The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1883-07-17

uuhitico anu iCsOufCCo wi thub iuhu
in the following condition,;a rs shown
by lhe last report of the Auditor: We
owed 174 six-per cent. military bonds
of 1916 and 1866, amounting to STA,
600; in old railroad script long past
due, 1894 bonds of the issue of 1885,
past due sixteen years ago, 5000 and
bonds of the issue of 1881, also long
past due, 81, ,000. AS stated in the
preamble of the act l have just read,
it is probable that the evidences of
the three last items of this indebted
ness have long since been lost or de-
stroycd and will never be presented
prepayment. Deducting, therefore,
the sum of those items from the gross
aggregate of $lS0,394, there is left of
certain liabilities which must be met
$4,000. To meet these liabilities
there was cash in the treasury to the
credit of the sinking fund $l9S,9A;
406 shares of bank stock, worth
s39, ,179, and stock in turnpike roads
estimated at $4,000, making in all
T0S,l33. 1t may be said, however,
that this turnpike stock is of very
uncertain value. But grant that it is
grant that it is valueless-and, there
is still left of cash and available as
sets $20S,l33 with which to meet the
$17+000. But it will be observed
that- the turnpike stock in this ac-
count s.not set down at par, as was
done in 1865 and for some years af-
forwards, but at its estimated market
value Suppose however, that we
assume that il has been over estimated
that it is worth only twenty-five per
cent, of what the Commissioners of
the sinking fund value it at, and we
have an aggregate of$333, 1873 of avail
able assets with which to meet $l74,-
900 of debt.
1t may be said, however, that the
State owes a bonded debt greatly
larger than this; that it owes the
State board of education bond of
$l,227,0O0 and bond to the several
counties for the surplus of uncxpen-
ded school moneys apportioned to
them amounting to $500, ,l52 in addi-
ton. This is all true, but it will be
observed that the sinking fund is not
liable for cent of either of these
amounts. In fact neither of these
bonds are = to be redeemed at all.
They are sacredly set apart as per-
manent fund for the common school
purposes, the State paying out of its
revenues into the common school fund
annually a sum equal to the interest
on them at six per cent, and for that
purpose setting aside five cents on
the hundred dollars of taxable prop
erty each year, which is distributed
annually among the pupil children
of the State who are entitled to II ac-
cording to law.
have now shown you, fellow citi-
zens, from official figures that there
has been no mismanagcment of the
fiscal affairs of our State under DEM
ocratic auspices, and 1 defy the pro-
duction of a scintilla of evidence that
there has beon cent of our public
funds fraudulently or corruptly mis-
applied. hope, therefore, that these
oft-repeated and as oft-refuted
charges will be considered by all hon
able and fair-minded gentlemen as
mere party claptrap, without any
| substantial foundation in fact.
THE STATE PRISON.
But it is alleged shat our State
4 Prison is a sommon scandal and re-
proach to civilization" 1 trust that
those who preferred this charge have
not recently visited that institution as
: I have. If they had they would
scarcely have made 1t. Whatever
may be alleged against our present
Executive, his direct foe, if inspired
| with the slightest sentiment of candol
: must admit that the condition o.
! our penitentiary under his admins
tration will compare favorable witt
| that of any similar institution in thu
Union. Go and examine its sanitary
: condition-not a patient In the hospi
D tai, the convicts well fed, well clothed
' and performing their allotted tasks
alacrity and cheerfullness. See them
Sunday after Sunday, hanging witt
/, the interest of little children upor
the words Of inspired truth from thu
: lips Of. pure, devoted christian wO
meh, and then say that their coEdi
! ton is a reproach to civilization j
you dare.
4 THE ANCHORAGE ASYLUM MATTER.
! 1t is charged also that our charita
f BILE institutions have been shameful,
mismanaged, But who has ever hear'
!, before a syllable alleged against tn
: : management of the Western Lunati
, Asylum, the fccble-minded Institute
e orthe asylum for the blind and the dea
and the dumb? The whole charge Il
: truth is summed up to the fact that
3 single employe of the Central Lunati
9 Asylum was found guilty Of crue
n and criminal treatment to one of tn
J patients, for which he has been legal
J. ly convicted, and is now paying tn
penalty of his misconduct; that h
o has been so convicted is a fact whic