Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-10-31

springfield Register: o
On Saturday last the state oinclal' re-
quired by law so to DO, met and nxed the
rate OF state taxes At thirty eight cents on
each one handred dollars. The Stdte Jour-
nal takes tue occasion OF THIS levy TO de-
vote nearly column to misrepresenta>
tons Of the democratic party In the state
campaign Of fsSs and the action OF the
democratic party In the legislature OF
1885. As the new blood" which now
courses through the veins Of the journal
vas not then In circulation. II Is safe To
presume that they have drawn upon the
speech which was made al the opera
house by Gov Fifer. and which was 90
absurd and such a ptia1le exposition OF
his ignorance Of state affairs, that II ex>
cited the contempt Of bis most intimate
friends
II will be remembered that In the SEN
ate IN 1885 the republicans had one ma
iority. while in the house the democrats
had one majority until the 18th day OF
May. when Weaver republican. was cleo
ted TO al the uacaucy caused by the death
OF Shaw. and from and after the 18th OF
May. the republicans had a majority In
both senate and house. The Journal
says
In the house the democrats controlled
the committees and determined the ap-
propriati0ns Of that session. The appro,
priations made amounted to 81. 776, ass;
but when IL came 10 the levy bill pro-
vision was made for Kissing only IS. 500, &.
900 by taxation After allowing for the
income from the Illinois Central railroad
In lieu OF taxes and for the fees from the
offices OF the state auditor and secretary
Of state, Il was clear that the approorla-
tons made were 81 500. 600 in excess of
the provisions made for paying them
That Is, liberal expenditures had been
made without adequate provision for
paying them.
Now. what are The absolute facts shown
by the records. By the session laws Of
1855 10 will be seen there were forty nine
bills passed appropristing money. By
the senate Journal IL will be seen that
thirty-eight Of these were first introduced
into the senate, and having passed that
body, were passed by the house, while
only eleven appropriation bills were first
passed by the house twill also be seen
by referring 10 the session laws that for
ty-four out OF the forty. nine sppropria-
ton bills were passed after Mr.. Weaver
had taken his seat. and after the republi,
cans had one majority Ia the house.
Now, what is the history OF the levy
bill II was introduced In the senate on
the l5th day Of June. by Senator Tubbs.
ot Warren, and provided for a levy OF
$1,000 600 on the assessment Of 1885 and
like sum on the assessment OF 1885.
which amounts we're all the state officers
deemed necessary. When IL went to the
house IL was. on motion OF Mr. Cron-
krte, chsirman OF the house committee
on appropriations, reduced half million
each year, for the reason that with the
money then Ia the treasury. together
with What would be paid 10 by the Ill-
nOis Central and from other sources. the
two and half million each year would
DE ample 10 pay all the sppropria tions.
motion was made % lay this amend
ment on the table and Il was defeated-A
number Of republicans voting against IL.
The senate refused 20 concur 10 the house
amendment, and q conference committee
consisting Of Senators Tubbs and Raw,
republicans, aud SOuthworth. democrat.
and Representatives Spaford and White
more, republicans and Kimbrough, dem
ocrat was appointed. They decided to
allow the levy Of $4,000. 900 on the as
sessment OF 1855 TO stand and make the
lew on The assessment Of 1856. -. 5OO.-
600 and Ia this shape the bill became q
lsw-providing for total levy OF only
$500 600 less than was first asked for by
the republican state officers.
Again the Journal says.
When the legislature met In 1887 the re.
publicans were In power In both branches
The a.. leo A.
In fact, The total appropriations Of that
sessions 13l sos were S45 ggS less
than those Of the Haincs Legislature of
1885 Yet, on account of the deficient
levy abovo explained. they we're COM
PEELED % raise at least al 500. 600 more
than was raised under the levy Of 1885.
and this was the origin Of the 53-cent tax
rate which became the state slogan OF the
democracy IN the campaign OF 1855
The republican legislature OF 1887. &C.
cordinr 10 the Journal, appropriated 81.
1Sl sos and had deficiency 81 SI.5OO,-
900 making an aggregate OF 80 23l, 3gs
yet the levy bill Of 1887 only provided
Tor raising - 900 900. Will the Journal
kindly inform US what has become OF the
deficiency o. e. 23l $685.
Again says the JotrHai.
In 1857 % was question with the re-
publican leaders whether II would not be
better 10 divide the deficiency OF 1885
out over two sessions. but IL was deter
mined 20 levy up 70 the amount OF the
appropriation, allowing for income from
other sources. and put the whole matter
right At one stroke.
What business had tho republican
leaders 10 discuss what the officers OF the
Law should or should not do3 The law
passed by the Legislature Of 1887 told the
proper officers 10 levyA tax on the as
sessment Of 1887 sufficient TO produce
S2.sOO.OOU for the revenue fund. and
$1,000, 900 for the school fund. There
was no deficiency provided for anywhere.
and the Journal knows that there are not
10 the laws OF 1857 bill providing for
the payment Of deficiency on account OF
the state not having paid any liability
incurred by the legislature OF 1885.