18

TOBACCO INSPECTIONS.

The gross receipts of the warehouses during the
fiscal year 1887 amounted to the sum of $84,186.05, and
the disbursements for same period were $76,134.41.

By this it will appear that the net earnings during
the year amounted to $8,051.64.

The salaries of the inspectors are paid out of the
State treasury, and amount to $9,000. The system,
therefore, was a tax upon the State to the amount of
$948.36, besides $448.11 paid for ground rent, and some
five hundred dollars more for insurance on the ware-
houses.

Some of the warehouses are self-sustaining. Nos.
3 and 5 pay all expenses, including the inspector's
salary—No. 3 paying a surplus of $5,900.08, which,
after deducting the salary for the inspector, leaves the
sum of $4,100.08 in the State treasury.

The whole system of inspection, if it is to be con-
tinued, should be placed in charge of one man, with
as many deputies as there are warehouses. A force
of laborers and screwmen could be employed to do the
work required without being assigned to any particu-
lar warehouse. A large portion of the expense attend-
ing inspection would thus be saved, and the State
could realize, under good management, after paying
every expense connected with the system, considerable
revenue.

THE PUBLIC SCHOOL TAX.

The receipts on account of the Public School Tax,
for the year 1887, amounted to $524,110.36.

The disbursements for the period amounted to
$509,564.77. The levy for the year was $485,839.76.
The average disbursements on this account, for the
past four years, have been at the rate of $505.618.06,
a year.

The average amount of levy a year, for the four
years just past, was $476,428.68.