68 were paid on account of Tax accrued in 1856, and $215,492.-
74 were on account of previous years.

By the Act of Assembly, Chapter 352, of 1856, the Direct
Tax was reduced from fifteen cents on $100 to ten cents on
100.

A comparison of the receipts, on account of Direct Tax,
contained in Statement No. 6, with those of the proceeding
fiscal year, will show that the entire receipts on this account
for 1855, which were $365,837.88 exceeded those of the year
just closed by the sum of $35,243.46; and it will also appear
that the revenue from this source, received on account of the
Tax for 1856, was $36,404.51 less than the receipts in 1855,
for Tax due on account of that year. Making an allowance
for the reduction of the Direct Tax. the difference pro rata in
favor of the receipts in 1856, for 1856, appears to be $20,-
764.22 over the preceding year. But the diminished diffi-
culty of collecting a reduced levy, and the increase of assess-
able property in the State must also be considered in this con-
nection, and will explain, to a considerable extent, this differ-
erence.

The collectors for 1856, have generally made their payments
with commendable promptness. Those of Calvert County are
deserving of particular mention, having settled their accounts, for
1856, in full, with this Department.

Those collectors of Baltimore County who were largely in
arrears on the 30th of September, 1855, (and this, it is but
just to say, was attributable, to some extent, at least, to the
confusion of the collecting laws for that County,) have exhibited
a laudable determination, by the heavy payments they have made
into the Treasury within the last fiscal year, to acquit themselves
of their liabilities.

The State's Attorney of Baltimore county is entitled to credit
for the zeal and energy manifested by him for the interest of the
State.

Several Mutual Insurance Companies were exempted from all
taxation, by Chapter 339, of the Acts of Assembly of 1856.

The law in relation to defaulting officers, passed at the late
session of the Legislature, at the instance of the Treasurer,
is a most excellent one, and the Comptroller will endeavor,
so far as it may be in his power, to enforce it to the fullest
extent.

THE STAMP TAX.
The law imposing Stamp Duties was repealed at the last

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