Wilmington daily commercial., 1874-10-15
FIRST EDITION.


ECONOMY, INFRINGEMENT, Low rAxEs AND REDUo-
TIoN OF DEBT, THE RULE UNDER REPUBLICAN,
SOME CONSPICUOUS ExAMPLEs-AND THE DEMO
CRATIC CONTRAST.
An able article in the New York Times says
that figures in regard to the finances of five
prominent States Missouri, Mich gan, Pennsyl-
gania, and New York-have recently come to its
notice, and show a great contrast between Re-
publican and Democratic management Thus
DEMOCRATIC MISSOURI.
First, let ua look at Missouri That is now un-
der Democratic management, and that party'r
speakers including its candidate for Governor,
have been proclaiming from the stnmp that the
expenses of tho State are less than has been the
case at any previous time since the close of the
war. The pretense has caused a correspondent
OF paper published at the State capital to make
a careful examination of the reports of the
State Auditor during the period mentioned
From his figures - and no is youched
for as Il careful and trustworthy man-it appears
that the Democratic claim has no foundation in
fact, for the Democratic administration of Gov.
Woodson has cost the people OF the State yearly
nearly quarter OF a million dollars more than
was expended during the Republican admns-
traton OF Gov McClurg, and 1874, 900 more than
during Gov. Fletchers term of Office So
much for State now under Democratic control.
Much brighter is the picture presented by
REPUBLICAN VERMONT.
llb AuuibOl report Blows Lndt Cloo,oOu Ol
the States debt was redeemed during the year
ending on the first of August last, and that on
that date there was in the State Treasury an ex-
GERS of S22,657 over all liabilities the latter, in
Guiding the funded debt amounting to 1856, $780,
and the assets being S411 ,487. The report also
shows that while the ordinary expenses OF the
State in 1872 amounted to 1888, ,235, they were
last year only $282, 1913, some of the saving be-
ing effected by the change from annual to ben-
nal sessions of the Legislature. 1t may be mem
-. lI..tu ALL ~ -.
8, winch amounted to S448 400, was collected
and that of the tax assessed last year, which was
reduced to $393, $3.50, all but So, 700 had been col
lected on the 1st Of August last.
REPUBLICAN MICHIGAN.
Turn next to Michigan. 1t is long while since
the Democrats have had control there. The
States experiences under their guidance were
not such as to cause its thoughtful citizens to
desire their speedy return to power. The Re-
publicane, when they Obtained control OF affairs,
found the State weighed down bya debt of two
and half millions of dollars, which was equiva-
lent to nearly six dollars to every man, woman,
and child within its limits. Since then, in spite
of the war, with all its attendant expenses, for
which the Democratic party was 80 largely re-
sponsible, the successive Republican Adminstra-
lions Of the State have succeeded III reducing
the public debt to one-half the amount it was
when they received it, and the per capita ia now
only about 71.25.
REPUBLICAN PENNSYLVANIA.
In Pennsylvania still more gratifying results
have been achieved. For the last twelve
years, in which the Republicans have managed
affairs, there has been steady decrease OF the
State debt annually, except in single year, when
there was an apparent increase through the
funding of the gold-interest debt to a currency
interest basis. The actual State debt is now less
than fifteen and half millions the decrease in
the past thirteen years having amounted to fifty
per cent. OF the debt. At the same time the bur-
dens of taxation falling upon the people have
been much lightened, and the running expenses
OF the State Government reduced.
REPUBLICAN NEW YORK.
These gratifying figures are we'll supplement-
ed by the record OF our party in our own State.
Here deficiencies have been made up, unnec-
essary expenditures Topped of, extrayagant eHti-
mates reduced, aud large sum has been laid
aside to defray liabilities to fall due hereafter.
The Republicans took hold Of affairs under dis
couraging cunstances. Their success III
spite OF these was briefly described by Gov. DIX
IN the course of his admirable response upon
the occasion OF the serenade recently ten
dered him in Albany and the E1eninJ journal
Of that city has since more elaborately present.
ed them. The Republicans found that the last
Democratic administration had expended. or got
| rid of in some way, every dollar that had been
| raised by taxation, and had moreover
| wrongfully abstracted to make up deficiency
six and q half million dollars from the sinking
| fnnds which the Constitution they had solemn
| ly sworn to support expressly enjoined upon
them sacredly to apply solely to the extinguish-
ment of the public debt. This large deficiency
the Jealous and efficient Republican administra-
ton has already entirely made up, and it has be-
| sides added over fifteen millions Of dollars tc
| these funds. This achievement alone ought u
| be sufficient to command the administration tc
renewed popular support, and doubtless
| would do so. But the advantages by nc
means stop here The Republicans found
that the average yearly expenditure for general
| purposes under Democratic rule, was over 80,
| l25,000; they reduced it considerably more thar
a million dollars. They found & at the cost OF
maintaining the canals and collecting the tolls
for one year was over two and quarter millions
they cut it down to less than million and a half
they found that something like million dollar
wer0 annually appropriated for sectarian pur
poses, under the absurd plea that they were To-
| relIgouH charities; they cut them all oil. The.
found he annual Legislative expenses to b'
1922 456; they cut them down to S266, 62O. The.
found that under the last Democratic admins
| tration, the State Controller had been compelled
to borrow over two millions of dollars, after al
the proceeds of taxation had been exhausted
they have paid all current expenses, and, a
stated above have, In addition made up the de
Aciency of six aud half millions in the sinking
funds and added fifteen millions to the same.
Such, briefly presented, are the comparatiy
results OF Republican and Democratic adminis
traton of financial affairs in the iiye representa-
tiva grataa rnantinned.