Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-10-07

aggregate reduced from their previous
valuation. Take, for instance, SUCH OLD
agricultural counties as Berkeley, Jetf-
erson, Brooke, Hampshire, Hardy, Har-
rison and Monroe, and we find an aggre-
gate decrease in the value Of real estate
in these counties, excluding city and
town property, of S1.636, 255.63. In
more thar one-fourth OF the counties OF
the State, chiefly the older agricultural
counties, we find adecreasein the values
of farm lands from their previous val
uation. The farmers clamored for the
last re-assessment of the lands OF the
State. and the result proves that they
are benefited by it. Are we to under
stand that the Republicans who assem-
bled at Huntington are opposed to a
fair assessment of the realty OF the
State, that they object to law which
transfers a portion of the burden OF
taxation from the farm owners who
have been bearing more than their
equitable share to the owners OF city
realty and mineral and timber lands,
property that has been rapidly increas-
ing in value and is owned largely by
corporations and by persons non-resl-
dent Of this State?
A TRANSPARENT CHARGE.
But my fellow citizens, II one charge
in this Republican platform % more
tranparent and false than another, 1t
is that we have "made large debt In
fragrant violation of the constitution
of the State, and used The funds set
apart sacredly to the education OF the
children, for other purposes" Tnls IS
the language of the platform, and L
must say that in my judgment no one
with proper sense OF polltlcal
fairness, who is familiar with the
facts and the record OF eacn
party upon the subject, would have
preferred such charge. The truth Is,
that the present administration is per-
hans the first since the organization OF
the State that has at all times found the
revenues sufficient to meet all current
charges upon the treasury, that has at
all times had surplus" funds on hand.
During prior administrations, ooth
Democratic and Republican, it was fire.
auently necessary to borrow money
either from the banks or elsewhere TO
meet casual or temporary deficits in the
treasury. But mark the difference be-
tween the parties.
HOW SCHOOL FUNDS WERE HANDLED.
As it was and is the duty Of the BOARD
of the School Fund to keep the lrredu-
chile school fund loaned out at interest,
both Democratic and Republican ad-
minlstratons have from time TO time
borrowed from the school fund such
sums as were required to meet these
temporary shortages. When money was
so borrowed from the school tuna
unde Democratic administrations, notes
were duly executed covering the sums
borrowed, and the interest thereon was
regularly paid. When the present ad-
ministration took charge OF affairs,
there was due the irreduciahe school
fund the sum OF S194, 51l.4 so borrowed.
Since then no additional amounts have
been borrowed from that fund or else
where, but on the contrary, the sum Of
$50, 541.4s has been paid back into the
school fund from the surplus revenues
of the State, leaving a balance or only
S1OO, go yet due that fund, on which
interest at per cent is paid annually
and disbursed with the distributable
school fund. Now, while Democratic
administrations borrowed from this fund
to meet casual deficits under authority
and by virtue of law, Republican admin
istrations did the same thing without
regard to law. While the
DEMOCRATS HAVE RIGIDLY ACCOUNTED
to the school fund for every dollar so
borrowed, and have promptly paid ac-
crued interest thereon, the Republicans
kept accurate account of neither prin-
cipal nor interest, and from the forma-
ton of the State to the year 1866, they
used both the general and the free
school funds indiscriminately for gem
eral State purposes in direct violation OF
law. In support of this statement, let
me give you Republican authority. L
quote from the report OF Auditor Nc
Whorter, dated January l, 1866, page l.
He SAYS: sin assuming the duties OF
this Office on the 4th day OF last March,
found that no account had been kept
with the Free School Fund or the Gem
eral School Fund" Auditor McWhor-
ter thereupon opened accounts with
these funds, and when the days OF Re-
pnblicanism ended in this State, five
years later, the books showed,
as nearly as could be ascer-
tanned from the imperfect accounts
kept, that balance OF 500, 50s.34 had
been diverted from the school fund, on
which no interest had been paid, and
for which no note or other evidence OF
Indebtedness had been given, and which
sum Democratic administrations paid
back. This Is the sort Of protection and
care that was given by the Republican
party TO that fluid which its present
platform declares was "set apart sacred
" for the education Of the children"
So long as that party's fingers were In
the Treasury, this fund was not regard
ep too sacred" to be used for other
than school purposes, whether for the
sacred purpose of DISTINGUISHING Demo-
cratic voters or increasing offlcers' SAL
aries by donations Of house rent.
THE PUBLIC PRINTING.
My friends, this remarkable platform
next charges extravaganza In public
printing and stationery accounts.
While no department Of the State Gov
eminent is more carefully watched and
economically managed, there has been
necessarily a gradual increase in the
aggregate cost of printing and station
cry, incident TO the establishment and
growth of our public institutions. But
il comparison is made between present
appropriations, when printing is done
for and stationery supplied TO the Uni
versity, Agricultural Board, Expert
mept Station, Colored Agricultural Col
lege, six Normal Schools, Deaf and
Rlind and Reform Schools. Hospital for