The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1853-10-06
TAXPAYERS, OF ALL PARTIES
READ AND REFLECT!
Col. A. *. MCClure's Speech.

COIs As hs MCtIuEtS SPGCCHs
The Juniata Sentinel publishes the
Speech of Col. A. X. MCCLURE, the
Wing candidate for Auditor General, de-
livered before the State Convention at
Huntingdon on the 25th of August last
We are quite sure that nothing we could
publish would give greater satisfaction to
our readers, but its length compels US to
content ourselves with laying before them
that portion of it relating to the manage
ment of our Public Works, to which we
invite their careful attention. COL Nc
Clure, makes a truthful but startling ex-
posure of the manner in which those
works are managed. The subject is de-
serving the most serious consideration of
the people.
"But it is not only our national policy
that retards our progress. Powerfully as
it has contributed to that end, we have
been cherishing State policy that has
been no less fruitful of injury. Our
State administration, which came into
power pledged to economy and reform,
seems to have no higher ambition than to
swell our Indebtedness. 1t must CRATE
harshly upon the ears of those who re-
pudiated the eminently successful admin
istration of VIM. F. Johnston, when they
are told that their great champion of re-
trenchment is likely to increase our State
debt at the rate of million a year.
Nearly his first official act was to sign a
bill for O loan; and at this time, with
nearly half his term before him. the loans
he has sanctioned amount to hearty 3d.
100000! [ grant that this amount has
not been added to the funded debt of the
State, for S1,OOO,OOO was borrowed to
pay 81 100000 of debt; but when it is
remembered that nearly all of the bal
ance is to swell our enormous indebted d.
ness, tell me how the bold professions Of
the Administration are to be reconciled
with it's official acts. 1t will not do to
say that Gov. Bigler and his party have
merely Participated the revenue" until
We have FoRTY-Two MILLIONS of debt
upon our shoulders! And nine times
out of ten, when our administration mod
estly demands that our revenue be an
ticipated, the plain English of the request
is, MORE DEBT! Nor is the end of the
chapter yet visible. The North Branch
Canal is yet unfinished, and the Allegheny
road is just commenced. Both are il
the hands of the Democracy; both have
been used to reward political merit with
out regard to cost, and when both art
completed, our debt must be swelled from
three to FIVE millions under present man
agement.
If our public Improvements would just
ify this outlay, and give reasonable as
surance of remuneration, even that
would not be prepared to approve an in
crease of our debt; but when | conside
that our improvements have ceased to b
a source of revenue and that they ar
claimed and used by the Democrac.
solely for personal and political aggran
dizement [ could wish that | had voic
like thunder to protest against it. LIE
us glance at our public works. Gu
present debt of s42, 100000, as appear
by the records, dates its foundation abou
1921, when public improvements becam
the order of the day. That it has bee
incurred principally in the constructio
and maintenance of our public works,
not to be denied; and what has been ou
revenue? The interest on our debt, @
five per cent, is over $4,000, 900, an
our improvements have for the first tim
yet to nett us half that sum. That the
might yield million or more, am full
persuaded; but under the present systel
Of management they are curse to th
State. Prior to IS48 as far back as
. have examined the official records OF
public works were kept up at CO.
, ranging from 100000 to 100000 pc
annaum. Since then they have never re
, quired less than 81 600, 600 annually, an
some times they have cost us over 81
100000. I will give the revenue an
expenses for the last five years.
1646. Total Revenues, 81 $50, 90
Expenses, l,O25,OO
! Balance over expenses $50, ,Ou
1S49. Total Revenue, 10000
Expenses, 100000
Balance DER EXPENSES, 600 .0C