The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1890-08-22

Facts About the Creation or the
State Debt.


prcss. and the charge IL msde that IN
dtssocrStir uartv i responsible for tli
linctra>e "fthe state slebt since 1883, whc
Il was $4.S76. .6v8 "a.
4 This charge I deny and propose 4
show thst the increase u the debt
almost entirely the work OF the republi
can party.
4 In 1859 Albert q. Porter was governor
and his administration made Il impOs
sible n pay ali the appropriations will
the money raised by tho twclvc-ce,,
levy. tIis administrntivn contracted
Obligati0ns which have resulted il
large Increase Of tho state debt, a. shal
proceed 70 show.
\ TINE NEW INSANE HOSPITALS.
| The legislature Of 1858 passed the Law
for the erection OF three insane hospitals
The bill was supported by ell parties. Al
II was not party measure. The tenth
scction VI the act reads as follows: Sec
10 I'm order to carry out the provi.
sions Of this act there is hereby appro
'priased the -um Of $300.UCO Tor the yea'
1883. and $500 ODO for the year 1884. ouI
Of any money IN the treasury not other
wise appropriated"
A fair construction OF this section limi.
ted the cost Of the three hospitals 10
81 O,UO0 for that sum was appropriated
ITO carry out the provisions u this act, y
lto-wit: building three insane hospitals.
The net provided that . board OF con-
'struction shOuId be appointed by the
lgoverR0r, compnsed Of four persons-
two from each political party-with the
|govern0r o. president. Gov. Porter be.
came rcspOn sibIc for tho action OF this
hoard from the fact that he appointed II
AMI was its president. The act made no
provision Tor raising the money to pay
the appropriation. The state treasury
was then taxed 10 its full capacity 10 pay
the current expenses OF the state and the
Interest on the debt. This condition OF
the treasury demanded prudence and
economy In the building OF the hospitals.
But Gov. Porter and . majority Of bis
board had extrsvagant ideas Ia regard to
the construction Of insane hospitals
They did not stop 70 consider the condi-
tiOn Of the treasury. They did not even
confine themselves 10 tho plain pro-
visions of the law. Sites for the hospitals
we're selected. plans sdopsed and con-
|tracts lei, which have involved the ex-
|psndifure OF 8 l,4OJ,OOO to this date, and
two Of the hospitals are not completed
Every dime 81 this 81. .4OQOQO is repre-
|sented IN the increased debt eince 1888.
These obligations Of the state wera crea-
ted BY the republican administration OF
Gov. Porter, and may properly 30 desig-
mated q big blunder by the republican
organ Of the state.
With all the enormous expenditure
for the three hospitals they will only nc
com'noslsie LILO patients. The Rich.
mond hospital Is sprcad over ten acres
and built behind . hill. which must BE-
removed 10 permit tho building TO be
-een from the railroad. The Evansville
hospital is four miles from water, aud
how to obtain II will be . problem for
the next legislature. Talk about blum
ders 10 managing the finances OF the
State! The Evansville Journal, = rcpub-
Iican organ, says Gov. Porter's hoard was
composed Of -jack-lcg country lawyers"
The republican party must shoulder this
and must be held responsible
for tho increase Of the state debt, which
Il caused.
THE NEW srArE-HoUsE.
Al the time Gov. Porter and nsjority
Df HE board adopted the cxtravaga MI
plans for the three hospitals, the state
house WA far from being completed, aud
he money TO nay the contractors was|
not In sight. The tax levy, OF centsl
.as mot sufficient Tor the purpose, and 81
osn had TO be made, or money taken
rom the general fund. In 1855 . loan
u $5OO.00O Was made for this purpose,
md the obligations for Gov. Portcr's cx-
ravagant plans for the three hospitals
'ccoming due, further loan Of 5000 OOOl'
lad to be made to paw them. This raised
nc state debt TO $6O03.6u8 "a. in 1885. L
During Gov. Porter's administration he
c0pcncd the controversy about the Mar
in claim, which had been settled BY
,ov. Williams administration, and the
cpublican members, In both houses,
asscd In 1883, with the aid OF . few Z
emocrats, the claim. aud the state treas Z
ry was bled TO the tune OF SIS, 900, toll
~ II. Here was blunder which ap-
reached crime, and which must bell
hsrged 10 the republican adIninistrationlt Il
Gov. Porter. Il
There was no change in the debt in d
3S6. \
nE REPUBLICAN, HOUSE or 1887 REsrox. |
sIBLE roR 4 LARGE INCREASE.
A majority OF republican members
ore elected 20 tho house in 1886, and
hen the legislature met In 1887, = Mr..
syro vas elected speaker. aud the re-
nbIican party was In full control Of the A
,usc. The record OF this house Il an
nsavory one. Its principal business III
- devising ways and means 10 steal Al !,
. .. senator who would oppose 4 re-
rmation Of the rohbcr tariff. II did
q succeed In this. but Il did succeed liz
making very bad financial record b,
Z IL party. Its action can not be dcs- Al
mated ~ blunder. Il was . crimc. 1.
hen IL met the state debt was $6.OO6, lai
= 81. and on the 3lst Of October pre- tf
ding there was only $500 In the gen. III
Al fund ~ the treasury. The auditor d
state hsi reported (page ~ thar there b,
a boon q reduction oi S53.S37. l69 In III
apPraiscmcut of real and personal %