent produced $974,481,86. Iu
1873, on a property of $259,593,622, a
lax of4-10 oi l per cent produced $l
- In 1974 on a property of
$273,093,292, a lax ;of 5-0 of 1 per
cent produced $1,305,466. In 1875.
on u property of $261,755,884, a tax of
510 of 1 percent produced $1,308,770,
In 1870, on a property of $245,863,780,
a lax of 5-10 of 1 per cent produced
$1,290,268. In 1877, on a property of
$286,659,930, a lax of 5-10of 1 per cent
produced $1,178,299. In 1870, on
a property of $234,459,548, a tax of
3-10 of 1 percent produced $820,608,41.
In 1880, on a property of $250,016,277,
a tax ot 3)^-10 of 1 por cent produced
$882,056. The reduction of taxes for
the year 1879 and 1880 wa.ott account
of large payment made into tho treas
ury by the purchasers of the Ma :on
and Brunsiyicfe railroad. In 1881
on a property of $270,993,858, a tax of
3-10 of 1 per cent produced $812,982.-
00. In 1882, on a property of $287,-
249,403, a tai of 3-10 of one per cent
produced $861,748.00. lit this year
another large payment was made into
the treasury by the purchasers of the
Macon aud Brunswick railroad. In
1883, on a property, of $300,912,355 a
tax of 2'„ -10 produced $767,28 .SB. lu
the yoar 1884. on a property of $317,-
074,271, the proceeds were insufficient
to meet the demauds against the
treasury. As the cause for reducing
the taxes, (tho receipts of purchase
money from sale ot Macon aud Bruns
wick railroad in cash not bonds ot the
stale, as iu 1881) lias ceased, tho neces
sity ot increasing the tax above 3-10
of 1 par cent, can not be deuied or
evaded. “Carrying over” temporary
loans or other just debts, “tiding over
emergencies” for which no provision
is made, “resorting to expedients to
postpono the evil day, putting off on
posterity “the debts of tho present >
generation" will not meet the occasion.
The proper course to pursue is to levy
a sufficient tax—this and this alone
will furnish a “rock bottom for the
capitol.”
If ihe people of Georgia understand
that the capitol can’t be built except
by the imposition or a small addi
tional tax not more than six or seven
cents oil a hundred dt liars (which
with the general state tax will not ex
ceed thirty-seven cents on the hun
dred dollars) they will pay it cheerful
ly. We noire that the legislature at
its summer session in 1885 will so ar
range as to put an end to deficiencies
of the revenue anil the continuance of
temporary loans such as the one now
provldod for. W. M. Reuse.
Washington Ga., January 27, 1885.
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l,atte' Private Companion.—A
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AYER’S
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u ln 18571 took a severe cold, which affected
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Horace Fajhbrother.’'
Bookingham, Vi., July 15,1882.
Croup.—A Mother's Tribute.
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PREPARED Y
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Sold by all Druggists.
ONLY $18.70
HOUND TRIP
NEW ORLEANS,
PROM
WASHINGTON, GEORGIA.
Ticket* Good for 15 Days, and for
sale at
Our, Depot Ticket Office.
TiefcWs g6OD FOR *4O days'
$25.00. ONLY $25.00.
Lightning Time!
Only 22 1-2 Hours !
Pullman Sleepers Atlanta to New
Orleans. For further information,
write to K. It. DORSEY,
Gen. Pas*. Agent.
JOE W. WHITE,
Gen. Trav. Pas*. Agent.
ArcMTSTA, (tEORfIIA.
Citation for letters Administration
GEORGIA, WILKES COUNTV.
NO' ICE in hereby given to all persons
concerned, thit Oeo. W. Terry, nomi
nated and qualified executor upon the last
will of Sam‘l W. Wynn, late of said county,
deceased, having departed this lifn, leaving
a considerable portion of the assets of said
Sam*l W. Wynn's estate unadminiatured,
and that uo person bas made application lor
administration on said >am\ W. Wynn’a
estate, that administration on aid estate
with said will annexed will be vested n the
werk of the auperior court, or some other fit
person to be ov me selected after the publica
tion of this citation, unless valid objections
are made to his appointment. Giv *1 under
my band and official s iguanire, this 30th De
cember. 1884. GEO. DYSON,
2-4 t Ordinary.
"notice.
qpHK firm of Ed. Bonner k Sons ia this day
.1 dissolved by mutual consent and I will
continue the business alone. I wi 1 not be
responsible fsr any debts Incurred by air
sous after this date. ED. BONNER,
Jan. 31st, 1885. Washington, Ga.
iggg -..J . - 11
W. T. Johnson keep* Farm Bolls.
Blacksmith Bt-liows, Anrils ami all
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tool*. It will pay yon to see his stock.
Another Surprise to the Public.
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perfumery, toilet articles, soap and
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REMEMBER!
BENSON LEADS,
BUT NEVER FOLLOWS.
30 000 Lbs Bacon 3,000 B L*. Rust
10 Tierces Lard. Pi oof Oats.
500 Sacks Salt, 75,000 Lbs. Bran.
200 Packages !Mackei el 50 Bbls. Sugar.
50 Sacks Coffee.
AND ALL THINGS ELSE IN THE GROCERY LINE AT PRICES
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To Bo Soli Vitfem llio Next 30 Days
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150 Pr’s White and Grev Blankets.
36 Lap Robes.
10,000 Yards Sheeting and Shirting.
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BUGGIES, WAGONS ■ HARNESS
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BENSON needs every dollar that is due him and
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All debts not settled by the 25th of Dec-, will ha
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debts to pay.
No honest man can conscientiously speculate on
BENSONS money by holding his cotton and not pay
ing his honest debts. Pay your debts so that those you,
e can pay theirs.