Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1894-09-27

- ~. D1noCtatIC decrease, 81, 434.8
Industrial School for Boys: Expenses
Tor 188s-9-00, $40, 588.4s. For 1691-s-3,
$l6S. 5S4 90. D.mocnatic increase. $s7, :
746.O8.
State Public School: Expenses,
1s68-9-9Q, Sic. 1888 "a. For 169l-2-3,
$3.50. 73O.59. Democratic increase, $19,-
S47. 80.
Net expense by the Democrats TOR
three years, In excess Of expense by the
republicans, $101, 1905. Rather q re-
markable manifestation OF economy. I
leave the State prison ont OF the compari-
son, as nearly all its expenses are paid
by the convict labor. It has cost the
state only about $25, GOO for the past
three years.
Our Democratic friends may seek TO
explain these very embarrassing figures
by claiming that the state is growing,
that these public institutions are grow
ing also, and therefore that il costs more
now than 1t did q few years ago to main
tain them. This IL not the fact. The
average number Of inmates in our char
liable and penal institutions was no
greater during the years 1928 than
for the three previous years. Here are
the figures taken from the official re-
ports Of the Board of Control having
charge Of the institutions. In the state
hospital, the average number Of inmates
for the years 1888-9-90 was 1856; for the
years 1891-2-8, 525. In the northern
hospital, average number OF inmates for
1S88-9-90, $50; for the years 1923,
6E. In the school fer the blind the av.
erage for 188e-8-90, So; for the years
1923, IS. School for the deaf, aver.
age for 1883 $50, 1913; for 1928, 175
Industrial school for boys, average for
1880-9-90, SOL; for years 1928, 345
State school, average for 1888 80, 1893;
for 1928. 24O. Taking them all to-
gether is will be seen that the average
has not increased.
How then can we account for the
greatly increased expenditures in these
institutions, except ON the ground Of
Democratic extravagance? Nearly
everything in the line Of clothing and
provisions has fallen in price in the last
few years, and as these are leading
items of expense, it is plain that ex-
penditures should have diminished in
stead Of increased. may properly re-
mark that the principal increase has not
been for supplies, but for salaries. Our
reform brethren have found it necessary
to quarter an extra number Of their
friends in these institutions, in order, I
suppose, to more fully work out their
beneficent and economical designs.
There are ether directions in which
economy can be employed to excellent
advantage, but find that in all these
expenses have been incr sased instead Of
t. \
that they should be. submit the fig
ures on clerk hire, labor about capitol,
transient labor, incidental expenses,
etc.:
For clerk hire in the state offices the
Republicans expended for the years
1888-9-90, 1857. 810.97. The Democrats
expended in the years 1801-2-3, $165. :
339. SO. Democratic increase, 81. 528.3l.
cans expended for the years 1ssS-9-9O,
$40, 675.95. The Democrats expended
in 1923, $141 ,946.63. Democratic
increase, $21 .270.6S
For transient laborers, the Republicans
expended in the years 1883 $50, %, 922.-
40. The Democrats expended in the years
1923, $32, 1850. Democratic in
crease, $2s, 221.12.
For incidental expenses the Republi.
cars expended in the years 1889 80,
81, 262.84. The Democrats expended in
the years 1923, $3.50, 1896. Demo-
cratic increase, $40, 471.82.
will not take the time to refer in de-
tail to all the items in the expense ac-
counts and make comparisons. Many
of them do not vary greatly from year
to year, although in numerous cases
they show the same as those l have
given. O Democratic increase in expenses.
There has been no saving anywhere
worthy of mention. The items have
omitted are such as gas, fuel, paper,
printing, publishing laws, bounties, etc.
In some cases the rates to be paid are
fixed by law, and In others the work 10
let to the lowest bidder, like printing,
for instance Except in the roster case).
The items I have given are only the
principal ones where economy may be
fairly practiced. But in all directions,
in every department., from the Govern
or's Office, including the contingent
fund, down to the state horse doctor
and the capitol police, the records show
that the Democrats have expended
largely increased sums over what was
by the Republicans for the
same purposes and during the same
time. or course the permanent appro-
priations are fixed, az are the salaries Of
the state officers, circuits and supreme
judges, and others. The expenditures
in these directions are necessarily the
same under Republican az under Demo
cratic administrations. My Indictment
Of the present administration is, that ii
has nowhere practiced economy, but
wherever there was an opportunity for
extravaganza IL has embraced it. The
figures which I have given abundantly
sustain this indictment. There is no es-
cape from them. IL Is one continued
story Of Democratic increase in ex-