The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1894-10-05

In that way they kept the wheels Of
government going and maintained the
credit of the state.
Are the people ready for any more
Democratic ''retrenchmeut and re-
form?''
An additional word right here as to
the comparative cost of the two legis-
latures may be of interest to the think
ing voters of the state. We have
shown how the Democrats overran
their estimates for legislative expenses
and made the total cost of ''squaw-
buck" legislation $152, 435.s7 The fol-
lowing statement shows more clearly
the economy of the present admins
tration:
Regular session OF 1891 S138S75 28
Extra session OF 1882. 1850 Oh
Total for "squawbucks". ....,...... s152, 435 81
Session OF 1893. ll6,bI2 90
Republican economy IS IS, 1853 3s
1t adds no little to the disgust with
which the people view the above
figures to think that the cost of the
extra session was due entirely to the
attempt of the Democrats to steal the
next legislature. The supreme court
declared their gerrymander unconsti-
tutional, and they had to pass new
law before election; $13,560.59 spent
for Democratic partisanship!
Certain Democratic papers have been
making a great ado over increased ex-
penses in running the different de-
partments under Republican rule. The
principal attack is made on the audi
tor-generaPs department, the state de.
partment and the board of state audi
tors.
1t certainly costs more to run the
auditor-generals department at pres
emit than under the Democratic admin
istration. The new tax law of 1893
restores the state system of sale of
lands for delinquent taxes. All the
work OF collecting such taxes is done
in the auditor-generars department,
which, under the county system, was
done in the "a counties. 1t costs the
people just so much to do the work,
whether done by the state or by the
counties. The relative advantages OF
the two systems are not at issue be-
tween the parties, for honest Repub-
licans and honest Democrats differ
among themselves. 1t may be added
here, however, that there are not 12C
clerks in the auditor-general's depart
ment, as has been falsely asserted, but
the last pay roll shows just 1o5 names,
including Auditor-General Turner
himself.
Every honest Democrat knows that
the state census of 1894 is being com
piled in the state department, requir-
ing the work of 30 extra clerks. This
is what makes the state department
cost more than it did under the Dem
ocratic administration.
But the most interesting part of the
showing comes in connection with the
board of auditors allowances. They
have been heavy. 1t is well known
that the board a year ago had to pay
1000 on the Mays claim. The his
tory of that makes good Republican
reading.
Thomas Il. Mays took a contract for
building a state road in the upper pen
insula and was to take his pay in
swamp land scrip. He was Informed
by the Democratic land commissioner
that the swamp lands on Bots Blanc
island were upper peninsula lands and
could be selected on the scrip. He
built the road at great expense. The
supreme court, on legal grounds, fin
ally decided that the Bots Blanc lands
were in the lower peninsula and could
not be taken for the construction OF
roads in the upper peninsula.
There were no available swamp
lands up there and Mr.. Mays
was out. The legislature referred
the matter to the board of state audi
tors for adjustment. The board at
first hesitated to pay cash on q swamp
land contract, but Attorney-General
Ellis fled an opinion holding, first
that Mays claim was just one against
the state and, second, that it could be
paid in cash. Then the board allowed
the claim.
Even if the supreme court had not
held the Bots Blanc lands to be lower
peninsula lands, Mr. Mays would have
been left on them, for they were needed
to provide stealings for the Democracy.
Every square inch of them was COB
bled up under the auspices of Demo
cratic ECONOMY and reform"
But after all these necessary in
creased expenditures are taken into
| consideration the fact stands out in
bold relief that the present admins
tration cost the people 1923, 626 Is less
than the Democratic administration
did. That speaks volumes for Repub
lican economy.
|