REPORT OF THE COMPTROLLER OF THE TREASURY vii

erecting fine buildings for their care, but that is done from mon-,

ey arising from bond issues, while the maintenance of those insti-

tutions, necessarily much more expensive as their usefulness and

capacity expands, must be borne from the general Treasury
Consider the increased appropriations to the State Board of
Health with those of a few years ago, the Public Service Com- ,'"
mission, the appropriation of $300,000'per annum to State-aided '
roads, and the many other appropriations. I am not uttering
one word of negation thereto, for I fully recognize the impor-
tance of them all, but how will the State maintain the pace it is
going upon the present revenues? It cannot be done.

"The question naturally arises as to the proper solution of the
problem. If our revenues increased in the ratio of our expendi-
tures,ofcourse the questionwouldbeeasily answered,or if our ap-
propriations could be diminished or maintained at the present
level without impairment to the best interest of the State, the
problem would likewise be readily solved To levy a tax for
maintenance, other than road maintenance, I conceive, will nev-
er be seriously considered. That class of property upon which
such a tax would fall is now already over-burdened. Hence, the
State must look for increased revenue from some indirect source,
or sources, which is now escaping its fair and just proportion.
It will be my pleasure to submit later on in these remarks some
measures from which, in my judgment, additional revenues could
be obtained that would more eqiiitably distribute the burden of
taxation.''

"1 canuot close this report without again calling attention to
the fact that unless additional revenues are derived from some
other sources than HIV now in view, the ordinary receipts of the
State will not stand even the additional demands that now seem
unavoidable in order to carry to successful completion the work
already under way on the obligations already assumed by the
State, and even these obligations cannot be met or maintained
except by the exorcise of tht- greatest economy and caro of those
entrusted with the expenditure of the State's money. An in-
crease in the present Statf tax rate, which has been so rapidly
advanced from 16 cents to 31 cents on each $100 ought to be
avoided, if it be possible to do so."

I cannot make more emphatic this statement. The warning