Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1858-09-24


these evils and inscribe uron their banner
" Ret-enchment and Reform"
Mr.. Ellwood here requested that som,
one would furnish him with a copy Of tn.
Code and the laws of 1867. During IN
absence ofthe messenger he proceeded.1
lpropose to call your attention to tn.
reports Of various State officerA
Mr. Ellwocd here pulled from his carpe,
sack various Auditors reports and othe,
documents which he carries with him pre-
pared to prove each assertion which he
makes
Our government is somewhat peculiar
one. 1t is a government of the people. II
was instituted for the purpose OF securing
10 you and to your children the blessings OF
free gov eminent, and all officers are but
your agents to transact your business and
do your dding. Different duties are as
signed to different officers.
Mr.. Ellwood then proceed hastily to men,
tion the duties Of the Governor, Secretary
Of State, Auditor and other officers. and
proceeded
for your good, and for the best interests of
the State. 1t Is the duty of the Auditor to
make report of the condition of the finan.
ces OF the State on the first of November
preceding. each session of the Legislature
full report Of the expenditures of the
State, and to estimate the pubic expenses
OF the State for the next two years Ga en-
tering upon his office he takes an oath to
discharge faithfully his duties, and his report
Is therefore report under his oath of office.
and is to be regarded as true.
hold in my hand the Auditors Reports
from 1856 to 1857. 1t will be borne in
mind that the Auditor is obliged to report
at each session to the Legislature. This re-
port shows that the expenses of the State,
from Nov. !, 80, to Nov. l so were, Sl3l,.
67l.29. From Nov. 81 to Nov. 81, the
expenses were $llS,542 80.
This was the end of he democratic rule.
The government then was transferred into
the hands Of the republicans. From "a to
SO, the expenses were 56,573,2l.
In 1861 new constitution was framed
and adopted, which provided for session
OF the lie .islature on the first Of January,
1858. 1t then become the duty OF the Au-
ditor to report on the first of November 81.
The report was the efore for single soil
tary year The expenses as shown by this
report for the year lS567-a solitary year
were S371 .907 ,O3, while the democrats had
expended in two years but $lls,542,
Mr.. Ellwood then proceeded to prove that
further comparison would show vast
average increase of expenditure on the part
of the republicans, comparing the three
years under democratic administration
with the three years under the republicans,
and then said. The republicans say it is
unfair to charge them with extravaganza. |
because large portions of this money were
appropriated to charitable institutions. to |
agricultural societies, an Insane ASYLUM.
DC. Now this is true and it is also time |
that the democrats made appropriations for
sfH same objects
We will now take from the democratic
account, and also from the republican all |
appropriations for charitable Institutions. |
Agricultural societies and Insane Asylums,
and see how the account will stand
As we before remarked the expenses
from Nov. 80 to Nov. 80 were Sl3l OIL
80.
In that s1(n is included the expenses Of a
revision and printing of code, at an ex
pense Of $4,000. This is one of the extra
Ordinary expense. Other extraordinary ex-
penses were then deducted by Mr.. Ellwood,
and the actual expenses for two years
shown to have been $l03,3 From
81 to '54 the the total expenses were xllS,-
542, 80. To agricultural societies, the In
sane Asylum and other charitable objects
was appropriated the sum of 81, $780, ,O6,
leaving as the actual ordinary expenses of
conducting the State government, 100, ,622.-
81.
Here is the end of democratic ascendency.
For the two years ending Nov. '56 the
expenses were S256,57321 of that there
was appropriated to agricultural societies,
and other charitable 'intiitu,ions, S74553,
So, which taken from the great appropria-
ton, leaves as the actual expenses of con
Quoting the government $lS2,Ol9,t7 more
than 81 900 over the democratic expenses
for the same identical purposes and objects
in the same length of time
The Auditors report Of 1857, contains the
history of our State for a single year. The
total expenses were 1911, 1907 ,O3; of this
there was appropriated to agricultural So
cieties, the Insane Asylum, the constitu-
ticnal convention and other objects 1856,
sol 80, leaving as the act ual State expen-
ses. 2l5, ,405.5l while for the last two years
under democratic rule,it had b. en- but 49,
542,90, the republican party have doubled,
| should have said nearly doubled that
Now taking out all extraordinary expenses,
the average is as follows, under democratic
rule 5O,9ss,65, nnder republican l32,475,O6
almost three times as much. -
Mir. EllwOod then read the section of the
code, requiring the Auditor to report the
revenues, expenses DC of the State, and to
make detailed estimate of such expenses
as have been provided for BY appropriations
that the Legislature may know what ap-
to make
He then referred to the report of William
Pattee the brother of extra John the pres
ent Auditor in which he had estimated the
expenses from the years '55 to SO at 129,-
1920, and showing by the report of John,
that the expenses had reached the sum Of
56,573,2l. In SO John Pattee. had made
an estimate that the expenses of the ensuing
two years would be 34s, sol ,SS, and vet his
report showed that in . single year they
had expended more than they had estimat-
ed for two years. The expenses were 348,-
sol .38, being mere than had bee, expended
by the democracy in three years. What
had become Of this money? Where had It
gone? Under the democratic administrs-
tlon the Auditor, Secretary of State and
Treasurer. had received for services ia the
aggregate 81 500. being 5000 to each. But
no sooner were the republicans in power
than they had increased the salary Of each
to 81 ,5O0-and it would al'o be found that
they had made extra appropriations to each
Of from 81 600 to $1,000. The An:iitor had
been allowed $500 for dist, ,ibuting docu-
ments. To the Treasurer for negotiating a
loan of $500 and to the same person for 60
ing to Washington to receive money belong
ing to the school fund of the State, $500
more. and to other officers, other appropria-
lions, making the amount received 'by each
about $4,000 per year. He would also call
attention TO some other items Of expenses.
They we're email but they went to show the
in which the government had been
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