The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-08-13
state Expenses.

Tho Democratic platform reciIcs ms
facts that the state tax has increased dur
ing the past twenty-five years from sew
entccn cents to forty cents on the dollar
of the grand list, and that the strictly
current expenses of the State have in
creased from 1920, 900 in 1856 to 1920 900
after Tie war and nearly 100000 in
1873. The impression intended TO be
conveyed, is that the Republican admin
istration of state affairs is corrupt and
extravaganza. This is broadly asserted
as a fact IN the platform itself and is the
burden of Democratic talk. While the
face of the statement relating to state
taxation and expenses bears the sem
blance OF truth, it in fact covers d gross
and malicious misrepresentation. Long
Ell ago than twenty-five years the state
tax was less than seventeen cents on the
dollar, and during the past twenty-five
years il has been as high as one hundred
and twenty-five ccnts--to and in putting
down Democratic rebellion. But that
they don't want TO talk about, that is
waving tho bloody shirt. After we
fairly passed the war period the state
tax steadily diminished from fiity-five
cents in 1866 to twenty-five cents in
1876. In 1877 and 1873 it was thirty
cents, and in 1879 forty cents-the in
crease TO cover the dcbentures of the
coming session of the Legislature.
During this time 81 100000 in state
bonds, issued to defray the expenses Of
the war, have been paid of, and this
immense sum has been under constant
ly diminishing state tax up to 1876.
The tax raised for that year was found too
small TO meet the necessary payments.
The increase in the following years COW
cred the deficit of the previous year and
paid off the 1888 800 in bonds due in 1878.
The alleged increase in the "purcly cur
rent expenses" of the state is tracoable
to causes that relieve it entirely of the
implication ofextravagance and corrup-
ton. Since 1856, and notably within
the past ten or fifteen years, the state
has expended large sums to advance the
cause of education and our agricultural
interests. Our state prison, our rcfor-
: matory and charitable institutions have
either been newly created or have been
the recipients of more liberal expendi.
lures. All these objects have taker
money. Democrats have voted concur
rently with Republicans in appropria
ting money for our normal schools, oul
state educational expenses, our Boart
, of Agriculture, our state prison, Oul
Reform School, our Workhouse, oul
Asylum for the insane, and worthy
Democratic citizens are among the Gus
todians of these institutions and the
funds appropriated for their benifit
Has this money been stolen or injudi
ciously expended? Nothing of thii
, kind is alleged. These institutions car
: not be maintained without money
Abolish them, and the state tax will no
exceed the amount twenty-five years
ago. Set everything back to the condi
, ton in quarter of century previous tc
1865, and the tax will be less than "sev
cnteen cents on the dollar of the graDd
list" Follow the logic of the Demo
: cratic doctrine of reform still farther
back to its legitimate conclusion, and a
length point will be reached where
taxes and civilization itself will disap
pear. We cannot have these reforma
tory, these charitable, these progressive
institutions, without raising money b,
f taxation to support them. Not to have
them is to rctrogadc toward barbarism
The changes worked by time, by al
increasing population, and by the de
NCloI'lltIlt vi Jul ittCScitot'
laws, institutions, and resulting eXpen
ses that were not known in the NOR,
primitive times. That the money re
quircd for them be expended TO TIN
, best OF human wisdom and honesty i
what an enlightened community de
mands, and this has been done il
;; Vermont under Republican administra
ton and will continue to be. In ON
! department of state expenses, tn
courts, there has, by general acknowl
edgmcnt, been an increase in expense
that demands reform; but it is not al
; evil that can be laid to the charge o
! Republican state or local maladminis
tratiou. Years ago the Republican
! pr ess, and Republicans eminent in TIN
! affairs of the State, took up the matte
= of reforming this abuse. 1t is one tina
cannot be removed in a day. The sys
, tenn under which the abuse has grow
, is as old as the courts. Active measure
> for its full and complete rcformatio
! are at work, and Republicans shoul
have the cordial and honest co-opers
: ton of Democrats in the task they hav
undertaken. This is the true inward
ness of increase in our state tax an,
! 'purely current state expenses.
! the main it is just and reasonable
Where is it otherwise, Republicans II
more than Democrats are responsible
. 1Watchman