The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-10-28
ABILENE REFLECTOR.
Thursday, Oct. 28th, 1886.
Look Here, Tax Payers.


tiers and taxpayers of Kansas to peruse
for J." by State Auditor McCabe,
whit las just been issued from the
state printing house in this city. We
have not yet had time to give more
than u cursory glance at this report,
but that superficial investigation re-
veals some startling items for the con-
sideration of the voters of Kansas.
Few persons, who have not given es-
pecial thought to the matter, have any
idea of the rapid increase Of state
boards created by the republican leg
islatures of 1888; or the enormous
and frightful increase in the demand
made upon the honest industry of the
state in the shape of taxes levied to
meet the running expenses which, by
the creation Of useless state boards,
and reckless extravaganza, has been
fastened upon this commonwealth.
We deliberately charge-and We de-
sire that the democrat and indepen-
dent press will carry our charge over
this state-that there has never been
so extravagent and corrupt an admins
tratiOn as that which is drawing to
close in Kansas. Every man who sur
ounds Governor Martin, no matter in
what official capacity, whether member
of some state board or hanger-On of the
administration, acts apparently on the
idea of getting his hand in the state
treasury up to the elbow. The excess
of expenditures under the adminiStras
ton of Governor Martin over that Of
IN
governor Of Kansas, in one way and an
other, is so great it reaches a volume
that is frightful for the taxpayers of
Kansas to contemplate.
The republican legislature of 1888,
following the Inauguration of Governor
Click, very unWiSely set the initiative
In the creation of unnecessary state Of
fees; but it remained for the legisla-
ture of 1885, when all check was remov-
ed of an incOrruptible and economic
democratic executive, to cap the climax
in the way of reckless and corrupt legis-
lation. Cut off with the Inauguration
of President Cleveland from all federal
patronage, the one idea of the republi-
can managers in Kansas appears to be
to increase the number of state officers
to the very uttermOst in order that soft
places may be created to reward certain
servicable republican lieutenants, or to
provide snug berths for the political
rOustabOutS whose services are needed
during political campaign. These are
not idle words but serious allegations
which can be abundantly verified by an
examination of the records.
Let us begin with the executive de-
partment. We will say nothing about
the increase of salary for Private Sec
retary Smith or Executive Clerk VIII
der over that for those desks under
Governor CLICK, but will pass to that
appendage Of the executive department
known as the board of pardons. Up to
the term of Governor Martin, and in
Guiding the administration of Governor
Click, every governor of Kansas had
attended, and we presume properly, to
the matter af pardOns of criminals, in
addition to discharging the other duties
OF executive. No governor of Kansas
had complained of oYer-work. No gov
ernor had especially asked to be reliev-
ed of this duty. But for the double
purpose of shifting the responsibility
of pardOning certain convicted saloon
men, friends of the administration, on
a board of pardOns; and to provide
''holeS TO stick certain Servicable pegs
in" the republican legislature, the crea-
ture of Governor Martin, created the
board of pardons. This act was for the
special benefit of General Caldwell, of
Paraguay and Uruguay fame. We do
not want to speak harshly Of the old
general, but everybody knows he is an
importation; coming to Kansas Just be-
fore the beginning of the Blaine cam
paign in 1884. He hailed from Maine.
the state of the ''TattoOed Statesman
He was, to speak plainly, out at the ell
bows. But he could make a good
speech. He could tell a good story.
and was of service to the republican
party on the stump. He had to be pro-
vided for, and hence the board of par
dOns was created.
Let us see what this board, which, if
it didnOt eminate from, was directly
sanctioned by Governor Martin, costs
the state of Kansas. We find that the |
republican legislature for this purpose
made the following generous appropia-
ton:
1885, Per diem and expenses $500 per day |
1886. Deficiency for the fscial year ''
ending June 30th, 1856, ................... 100 |
Total observation-disclosures. .Sa25O
Examining the aforesaid report, we
find the three members constituting the |
board of pardon, during the above pc
Rod, expended this entire appropria-
ton. So nicely did they calculate their
services for the state of Kansas that on
the S0th of June, 1856, only S1.13 was
left in the state treasury. OF this sum
j. G. Caldwell drew 81 ,13S, or one-half
the entire appropriation. Thus to man
tain board, unknown to the people of
Kansas before the administration of
Governor Martin. the sum of $500 in
the brief space of one year and a half
has been wrung from the taxpayers of
this state. 1t is easy to see that the
old General Caldwell, does
not make his speeches over the state
for Governor Martin for nothing. The
of Kansas foot the little
bill.
We turn next to the Office of adiu-
tant general, filed by Governor Mar
tins appOintee, A. b. Campbell. the de-
partment closely linked with the execu-
tive Office. AS Artemus Ward would
say: ''Here is richness for you.'' By
the state auditors report for 1854, we
find that the appropriation for this de-
partment for 1888, including postage.
and contingent fund. was
s., 200. This was under a democratic
administration. BY the state auditors
report for 1856, We find that the amount
standing to the credit of his depart :