The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1897-08-27
II PAYS AS IT GOES.
Ohio's Financial Condition the
Best In Many Years.
Low INTEREST ON PUBLIC DEBT.

III MS inaugural duuTeSSI uellFtrcu
ON the 18th of January, 1896, Governor
BUSHNELL said: 1.-THE neutral pleasure
and gratiufcation that comes to one
who is called to such an eminent
place among his fellow-men is sobered
by the reelection that 1T remains to
secure the approval which should fol-
low the work of the faithful servant.
Time only can tell how much or how
little / shall merit your commentator,
but it will be my constant aim and
purpose to serve you faithfully and as
wisely as there is light given me to
show the path of right, and l shall ever
remember that l am the servant OF the
people" In the same address he said:
''TJhe state of Ohio, as it is represent
ed by its government, is but vast
business concern"
These two declarations exhibited the
principle and the policy of the present
governor of Ohio in his relations to the
people of the state and their interests.
Now that he is candidate for re-elec-
tion and therefore asking an endorse
ment of mis- administration from those
whom he has served, 1t is pertinent to
inquire whether it has been his aim
and constant purpose to administer
the trust placed in his hand for the
benefit of the whole people, and upon
such lines as one would conduct sue
cessful and honest business.
In considering the administration OF
Governor Bushnell, even the most cas-
ual observers of state affairs and OF
the methods and results that obtain in
the various departments, must be struck
by its cleanness and its success In
every way. In the last twenty months
there has been constant improvement
upon the good conditions of the past.
That is, the affairs of state have been
placed upon stiA. more economical
and efficient basis, while the results
obtained in every department and In
every branch of state work have been
in the highest degree satisfactory.
One of the first signal instances Of
Of Improvement was that which Sc
cured additional and needed revenue
for the state without the increase Of
taxation upon the people. In this re-
spect the record Of the STATE admins
tratlon and the general assembly Is
almost without a parallel. Over one
million dollars has been added to the
nSwe4ue, and yet no burden has been
pot upon the people as whole. The
excise tax, which was levied upon cor
porations enjoying public franchises,
produced large amount of money, and
1t was paid willingly. The various
other revenue measures were of kind
which created the least Hntagonism
and were of the most satisfactory char
acter to all concerned.
AS a result of these wise provisions
inaugurated and carried into effect by
a Republican administration and by q
Republican Legislature, the debt of Ohio
is passing away. For the first time fo1
many years the auditor of state has
not been compelled to make advance
drafts upon the various counties. The
state now has money enough to pay
its own way at all times, and this with
out reducing the efficiency Of its insti
tutions or abating one fota In such af
fairs as have ever stood to its credi
and made it prominent among tht
American sisterhood Higher educa
ton, better conditions in benevolent
ard charitable institutions, splendid
credit abroad and satisfaC tory bal
ance sheet are few of the many goot
things made possible by executive man
agement and legislative wisdom undel
q Republican era.
"A remarkable fact of the present l.
that the debt of Ohio as now place.
entails an interest charge less in ratt
than the scale upon which the nationa
government borrows, and certainly aI
low as that of any other common
wealth of America With conditions
such as they are at present, and witt
a continuance of the liberal Treatment
that has always been accorded to th'
public institutions and to public attain
in Ohio the state will be practicall!
without a debt in 1900.
While such a satisfactory statemen
can be made by the state treasure
and auditor, there is further sourc
Of congratulation in the physica
and financial conditions Of the stat
institutions. The Ohio penitentiaSy
for the first time in several years, |
very nearly upon paying basis. Il
twelve months from this time it is con
fldently expected that the balance shee
Of that great penal establishment wi
show earnings over end above all legiti
mate cost OF operation. This result ha
been obtained under adverse circun
stances, and during a time when th
population Of the great prison has bee
larger than ever before.
The benevolent institutions have II
creased their efficiency and have show
lower per capita cost In every II
stance. In some of these institution
handsome savings have been effecte
and when the next general assembl
convenes the finance committee wi
have the pleasure of noting that ba
nnces exist to the credit Of many inst
buttons. This economical administr
tion does not mean that public proper
thas been neglected to Its own detr
ment. The buildings are all in goC
repair. They are claan and wholeson
and in the very best state for the pu
pose for which they we're designed.
good has been the result obtained tn