Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1895-11-08
TIE STATES FINANCES
How They Have Improved Un-
der the Present Admins
tration.
What Has Been Done bY the
Republicans to Put the
State on it's Feet.
ITS PLEDGES REDEEMED,

When the present republican admin.
istration 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 popullstic manage
ment of the affairs of government, the
treasury wasin q sorry state. The in
coming administration was the recipient
of 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 were 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 S28, 900. The bills for cur.
rent expenses which had been accumu-
lated and remained unpaid. aggregated
about Sl35,0O0. There was nothing
with which to meet the running expense
of the state. A legislative session was
at hand, and its expenses were to be met
almost Immediately. And to meet them
there were no funds. and state was be.
hind in payments about sl61,OOO The
prospect was not by any means an
encouraging one.
1t was condition and not a theory
which confronted those who were to
handle the financial end of the admins.
tration of affairs, and as condition, it
must be met. The immediate and most
pressing necessity was that of funds to
pay the expense of the legislative session
To meet these, Governor Allin, Auditor
Briggs and Treasurer Nichols, as auth
orized by law, borrowed $SO, 900. This
was for the payment of mileage and per
diem of members, printing, clerk hire.
and the other incidental expenses of the
session.
The first condition having been met,
temporarily, the question of the payment
of the $135, 600 of unpaid claims come up
for settlement, A special act was passed
by the assembly, authorizing the fund
ing of $3.50, 600 Of thus floating debt.
And at once after the close of the ses.
sion, Auditor Briggs and Treasurer
Nichols went east, and secured the
funding 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 tho administration Of
affairs upon the same principles of busi-
ness which would be adopted by any
private concern, which had been plung.
ed into debt to such IN extent by the
carelessness and mismanagement of its
servants. These debts must be paid
and in addition the ordinary running
expenses of the state must be met. And
it il to these ends that the financiers of
the administration 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 show whether or not this has
been and is being accomplished The
running expenses of the state have been
met, 9nd all bills paid up to the first
day of October. In addition to this, the
state has paid $4,000 of the first $50, 900
which was borrowed. At the end of the
present quarter, on January next, the
last $50, 900 will :have been paid, and
aside from this, ebout $4,000 will be