The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-09-15
STATE FINANCES.
LETTER FROM THE HON. JAMES b.
RYAN.

DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRA-
T1oNs CoMPARED-THE ISLANDERS OF THE
JOURNAL AND NEWS REFUTED-Twc YEARS
ECONOMY AND ONE YEAR OF EXTRAvAGANCE
THE QUESTION SETTLED.
The Hon. James B. Ryan, ex-treasurer of
State, having grown weary of the republican
Misrepresentation in regard to financial af-
fairs, has come forward with the following
lucid statement, which will be regarded as
final settlement of the claims of the respect
i've parties to economy and good govern
ment:
To the Editor of the Sentinel:
find lengthy criticism in last evenings
News on a conversation had with me, and
published by a correspondent in the Cincin-
natl Enquirer short time ago. The News
states that forgot several things, and init
mates very strongly that lied. 1t would
take too much time and space to notice each
item that the News charges me with forget
ting. therefore will simply answer by stat
ing forgot nothing, but had each and
every itern in my minds eye when gave
the amounts, and now only repea. them by
sending to the Sentinel the figures for 1871,
1872 and 1878. giving credit for all debts paid
and school distribution for each year.
There is one thing which the News seems
| to forget, or perhaps does not know; that
some little matters that were not put in
| legal shape by the legislature of 1871, were
caused by its republican friends in that
body resigning their places, running away
from their sworn duty, and breaking a
| quorum, thereby stopping all legislation.
| Does the News recollect that transaction?
/ will state further that the legislature OF
1871 left no part of their expenses unpaid,
and % ar n .iati on
bill, which was not large amount, and
which would have been paid had the repub-
| llcan members not broken the quorum. The
| expense ST the legislature only embraces
the pay and mileage Of members and the
salary of clerks, doorkeepers and firemakers.
No specific bill is ever added In the legisla-
ture account.
would also inform the News that the
S6OS 900 sinking fund money, which was to
come into the treasury in June and October.
1871, was arranged to be transferred to IT,
general fund bv the assembly. bill WI.
Introduced by Mr.. Neff, of Putnam county
for that purpose, which measure passed the
House, but before the Senate had time to
nut it on its final passage the friends of the
editor of the News ran away, bolted, thus
preventing legislation of all kinds. Still
our republican friends will assert that the
democrats in the assembly of 1871 were the
cause of the failure in legislation that year.
/ would ask the News further, why did
not the republican legislatures of 1865, 1867
or 1869 provide for paying the canal bonds?
These legislatures were petitioned by the
bondholders for payment; why did they not
pay? Simply because the republican party
had said they would not pay them; yet in
1873 they changed their minds-just after
the election, though. Were the members
seen?
In the following statement place all the
improvements which take place yearly in
any ofthe public institutions as part of
| the expenses. There are various small ac-
counts which run the same, one year with
another, so / do not bring them into the
credits on either side. / send you correct
table for the years 1871, 1872 and 1873. These
| figures, know, are not pleasant reading for
the editor of the News, who has become so
loyal in the past month or two. HIS paper
does not read like the News of 1872, still
like it; but it must not hint that 1 lied