one willing to accept the position. Finally Piña y Cuevas proposed a series of light taxes to meet the requirement; but the states raised so many objections that the chambers held back; whereupon he summoned in August a council of governors to examine the condition of affairs and suggest better remedies. Far from sympathizing with the administration, they condemned it for lack of system and management, and presented a new estimate for expenditure that wholly removed the deficiency.[1]
Although their censure was not undeserved, they had not failed to duly consider the situation; the government required extra power from a hostile congress to act upon the new estimate, with its demand for further special retrenchment. The ministry accordingly resigned,[2] and a new cabinet was formed under the leadership of the advocate Fernando Ra-
- ↑ Based on a decree of Nov. 1849, which limited the expenditure to a trifle over half a million a month. They further offered to increase the state contingent from $724,865 to one fifth of their revenue, equivalent to $1,000,000, which of course availed nothing. Report in Gob. Estados, Doc., 1851, 1-72, with projects and arguments. Other special treatises on the question in Méx., Hac. Expos., 1851, 1-34; Prieto, Manif. sobre Recursos, 1-17; Gomez del Palacio, Rápida Ojeada, 1-14; Méx., Proyecto, 7, 16, etc.; Pap. Var., ccviii. pt 4. The council consisted of three governors and seven delegates; other governors excused themselves or required legislative permission. The session began Aug. 17th and ended the 29th, prolonged beyond need by the neglect of the ministry to prepare efficient data. It had been hoped to obtain sanction for an extraordinary contingent, a two per mille estate tax, a reorganization of the tobacco revenue, increased duty, and certain industrial contributions, and to effect a settlement of the interior debt.
- ↑ Macedo narrowly escaped formal arraignment for certain acts.
the more or less dark coloring purposely imparted, to afford any hope for departmental aid, the chambers were again appealed to for an assignment on the money set aside toward the debt and an annulment of the tobacco contracts, but it was not thought well to abuse further the good faith of creditors and contractors. Yañez accordingly resigned, and Piña y Cuevas assumed his place in June. He submitted that the deficit, almost wholly connected with the interior debt, must be removed by settling interest thercon in accordance with the law of Nov. 30, 1850, by suspending all payments toward it, or by reducing the appropriations. The second plan would'leave a deficit of only $360,129; the last one $3,237,544; yet he preferred this, and suggested a series of new taxes. See references to projects to follow ministerial changes so far, Méx., Legisl. Mej., 1851, 173, 220, etc.; Méx., Col. Ley., Dec. y Órd., 1830-1, 265, 329, etc.; also, with comments on financial management, Siglo XIX., Jan. to July 1851; Universal, id.; Regulador, id.; and other journals. As an instance of Arista's capricious management of funds may be mentioned that he took about $100,000 from the impoverished treasury for embellishing the palace with balconies, etc.
