The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-11-03

Under Democratic and Re.
publican Rule.

and in their circulars sent broadcast
through the state, that Republican state
administrations have been guilty of ex-
travagance in the expenditure of money;
that they have levied larger state taxes
than the needs Of the state required;
that they have appropriated money
from the state treasury for personal
use; and that for these reasons the state
government should be transferred to the
two parties which, under a "combina-
ton" ticket, seek to wrest 1t from those
who are now in power.
We present herewith to the intelli-
gent voters Of the state brief but COM
prehensive statement of the condition
Of affairs when the Republican party
came into power, and the manner in
which they have administered the af-
fairs of the great state Of Michigan
while they have held control. Many of
these figures, taken from the public
records, have heretofore appeared in
the Lansing State Republican, and no
attempt has been made to break the
force of these statements, except in re-
lation to state taxation, which will be
fully answered hereafter.
The democracy had nearly uninter-
rupted power from 1886 TO 1866. In
the report of the last democratic audi
tor general for the year ending Nov. 80,
1854, on page 2, the bonded indebted
ness of the state is given at ~, 53l ,545.70
This statement was made one month
prior to the commencement Of republi-
can power. Repudiated by the people
the democratic board Of state auditors,
composed of VIM. Graves, Porter Kib-
bee, and John Swegles, allowed claims
during the month Of Dec. 1854. to the
amount of 6S,073.55; of which $35 ,603.74
was the notorious Phoenix bank claim
and SO, 234.7S was an allowance to Bron-
son, Knight 81 Ingalls,, for "claim for
damages by reason of misrepresenta-
tiOn of U. s. commissioner Of internal
improvements to induce low bidding
on letting contract on Clinton and Kali
amaZOO canal" 81.
In relation to the Phoenix bank claim,
which was characterized by Hon. Jacob
M. Howard the first republican attor-
ney general as fraudulent, in his report
of 1856, when, after complete review
Of the case, he says: "The board with
out consulting the attorney general and
without any competent testimony but
only on er parte and extra judicial aft
davits, which when carefully scanned
"A nff l.,
liability on the part of the state. allow
ed tho whole claim, amounting to $685.
6O3.74, which amount was paid out of
the treasury to the present Phoenix
bank, or its agents." The original claim
was SIG 400, and the balance as allowed
was accrued interest from March 10,
1888. 1913 tH
The record of the board of state audi
tors on file in the Office of the secretary
Of state gives all allowances In Regular
order up to Dec. 80, 1854, while q last
allowance on the book under y tie Of
Dec. 2, reads as follows:
"Also claim Of the Phoenix bank of
New York against the state of Michi-
gan for an advance of SIC, 400 on state
bonds delivered to John Norton, Jr.,
cashier of the Farmers and Mechanics
bank of Detroit, by order of Governor
Mason, for use of state, March Is, 1888,
and the interest thereon-ths board de-
cided that upon the evidence produced
such Phoenix bank was justly and equit-
ably entitled to principal and interest
on said claim, March IL, 1888, to Deem
Der 80, 1854, to the sum of $50, COB IA"
The legend runs that on the last day
Of democratic power, at midnight, a
democratic treasurer was aroused from
1t c1, ha hn nj oil ON
democratic state officers who had pur-
chased the claim divided the money
among themselves.
1t is a matter Of history, however,
that Attorney General Jacob M. How
ard brought suit in behalf Of the state
In 1859, and recovered the money. The
Judge of the superior court In New
York in his decision said: "There was
never any liability In equity, In good
conscience on the part of the state OF
Michigan TO the Phoenix bank to pay OF
refund to the latter the sic, 400 which II
advanced to John Norton, Jr., OH the
18th of March, 1888, or any part thereof
a' DEMOCRATIC DEBT LEGACY.
AS was above mentioned, the bonded
Indebtedness of the state on Nov, 30
1854, was 1851 ,545.70. A few years
alter the republicans came INTO power
they were compelled to issue s., 800 400
of war and war bounty bonds to put
down democratic rebellion which
made q democratic legacy or IS, 0S6,
945.70. But that munificent sum was
not all. To these and the two-millior
loan bonds which we issued in 1851 to
renew the remainder of the old fve-mil.
lion loan were attached coupons calling
for semi-annual interest amounting tt
$7,356,S42 Sc, which made an aggregate
OF democratic compliments to the re.
publicans of Michigan Of $l2, Az, 1888. 20
The republican party has reduced this
vast debt to $500, 1897, at the same
time has provided literally for the
needs of state institutions, and all this
has been accomplished under lighter
taxation than under democratic man
agement, as we shall show. BY wise
provision of sinking fund there 4:
money enough In the treasury to wipe
out every dollar Of state Indebtedness
could the bonds be obtained. But un
der republican management the credit
of the state, like that Of the nation, Il
30 high that the bonds cannot be pur
chased without paying an exorbitan'