Telegram-herald., 1890-10-06
WHAT OTHERS SAY.
Light ON state Fiasnss.


form OF the Oakland county democracy.
The insinuation NSs that large sUms OF
money Dad been extrayagzntly, IL not
c0rruptiy used Dy the Republican State
administration. aud II thea sald that
the people wanted 10 know about u.
Ia our former article we admitted
that We had paid the bonded debt Oi
over s. $50 600, left by the Democracy.
We admitted that We had cancelled
bond and interest debt of $40 ,OO0. 900,
caused by the rsbellion OF the southern
wing Of theft party.
We admitted that We had received
from the sales OF educational lands s5,-
3l5 600
We admitted that we had paid $l4,-
SOC. 600 for the support OF schools.
We admitted that there was now no
bonded State debt.
We admitted that the State had a
balance sheet showing available assets
of SIC, ,lO0, 900.
We admitted that an annual tax of
about 81 600 900 was eliminated from
the local taxes of the State tor school
purposes, by reason of liberal payments
from the State treasury.
We admitted that 81 ,020, 900 from the
sale of swamp lands had been used in
the construction of wagon roads.
We admitted that ,325 900 acres OF
swamp land were granted for building
a pioneer railroad through the wilder
ness OIL the upper peninsula.
We admitted that the Republican
party had got along with the State gov
eminent, paid old debts, established Al
credit, founded and fostered educa-
tional, charitable, penal and refOrma-
tory institutions by taxing the people
on the average, annually, l.62 mills on
thedOllar, while the Democrats required
an annual average tax of 2.55 mills on
the dollar, and ran behind.
We also hInted that the Republicans
in dealing with the trust funds of the
State, followed the constitution and
laws handed down to them by the Dem
ocrats.
We now state that in 1887 the super
lntendent of public instruction was au-
thorlzed TO receive money from the sale
OF educational lands and deposit the
same with the State bank the first Mon
day OF each month, and at such other
times as his receipts should equal $780,
600. He was further authorized TO loan
this money TO the counties, but not 70
exceed $4,000 to any one, and for not
less than ten years time. Should coun-
ties not call for the money as fast as re-
ceived he could loan to individuals.
In lS4S this system of dealing with
the trust funds was changed, the law
providing for their disposition through
the State Land Office, and requiring the
principal and interest to be paid into
the State treasury. This law was sig
nificantly silent as to the loaning feat
ures of the previous one. Why the
Democratic fathers, in their wisdom,
changed from the loaning scheme to the
present one VIC do not stop 10 inquire.
Money once in the State treasury can
be dlsbursed only in accordance with
law. This money in the treasury and
unapprOprated is a resource under the
constitutional provision quoted by the
Post, and hence, when the Legislature
provides the annual tar which with
other resources will be sufficient to pay
the expenses OF the State Government,
1t takes notice of this as well as of other
moneys which come into the State
treasury under various constitutional
and statutory provisions.
If the editor of the Post we're in
position TO do it, would he violate the
constitution and laws III handling the
trust funds2 Talk IS cheap. Come,
now, tell US just what you would do
with the first 800 received from the
sale Of primary school land that came
into youl hands as a State officer
We quote briefly from the Post
article:
The Republican further says: Indeed so
liberal has been the states support Of schools
that the two mill tax WAS reduced 20 one mill
I'm is59. thus effecting a saving In local taxa
ton 70 the taxpayers OF the state at the pres
eut time OF about tl.ooo.oc0 per annum."
LIBERAL With what2 With money
drained from the people by taxation.
A saving TO taxpayers. How? This
reminds us of the philosophy of poor
Kick Jarndice, who estimated his riches
by whatever he wanted but didn't buy
Really. we do not see the drift of this
reasoning unless the state is something
outside of the people. which has some
wonderful process of creating re-
sources"
The editor will remember that critl-
cisms are generally confined 20 the state
government, officers and taxation, aud
not 90 local government, officers and
taxation. The burden of tho attack is
generally about skate taxation under the
Republicans. Consequently it "a deemed
legitimate, IN gvinx a blll OF particu-
lara, g. show the purposes OF the several
taxes. and IS come OF them are for
paying expenses previously borne By
local taxation It is quite proper 20 sug-
Ecsf that IN such cases the increased
state tax i not burden on the tax
PAYER. for the reason that hrs local
tax Will be lesSened by unequal amount
Ii poor Rick understood tals. he vas
apparently brighter than the editor Of
the Post.
Local taxation has also been reduced
at the expense Of state taxation In car
ing for the insane. IN conveying con
vlcts 70 prison. etc, etc. by more thau
S3o0. 600 per annum. We say nothing
here a. 20 the policy Of the legislation
which shifts TIE burden Of this local
tsxatl0n upon the STATE. but do INSIST
that irl as fsT as state TAXATION = ~
creams decreasing local taxation. there
= no increased burien upon tie tax
paver. Agsin we repsst inst We have
aceompI shed 0ur results with an aver
asa annual tax of 50 mills on the dol
lar. whae the Democrats required an
average Of z.S5 on the dcIar g. accom-
plish what taey did. We quote briefly
again.
The lsst clause Of tbe Oakland
county Democratic platform vas les