Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-08-26
Reform Bubbles.

| Quitting CeHtss were 81 100, U-o. Ho
actual funds paid out for the fiscal
year 1874 were Sl,667,156. The DIFF
ference in the two years is $3.50,
which at the worst is near $4,000
less than the ADVOCATE says. But let
US make an honest comparison. The
reports of the Secretary of State for the
two years show s1oo,25l more were
paid out for the State charitable insti.
tutions in 1878 than in 1874. Nearly
all of this was for building expenses
that could not be avoided, unless our
deaf and dumb and blind and insane
were turned out doors as they are
among the Feejees and other bogus
reformers. There was no change in
the administration of these institu-
tons. If any credit is due for these
reduced expenses it belongs to Tay.
or's predecessors for making good ap
pointments.
Again: in 1873 there were improve
ments made about the capitol as fol-
lows: For park fence, s27, 1886; park
improvement, 81 $50; capitol improve
mert, $26,832. These are expenses
which come once in an age. They
happened to come in 1878 and did not
come in 1874. Perhaps our shoddy
reformers will tell US the capitol need
not have been improved, and the cap
itol park might have done without a
fence. Very likely. Their ''reform"
would in the end abolish capitols and
turn our civilization out to grass COM
mons. Then, there were $3.50 paid
in 1873 for geological survey, and
$500 more, over 1874, for Superior
harbor protection. Taylor Reformers
don't believe in surveys. Their ulti-
matum of reform would be reached
when each reformer, dressed in forest
skins would annually select his patch
of ground and put his squaw to dig
ging for the years crop of maize.
And as for harbor protection, when
their reform is brought down to fine
point their navigation would be in
bark canoes. What do they want with
improved harbors? These sums ad-
ded, including the $1O0,25l, give us
$16S,917, which, less S., 1884 for capt.
tol and park improvement in 1874,
should properly be deducted from the
regular expenses of 1878, and they
show the running expenses of Tdylor'S
administration to haze been $32,267
more its frst gear than the Republican
administration the proceeding gear.
But we have not done. The great
reformers' treasurer takes more credit
for balances in his treasury than he
deserves. There are moneys which
simply pass through his hands and
such sums as happen to lodge there
while he balances his account are not
properly to be accredited to the
administration favor. The Secre-
tary's report for 1867 shows that
there were $4l,687 Of railroad tres
pass and aid money deposited in the
treasury and only $2O,374 were paid
out, leaving balance which did not be-
long to them of $2l, 1913. This balance
in 1878 was only $5,816. Here then
are $15,496, tie difference between
these two balances which must be de-
Quoted from the credit claimed by the
performer" This added to the $780,
267 shows that Taylor's first year
worsted the State treasury over the
proceeding years administration to
the tune of $47,763!
Let US look little further. Let us
see where this great reformer did
economic. We find that the pre-
ceeding administration paid to certain
employees $23,866. Taylor paid for
corresponding employment $4,000.
This peoples reform administration
pinched out of the earnings of the la
boring people whom it employed 81
257, which its predecessor paid
them! Hurrah for reform Taylor! He
saves out of the peoples wages for
day labor 1881. He is the great
economizer who will yet make the la
boring people work for % cents day,
if you give him chance. But how
about that Governors own pay? If
You look at the two reports of the
Secretary of State page of 1878,
and page of l874-you will find the
Governors office for 1874 received
$3.50 more than its predecessor. The
day paid servants of his administra-
ton are cut down over $1,000, but
his own pay is increased Then we
find the great reformer paying 1898
more for militia service-body guard
probably-than his predecessor. Big
reformer! HIeep big injunl
There are certain expenses under
the head contingent" and Especial
appropriations These items are
generally made up of charges the
greater part of which look better I'M
der these heads than when particular.
ly named. Some ill.mannered peo-
pie call them "steals." An admins
istration which makes such boasts as
Taylor's ought not to have such items
at all. Let US compare: Under the
| head CONTINGENT expensaE,, TavIor's