The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1871-06-17
ELECTIONEERING MONEY.

A case of considerable import
ance to the free school system Of
Indiana, was decided two or three
days ago by the Circuit Court of
Marion county. If it proves Of
considerable importance to the
Democratic electioneering fund in
the next campaign, it will do no
more than was, probably, intended
when instituted. The tax assessed
for the payment Of the State five
per cent. bonds -that is, the old
State debt-has accumulated by
this time about seven hundred
thousand dollars in the State Au.
ditor's hands. The debt was paid
OFT, or provided for, last year,
partly by some four hundred thous
and dollars obtained in a settle
ment OF the States claims with the
General Government, leaving the
accruing State debt tax of 1870
due in 1S7l-with nothing to do
but accumulate. Last winter sn
attempt was made to dispose OF
this large sum for the benefit OF
the free schools, of course by fund
ing it and using the proceeds. Two
propositions were made, one, ema-
mating from the democrats. to dis
tribute it in proportion to the
school population, to the different
counties. to be lent by the county
officers at 8 per cent. upon landed
security; the other emana.ing
from, or at least approved by Gov
ern0r Baker, requiring it to be
held together by the State Auditor,
and let by him directly to borrow
ers, the citizens of each county to
be entitled to borrow an aggregate
sum proportioned to it's school
population. He was to give notice
OF the time when the loans would
be made, and if, within ninety
days. any county failed to apply or
TO borrow its share. he was 10 lend
to any body that would give aae-
quate mortgage security. IF still
'ahe" 10 exhaust the
iund, he was TO invest the remain
der In Government stocns, and was
held responsible upon his bond for
all the income that would havo
been obtained FROM it if it had been
properly invested The advantage
OF TINS latter scheme was, that it
kept all the money in a s;noIe
hand, under uniform management.
easily Inspected by the Leg islature
and saved fees to a considerable
amount. The other dispersed the
money among ninety two counties.
like ninety-two petty banks, and
SUBJECTED 1t to multiplied chances
OF loss, and to the varying man,
agemens of ninety-two different
sets OF caprices, personal prefer
rhees, ana party tinkerings. The
hepufllcans were anxious to oct
1t out of the hands of the Demo
cratic Auditor, for its ANIMAL in
come would be about sixty thous-
ana dollars, large proportion of
which, could, of course, 90 to the
payment Of Democratic campaion
expenses, and it would be an uolv
weapon to encounter in as close a
contest as that in Indiana is sure
10 be, bliLd to everything but
this, they joined with the Demo-
Gratis and voted the Democratic
Distribution Bill into a law. They
would not see that the Governors
hlli made it quite as diffic alt for
the Auditor to pocket the proceeds
OF the fund as if they had been
taken out of his hands-that it
MADE him responsible upon his
bond for their return to the School
Fund. They would not see that
the distribution scheme Of 1s5a
lost the school several hundreds Of
thousands of dollars, sent ont TO be
lent as proposed in this case. and
virtually sunk out Of .ioh. hordlv
a dollar ever C, ming in ilcm The
interest IN the county officers
hands. They must get the money
where it could be made a Demo.
cratic electioneering fund. And
'hey passed the bill. The Indian
apolls journal says it was Demo
cratic operation. and that the Dem
ocra's purposely M de the bill
delective, that it might be declared
imperative by the Courts and leave
the money with their Auditor. But
me journal blunders, OF course
without Republican votes it could |
never have passed the Senate, for
the Democrats alone did not have |
a constitutional majority. And |
these Republicans could have
amended it If they had cared to do
SO: 1t is as much a Republican as
q Democratic job. The hill was
defective In providing for the dis
charge of certain duties in the
matter by the "Sinking Fund Com
missioners,' and there are now no
such officers. 1t was alleged and
sworn by W. r. Harrison. one of
the Clerks of the Senate, that the
hil Was signed by the Speaker of
the House and President of the
Aenate after the Governor had an
nonnced the resignation of the
thirty -four Republicans who broke
M me session, and when, accord