St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-01-04
OUT OE DERT.


to the taxpayers of at least two of the
states of the Union-New York and
Kentucky. 1t appears from the state
ments of the financial officers that
neither of these states owes dollar of
Indebtedness. AS consequence, the
recommendation is made that the rate
OF taxation be reduced so as to provide
for the raising of only so much revenue
as may be necessary to meet the eX-
penseS of the state governments.
These statements are important as
showing what may be accomplished
under Democratic control. During all
the years that the affairs OF New York
were in the hands of the Republican
party the state debt was constantly in
creaSing, and the taxes were cOnse-
quently high. When Grover Cleveland
was chosen to the chief magistracy of
the state he inaugurated economy in all
the expenditures, thoroughness in the
collection of taxes, and efficiency in all
the public departments. His success
ors followed the programme he inau-
gurated, and the result has been that
the tax levy has been constantly de-
creasing, until it has reached point
where no further reduction is possible.
Meanwhile there has been no impair
ment, but a constant improvement, in
the public service. The state officers
have attended to their duties faithfully,
useless and expensive officials have
beer dispensed with, and from year to
year there has been steady reduction
of taxation. Business throughout the
state, relieved of portion of its bur-
dens, has thrived as never before, and
the condition of the whole people has
vastly improved. 87.
In Kentucky the conditions have been
somewhat different. The state has been
constantly under Democratic control.
The public debt was incurred during
the war and Immediately afterwards.
and was due wholly to the expenditures
incurred in fighting the battles of the
Union and repairing the damage done
by the contending armies. At no time
was the debt large. but the people took
their time i'll paying it. The credit of
the commonwealth being good, the rate
of interest was low. 1t was deemed I'M
necessary to make extraordinary levieS
for the eXtinguiShment of the debt as
by economy the fiscal agents were able
to gradually reduce it from the savings
OF the state government from year to
year. The last payment of the principal
of the debt was made few weeks ago,
and during the current year there will
be slight decrease in taxation. 1t is
the intention of the state authorities to
accumulate small surplus in order to
provide for extraordinary contingencies,
but in the future no more money will
be expended for interest charges. =
In times like these, when money is
carce and difficult to obtain, statements
like these from New York and Ken
lucky are refreshing. They show that
extravaganza does not pervade all pub
lie bodies, but that those controlled by
the Democrats are managed with all the
care and economy that characterize the
private affairs Of our successful bust
ness men. The facts justify the boast
of the Democratic par ty that it is a
business mans party, and that it is
more capable than any other organiZa-
ton to manage the affairs of state on
approved business principles. Repub-
llcan states that are laDoring under a.
load of debt would do well to make
note of these significant circumstances.
THE News assures its readers that the
Bell telephone patent expires in a
month. Esteemed contemporary, that
patent expired over year ago, but the
suit to cancel it is still dragging its
slow length along through federal
court. unconscious that there is no pat
ent to cancel, and lawyers are still TAX
ing testimony in the case. The suit is
only some eight years old, which proba-
bly, accounts for the reluctance of the
lawyers Oh each side to bring it to an
untimely end.
mi,