The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1897-04-02
RAISE A HUE AND CRY.
Populists Over the STATE Raise q Kick
Over Registering State WarraDts.


Pierre special to Argus-Lsader:
Where two parties share the admins
tration OF state government it is newt
able that either should attempt to
shoulder upon the other any shortcom-
ings, and attempt to show that their
own party is blameless. Such an oo-
casion has arisen in the fact of Treas
urer Phillips stamping slate warrants
mot paid for want of funds" The
populist papers over the state have
taken this up and declared it to be an
attempt on the part of the republican
treasurer to injure the credit Of the
state when there was no need of it and
then to attempt to throw the blame on
the populists. There was certainly no
intent of this on the part of the treas
urer, who was simply stamping war
rants for the reason that the extraordi-
nary expenses OF the legislature had for
the present drained the ready cash
from the treasury and he had nothing
else to do under the circumstances. At
the same time if there is any blame at
tached to the matter it must certainly
rest upon the populist legislature for
their failure or refusal, after their gov
ernor had twice called their attention
to the fact of necessary remedy, to sup
ply the relief he asked them for. The
fact is cited that even with the Taylor
defalcation, and the legislative expen-
ses coming directly upon that the re-
publicans kept up the credit of the
state while now, without any shortage
such as met them two years ago they
are discrediting the state. The only
reason they were able to keep up the
credit Of the state two yeare ago, was
that as soon as possible, revenue war;
rants were issued to meet the emergen-
cy, and by the aid of these the credit
was kept good. This same relief was
at their disposal at the present time,
but such policy had been denounced
by the populists in the campaign, and
the governor in his first message to the
Legislature, as we'll as in special mes
sage later in the session had declared
against such policy and asked of the
legislature that they provide means tc
prevent its recurrence, which would be
inevitable if they did not provide re
lief. The relief was not provided, ano
the revenue warrants again became {
necessity to cash payments, with the
option of stamping warrants, and plac
ing them on the market. Very natur
ally the republican officials did no
intend to take the initiative in such
move, as the revenue warrants coul'
only be issued by the treasurer With tn
advice and consent OF the governor AM
auditor. AS the policy which had beel
carried out by the party of which th
treasurer and auditor are members ha
been denounced by the populists, the
allowed the affairs to go on until tn
treasury had reached stage where &C
tion was necessary and the warrant
were then stamped. When affairs ha
reached this stage, the governor sensl
bly, decided that as the legislature ha
refused to take any action it would b
better to follow the policy which ha
| been in force, than to allow state wa,
, rants to 60 to a discount, howeve
| small it Right be, and took the fire
) steps toward the Issue of revenue wal
, rants which has just been made
amounting to $75, 1000. So far as a cor
} spiracy to injure the credit of the stat
, is concerned, that is the conspiracy.
, Two years ago revenue warrants t
' the amount OF $500, 900 were issued, an
all will soon be taken up. The presen
: issue of $75, 900 may be all that it wi
/, bk necessary to issue for this year
! This will depend largely upon tn
: amount of revenue which will com
3 into the state treasury from ljquo
license. With the ordinary revenue
: would drobably require another issu
} of S75 900 for the year, but this will b
reduced by whatever sum is realize
3 from liquor license. The number {
> licenses which it is estimated will b
! taken out in the state run from 300 t
3 500. If they reach the latter figure
;, there will be no necessity for an
! further issue Of warrants, as, wit
n present estimates this will carry tn
4 state through.
: The ordinary receipts of the stat
u treasury have kept up the expense
the state treasury for the past tw
= years and paid most of the revenl
/ warrants which were issued at tn,
), time, and if the same policy is cont
:. ued for another two years with the a.
y ditional revenue which is derived fro
y =