Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-07-28
State Expenses.

State Expenses.
The Democratic platform recites as facts
that the state tax has increased during the
past twenty-five years from seventeen cents
to forty cents on the dollar of the grand list,
and that the strictly current expenses of the
state have increased from 100000 in 1856
TO $4,000 after the war and nearly $780,
900 in 1873 The implication contained in
this bare statement, and the impression in
tended to be conveyed, is that the Republi-
can administration Of state affairs is cor
rupt and extravagant. This is broadly as
serted as 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 semblance
OF truth, 1t in fact covers gross and mali
cious Misrepresentation. Longer ago than
twenty-five years the state tax was less than
seventeen cents on the dollar, and during
the past twenty-five years it has been as
high as one hundred and twenty-five cents
to aid in putting down Democratic rebel
lion. But that they don't want to talk about,
that is waving the bloody shirt. After we
fairly passed the war period the state tax
steadily diminished from fifty-fve cents in
1866 to twenty-five cents in 1876. In 1877
and 1878 it was thirty cents, and in 1879
forty cents-the increase to cover the deben-
lures of the coming session of the legisla-
tttra -. -
bonds, issued to defray the expenses of the
war, have matured and have been paid off,
and this immense sum has been paid under
a constantly diminishing state tax up to
1876. The tax raised for that year was
found to be too small TO meet the necessary
payments. The increase in the following
years covered the deficit of the previous
year and paid off the s33,500 in bonds due
in 1878. The alleged increase in the "purely
current expenses of the state is traceable
to causes that relieve it entirely of the i'm.
plication of extravaganza and corruption. |
Since 1856, and notably within the past ten |
to fifteen years, the state has expended large |
sums to advance the cause of education and |
our agricultural interests. Our state prison,
our reformatory and charitable institutions, |
have either been newly created or have been |
the recipients of more liberal expenditures.
All these objects have taken money. Dem
ocrats have voted concurrently with Repub.
licans in appropriating money for our nor
NAL schools, our state educational expenses,
our board of agriculture, our state prison,
our reform school, our work house, our
asylum for the insane, and worthy Demo
cratic citizens are among the custodians
Of these institutions and the funds appropri-
ated for their benefit. Has this money been
stolen or injudiciously expended2 Moth
ing of this kind is alleged. These institu-
tions cannot be maintained without money.
Abolish them, and the state tax will not ex-
coed the amount twenty-five years ago. Set
back to the condition it was in
a quarter of century previous to 1865, and
the tax will be even less than seventeen
cents on the dollar of the grand list" Follow
the logic of the Democratic doctrine of reform
still farther back to its legitimate conclusion,
and at length point will be reached where
taxes and civilization itself, will disappear
We cannot have these reformatory, these
these progressive institutions,
without raising money by taxation to sup
port them. Not to have them is to retrograde
,owards barbarism. The changes worked by
lime, by an increasing population, and by
he development of our country, necessitate
avs, institutions, and resulting expenses
hat were not known in the more primitive
lines. That the money required for them
De expended 10 the best of human wisdom
md honesty is what an enlightened commu.
lity demands, and this has been done in
Vermont under Republican administration
md will continue to be. In one department
If state expenses, the courts, there has, by
general acknowledgment, been an increase
n expenses that demands reform but it
s not an evil that can be laid to the charge
If Republican state or local maladministra-
ion. Years ago the Republican press, and
Republicans eminent in the affairs of the
tate, took up the matter of reforming this
Ibuse. 1t is one that cannot be removed in
. day. The system under which the abuse
las grown is as old as the courts. Active
measures for its full and complete reforma-
ion are at work, and Republicans should
lave the cordial and honest cooperation of
Democrats in the task they have undertaken.
This is the true inwardness of the increase
n our state tax and "purely current state
expenses. In the main it is just and rea-
onable Where it is otherwise, Republicans
10 more than Democrats are responsible.