Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1895-11-01
Sorry State in Which the Treasury
Was Lett by the POpulistic
.. Officers. "
What Has Been Done by the Repub-
licans to Put the State on
it's Feet. =
A Record Achieved of Which the
Officers Have Good Reason to
be Proud.
Its Record In Finances,

Its Record In Finances.
When the present republican admins
s~tration took charge of the affairs of
state on the first day of January last, it
found the finances of the state in any,
thing but an encouraging condition.
After two years of populistic manage
ment of the affairs of government, the
treasury was in a sorry state. The in
coming administration was the recipient
of a legacy of debt and overdraft. The
desk of the auditor was covered with
unpaid bills, for services rendered under
the era of populistic control, and credi-
tors of the state we're clamoring for
money. Payment in every branch of
affairs had run behind, with the one ex-
ception of the salaries of the officers.
There were no funds in the treasury
to pay the floating Indebtedness Of the
state. The general fund had been over
drawn some $4,000. The bills for cur
rent expenses which had been accumu-
lated and remained unpaid, aggregated
about S135,000. There was nothing
with which to meet the running expenses
of the state. A legislative session was
at hand, and it's expenses were to be met
almost Immediately. And to meet them,
there were nc funds, and state was
behind IN payments about S16l, 900.
The prospect was not by any means an
encouraging one.
1t was a condition and not a theory
which confronted those who we're to
handle the financial end of the admins
ton of affairs, and as a condition, it must
be met. The immediate and most press
ing necessity was that of funds to pay
the expenses of the legislative session.
To meet these, Governor Allin, Auditor
Briggs and Treasurer Nichols, as author
lied by law, borrowed $4,000. This
was for the payment of mileage and per
diem of members, printing, clerk hire,
and the other incidental expenses of the
session.
This first condition having been met,
temporarily the question of the payment
of the $4,000 of unpaid claims come up
for settlement. A special act was passed
by the assembly, authorizing the fund
ing of 100000 of this floating debt.
And at oIce after the close OF the SEES
sion, Auditor Briggs and Treasurer
Nichols went east, and secured the fund
ing of this amount, that the unpaid bills
against the state might be paid.
Under the circumstance there existed
the most urgent necessity for rigid
economy, and for the administration of
affairs upon the same principles of bust
ness which would be adopted by any
private concern, which had been plunged
into debt to such an extent by the care
lessness and Encouragement of it's SER
wants. These debts must be paid ard in
addition the ordinary running expenses
of the state must be met. And it is to
these ends that the financiers of the ad-
ministratlon has been laboring, during
the time which have passed since their
induction to Office.
A brief statement as to the present
condition of the state, financially, will
serve to showwhether or not this has been
and is being accomplished. The run-
ming expenses Of the state have been
met, and all bills paid up to the first
day of October. In addition to this, the
state has paid $4,000 of the first $4,000
which was borrowed. At the end of the
present quarter, on January l, next, the
last $4,000 will have been paid, and
aside from this, about $4,000 will be
paid on the $4,000 of funded debt.
The administration, at the close of the
first year Of office, will have paid up
$4,000 in overdraft by it's predecessor,
$4,000 which vas borrowed for legis-
lative expenses, and about $4,000 upon
the $4,000 of unpaid claims bequeathed
by the preceding administration,
in addition to all current run
ming expenses. At this rate,
the retiring of the present admlnistra-
ton will see the payment of the debts
incurred by the last one, and the ship Of
state sailing smoothly along, with fair
weather, and untroubled waters. It has
necessitated some temporary hardships,
but these will be more than recompensed
by the relieving of the state of it's finan-
cial difficulties and entanglements.
It is especially worthy Of note that
the expense accounts of all of the state
institutions have been audited and paid
up to October 1, the current month.
Upon the first Of January last, the in.
situations were upon an average Of eight
months behind. Salaries and accounts
employees wages and incidental en-
penses-for the preceding May had not
been paid. It was necessary that en-