The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1894-10-19
FISHERS FOLLY.
ExTRAVAOANT STATEMENTS
ON THE STUMP CORRECTED.
Gov. Rich's Administration One of the
Best Michigan Has Ever IIad.-uonest
and Economical.

spicuous manner. In the form OF ques-
tions and unsupported assertions he is
repeating the same stuff about the ex-
travagance of Gov. Rich's administra
ton that has been published in the
Democratic handbook" and already
refuted by Republican papers.
At Ann Arbor and elsewhere he has
made the wild assertion that Gov.
Rich's administration has cost the peo-
pie S733, 1885 more than Gov. Winans'
did, when, as has been already shown,
theRepublican administration has been
$323, 626. Is more economical than the
Democratic. Mr.. Fishers lack of can
dor, if not downright dishonesty, is
shown by the fact that he never tells
his hearers that the Democrats had the
advantage of receiving $420, S65. 66 from
the United States and also reduced the
working funds of the state $257, 636. 88,
thus making S67s,502 spent, of
which they are not willing to give a
word of explanation. Are the people
willing to trust such men to manage
their affairs? No, they have had one
experience with Democratic manage
ment in Michigan of late years and
that one is enough.
Mr.. Fisher asserted that the treasury
of the state had been overdrawn within
the last 80 days. So far from being
overdrawn was the state treasury on
the first day of October inst, that it
contained $492, G3S.19, which. shows
that the Republican administration
has not only stood the strain of Demo.
cratic deficiencies and heavy expendi-
lures, but has also brought the treas
rru nm ~ lie nOrDa condition
He also represented that there
had been great increase in the
number and cost of clerical help in the
several departments. The fact is, as
HAS already been shown, that there is
absolutely no increase in clerical help
throughout the departments, except in
the auditor-general's Office and in the
secretary of states. The former is
caused by return to the state system
of the collection of delinquent taxes.
The work which was done under the
Democratic administration in the 81
counties is now done by the state, but
at no increase of expense to the people.
About so extra clerks are now employed
in the state department on the compi-
latiop of the state census.
1t is true, as he asserted, that the
salaries of the justices of the supreme
court were increased, but at the same
time they were required to move to
Lansing and devote themselves con-
tinuously to the legal business before
them. The court has thus been prac
tically always in session. Business
has been dispatched as never before.
The court has caught up with its work
Unless this change had been made
additional judges would have been
necessary, SO that virtually there has
been no increase of expense. Why
cannot a Democrat tell the whole
truth? The Republicans are willing
to 60 before the people with the
question of increase in the judges
salaries
The salary of the governors clerk,
however, was NOT increased as Mr..
Fisher asserts Although this is
small matter, it is worth notice as an
instance of Democratic misrepresenta-
ton. The legislature of 1893 sane
toned by law what the Democrats did
without law. The Republicans put on
the statute book what the Democrats
did under cover. These are the facts:
The law originally provided for an
executive clerk at salary of not to
exceed $500. When the pardon board
was first created, $500 were allowed for
clerical help. The executive clerk did
the work under the Luce and Winans
administrations both, making $1,000
salary. When the Democratic legisla-
ture created "board of inspectors"
for the prisons, that board wanted
clerk at the capitol and he was paid
$500 out of the general fund by the
state auditors, although the law pro-
ui1 oil rlr ha hnI "a
amount, ST., 500, was first given to Execu-
tive Clerk Hovey, under Gov. Winans.
When the pardon board was reorgan-
lied by the last legislature, the same
provision as to clerical help was con-
tinued and the compensation placed at
81 500, as il stood before, the amount
having been first fixed by the Demo
Gratis. Why isn't the whole truth bet
ter than lie?
The auditor-generars salary was in
creased when it was supposed by Demo-
Gratis and Republicans alike that the
salaries of all the state officers had
been increased by the people. 1t is
recognized by all who arc familiar with
state affairs that the auditor-gencral
and the attorney-general-w in
crease of salary Mr.. Fisher does not
notice-are entitled to greater salaries
than the other officers.
Mr.. Fisher lays great stress on the
fact that the state prison made some
money in 1892. A consideration of that
question raises some reflections that
Fisher ought to keep out of sight for
his party's good. In 1892, when every
thing in the business world was boom
ing and every convict in the state
prison was working on contracts, that
institution made money; but today,
when manufacturing has been killed
by Democratic administration and the
prejudice against prison labor has been
intensified by Democratic agitation for
political purposes and 300 convicts are
idle, the institution is not making
money and cannot be expected to do
so. Instead of being a profit to the
state, the house of correction at Ionia,
under Democratic auspices, cost $50, 900
more than its estimate for 1912, and
the Marquette priaoG $40, 900 MORGAN
aggregate deficiency of sos, 900 which
the Rich administration had TO assume
and pay
Instead of being ex.rasagant the
administration of Gov. Rich has been
the be- he state H. had for ,r1lv n
day. has hor ~ met it, olga
tions, paid every man his due aud will
Loo l,G os, a..