xvi EEPOET OF THE

which shall tend to lighten the burdens of government,
as well as give positive evidence upon which he can
rest a well-founded hope that permanent relief shall
surely follow.

While the taxes of this State are light in comparison
with many States of the Union, indeed, there are but
few whose direct taxes are so light as our own, yet we be-
lieve it is the duty of those whom the people shall in-
trust with power, to exercise the same regard at all times
in the expenditure of the people's money, whether the
taxes be high or low.

If by an economical administration of our State gov-
ernment it is found that the people of this State can be
relieved in a few years of all direct tax, except for the
support of Public Education, it should be the aim of
every officer who has anything to do with the expendi-
ture of public funds, to so administer his trust, as shall
cause the least outlay of money consistent with an effi-
cient public service.

With receipts aggregating annually the sum of two
millions of dollars, with expenditures, if economy is
practiced, not exceeding sixteen hundred thousand in
non-Legislative years and a fraction over seventeen
hundred thousand dollars in legislative years, it does
not require a great amount of figuring to demonstrate
the entire feasibility of wiping out in a short period of
time every direct loan tax imposed upon the property of
this State.

The putting aside even the sum of three hundred
thousand dollars a year in the Sinking Funds of the
State,and the re-investment of the increment from year to
year as it accrues, at the rate of six per cent, per annum,
would in the short space of ten years amount to over
four millions of dollars, a sum more than sufficient to
discharge that part of the debt of this State, for the ul-
timate payment of which special taxes are now collected
from the people.

This is the promise that was made shortly before I
entered upon the discharge of the duties of this Depart-