The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-06-08
CIaypooI to the Rescue.

otherwise.
CIaypooI to the Rescue.
When the late democratic legislature
enacted the tax law which has increased
the state revenue to the enormous total of
-, 249, 654. the taxpayers had reason to
believe that it would 90 far toward reduc-
ing the big state debt that has accumu-
lated. But that same democratic legisla-
ture passed appropriations aggregating
| S2,14l 1913. That is 10 say, after the state
| had spent the entire revenue brouRhtlnto
| the treasury bv the burdensome new tax
law, there will still be 1892, pa of the last
legislature's appropriations unpaid. This
means that in spite of the increased taxes
the state debt is growing at the rate OF
nearly half million dollars year. How
do the people like these samples OF demo
| cratic hnanciering ?-C0ltmbtfs Republican.
The above is a sample OF the reliable IN
formation that is being circulated through
the republican press of the state. The
figures given were first presented to the
public by x-Representative JEFF CLAY
POOL Of Fayette county in letter to the
Journal published on May II and re-
hashed editorially by the state organ on the
following day. 1t is surprising that any
intelligent newspaper man would
publish such rot. for ON the face
OF it there could be no truth in the
statements made. Every one knows that
our legislature meets only every other
year, and that at its session it makes ap-
preparations for two years. Every one
knows that the average annual expendi-
lures of the state exceed two million dol
lars per annum. and that they can be made
| only in pursuance of appropriations.
Therefore, any one who has learned to
multiply by two knows that the appro-
priations by any legislature must exceed
| S4,000.O00. Why then should any repub-
lican or republican paper be interested in
stating that the total appropriations were
only 3, 741 ,S9S? Evidently for the pur-
pose of making people believe that the
appropriations for one year alone amount
ed to that sum, which is not true. The
appropriations made by the legislature of
| 1891 are all set out in the acts of 1891, and
are all indexed under the title "appropri-
atoms" Any one who desires can easily
add them up, and on doing so will obtain
| the following results:
Regular appropriations for 1S92...$ g 01S, $40 20
Regular appropriations for 1893. 1,916.96O 90
/ Specific appTopriations.............. POSSES IL
Expenses general assent bly,. 125.0U0 20
To pay state bonds.................... $4,000 90
665, 76S II
Average for one year 1882, SS4 O6
1t will be noticed that the last item
| (S340,0O0) is for the reduction of the state
debt, and if we wish to consider the ques-
ton of how much will be available for
payment on the state debt this should be
deducted. The average appropriations
for 1892 and 1898 outside of payment of
the state debt are 8, 162, SS4O6. The last
three items occur but once in the two
years. and therefore only one-half Of them
should be charged to either year.
Now let US see where Mr. CLAYPoOL got
his figures. Apparently as follows;
Regular appropriations for 1S92...S2, OlS, $40 90
Total specific appropriations........ 265, 32S IL
Total expenses general assembly. 125,000 90
Total payment state debt.............. $4,000 90
Total.-............ ............... S274s, sos u
He has evidently made a mistake OF
$500 in his figures, but this has been his
/ II
the enlightenment of the intelligent re-
publican voter" By adding in the last
three items, which really cover two years,
and one OF them an appropriation for the
payment of state debt, he proves that no
state debt can be paid. You can't pay it
because the money is appropriated
to pay it, don't you see? But
| if he wants TO resort to this
kind of figuring he might have had
the fairness to add that the total appropri-
atoms for 1898, according to his system,
are only S1.916,9 go, and that any revenues
above that sum will be available for pay
ment on the debt.
Nh. CLAYPooL is equally successful in
escaping the truth as to the amount of
| probable revenues of the state. The total
state taxes levied, including the benevo-
lent and reformatory institutions fund, are
81, 439.556.9l, but of this portion will go
delinquent. Deducting the ordinary de-
linquency We will have an annual state
revenue of g, l66,6l2.30. The state, how
ever, has an additional income of
about 100000 per year from other
sources, principally corporation taxes
and earnings of the benev-
olent and reformatory institutions, SO
that the total annual revenues will be
$2,566,6l2.30. If, therefore, the legsla-
lures Of the future shall be as economical
as the last one tappropriating g, 1872 ,Ss4.06
per year We will have SOB, 1924 to apply
on the debt each year. and the last legis-
lature appropriated $4,000 for that pur-
pose 1t must be remembered that the
revenues under the new law are only now
beginning to be available. The May set
Element just made is the first money re-
ceived by the state under the new law.
Out of these moneys there will unques-
tionably be reduction OF the state debt.
Blaine's Resignation.
A cabinet crisis in the United States is
by no means the inn ortant affair that it is