The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1884-08-13
STATE FINANCES.
Republican Extravaganza Compared
With Democratic Economy.
Splendid Record Of Democratic
Management Under Governors
Hendricks and Williams.
Speech OF Judge Lewis Jordan Delivered
at Martinsville Before the DemOc-
racy of Morgan County, satur-
day, August ., 1884.

past 10 present the recOru ne maze Governor, 10
the people of our State. and now that he is
enc OF our standard-beare need made no spol-
Ogy for discussing it and again presenting it to the
tax payers of the State. His record received the
approval OF our people without regard to their po-
litiea opinions, and has been the pride Of his par
~.
IpTOpose to show that no State in the Union of
equal population has as economical a State gov
eminent as our own, and no State can boast OF
better or more economically managed State in
stitutiens.
Governor Hendricks and the candidate for
Superintendent of Public Instruction were the
only two Democrats on the State ticket woo
elected IN 1672 His associates in the admintstTa-
ton OF the state government Tor the nrSt TWO
years were all Republicans and the Legislature
was also Republican. But, in 1874, Democratic
State officers were elected and also a Democratic
Legislature, and Governor Hendricks commenced
the work OF reform in our State finances. When he
became Governor he found no records in the Gov
all papers in the Office as private and carried
them away at the close OF their terms. lie COM
menced keeping record OF ali the transactions
OF the Governor and when he retired this record
was left in the Office ana became the property OF
the State.
REFORM N KEEPING ACCOUNTS.
Prior to 1875 there had been much confusion in
keeping the accounts Of the State. After the cleo
ton OF the Democratic Auditor and Treasurer OF
State. Governor Hendricks called their attention
10 this confusion, and requested them TO clearly
set forth IN their reports the different accounts,
with the particular fund TO which they belonged
They cheeriully complied with MS request and
entered heartily into the work OF his proposed
reforms. From that day all the accounts of the
State have been SO clearly and methodicaly stated
that any citizen can take up the report OF the Au-
ditOr OF State and in moment see how much
money has been expended for any particular
branch Of the public service.
Prior 20 this time the Sts ie had no financial year
70 which ali the departments and institutions
were required 10 conform, and the Legislature
was requested TO TX by law tee commencement
5
was fixed as the close OF the financial year, and all
the departments and the boards controlling the in
stitutiOns were required to conform to itand make
their reports 10 its close These reports are al
printed and laid upon the desks OF the members
when they first assemble in January. IN inau 81.
rating this reform Governor Hendricks displayed
mis- administrative ability and laid the people of
the State under lasting obligations to him for his
wise counsel and advice.
TIE ADMINISTRATOR o. GOVERNOR HENDRICKS
was the commencement OF new era in Indiana
He called halt IN the eXtraVagant expenditure OF
public money, and the present admirable cOndi-
zion of our State finances may be attributed 10 his
administration. He made it his business 10 look
after the expenditures in all the departments OF
the State Government and by the boards control
ling the institutions Ia one OF his messages to
81 call particular attention TO the recommsn-
aatiOns OF the Auditor OF state in respect 10 the
management OF the benevolent Institutions. 1
agree with him that they should be much more
economically administered. The expenses should
be reduced, at least IN the proportion 70 the re-
dueed cost of the supplies and 10 correspond some
what to the habits OF close economy which the
people have been compelled 10 adopt in their pri
Governor dendricks was a practical reformer,
and this last sentence gives US the key 20 his
that 10000 OF his fellow citizens in this city should
greet him upon his return from Chicago.
The people OF Indians know him end
still grateful for the blessings OF his admins
tratiOn. The Democracy OF Indiana are proud of
his record, and 70 man can testify 10 his emf
nent services as Governor OF our state. And
knowing him well, they eheerfully commend
him to the people OF the whole country, 5 worthy
of their confidence and support for any public
trust or position.
COST OF OUR STATE GOVERNMENT.
1t win no doubt surprise you to learn that the
ordinary expenditures OF our State government
for the year ending October 81, 1882 were only
fftycents on every inhabitant OF the State would
pay the ordinary and current expenses OF our
State government. We challenge a comparison
with any other State government in the Union of
equal population- To the Germans OF our state
pared with the expenditures OF the kingdom OF
WuIembuIg. which has ABOUT the same pOpula-
ton as our state. The expenditures OF that King.
the amount paid for the army, and OF this sum
5000 500 was raised BY direct taxation.
L XIV COMPARISONS.
IN order that you may clearly see how great
have been the reforms and the enormous savings
made under Democratic management, will give
you a lew comparisons always rememb eriug that
beSe reforms commenced with the administration
nv Democratic officials 10 this dav Let CON-
pare the year ending october 81, 1859 when the Re
publican party had full control OF the State with
Che year 1855, when the Democrats have all the
Offices except Governor. The figures for 1863
found on page 70, Acts 1871, in abstracts OF the
Auditors Reports there published. refer TO the
acts, because they can or should be found in the
CLERKS Office of every county and can easily be re-
1erred TO.
Cost OF State printing in 65
Cost OF State printing In lsS5........- 25.7S4 ID
Difference and saving. ................sS7,642 20
BLIND ASYLUM.
Sost IA -
Difference and ,24j y
HOUSE OF REFUGE.
Cost in lS69.----..-.--. $50 o.
Cost IN loo5..- 4o,VOJ W
Difference and saving SIS o.
DEAF AND DUNE.
C0sl IN loO9.. ~
Cost II Ioo5..... 0o,ol 70
Difference and saving S07 p
will not extend the list Of comparisons but ask
Won 10 consider in making the comparisons that
the inmates of the Blind Asylum and Deaf and
Dumb have increased in number since 1869, and
more than In 1869.
STATE PRINTING.
During the administration OF Governor Hen
bricks law was passed at the special session OF
ganizings Bureau OF Public Printing and ets-
fionery, making the Governor, Auditor OF State
and Secretary OF State ex-ofh.io Commissioners of
Public Printing and Binding, and defining their
duties in regard 70 the same
From the 1st day ofJuiy, 1875, to the 3lst day OF
December, 1SS0-hve years ana six months, the
printing, binding aud stationery. cost the State
NE sum of s98 95S 40, or $I79e2 A per year on an
average.
For the eleven years previous 70 the establish
ment of the bureau, there was expended for this
branch of public service the enormous sum Of
sseo,6z9.75, ssfoiloUs;
l4o ~
1856 50 062 90
IS SCI Sc
1865 St. 904 So
1859 ...........-.. 81 367 65
....... ........ ......... A S8t OF
1871 6lSI6 SO
5536 81
............. 81 38 80
49,. ........ % 238 20
1000 Al
IOtAl. .s.--eOsOsoZ5 -
These figures will startle the taxpayers, but
they can not be denied.
It will thus be seen that the law passed while
Hendricks was Governor, and by Democratic
Legislature, has saved annually $4,000 on public
printing.
DETAILED STATEMENT OF COST FOE STATE Gov
ERNMENT.
have said the ordinary expenditures OF the
State Government for tAe year closing october, 81
1883. were 81 075 658.S2
But must give you the figures in detail as fol