Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1898-10-27

statement showing that ON July |. loIN,
in Is months, the debt had been reduced
20 81 ,122 1912. SO, being at the rate of $1,000
day. Until Jan. II, 1897, the republic
can party bad control Of the state govern
ment in all its branches, legislative, ju-
dical and executive, from the date OF its
admission into the Union, and, the record
shows that il more inefficient, incomfe-
tent and dishonest administrator of
sworn duties can scarcely be imagined.
Lest this statement should be considered
as coming from a partisan, we will call
the republican state auditor on the wit
ness stand. In his report for the year
1892 he called the attention OF the ncom-
ing legislature to the fact that the state
debt had increased from $50, 1852 SO on
Nov. |, 1890, to $3.50 ,906G6 on Oct. |,
1899, being at the rate OF 1892 pei day,
and continued:
"Sucli privileges, though constructed
and sanctioned by law and honestly and
faithfully administered, are seldom free
from criticism in their practice, because
of the constant temptation to abuse.
y They are an expensive luxury
expensive to the state, contributing use
lesslv towards swelling the states in
debtedness in the payment OF Il large
amount of interest on state warrants re-
quired t, be issued in advance OF actual
expenses incurred, which warrants, with
evident delectation and profits, pass into
the hands OF bankers and money loaners.
The money thus practically diverted from
the treasury disbursement, not only in
wolves the payment of advanced interest
before actual disbursement, but relatively
increases the rate OF interest by delaying
the redemption of large amount OF out
standing warrants.
"There are practically no limitations or
restrictions provided by law upon any OF
the state departments, or any OF the state
institutions, boards or other agencies OF
the state, in the amount Of printing, If in
deed the character OF the work that these
state offices, boards or public institutions
may order or demand Of the public print
er. The result has been, in my judgment,
in much useless, if not lavish, waste OF
the public funds from this cause. | am
credibly informed that the printing or
dered and the work done for the a. rcul
tural college has required tons OF material +,
perh4p five fold over actual necessity
upon Il liberal basis OF ecopomy."
The same republican state auditor CON
cludes bis comments thus: "!he uuiOunt
Of appropriation for public printing for
the two years ending March 81, 1898, was
100000. This estimate was deemed to be
sufficient, but from present indications
the amount OF deficiency at the close Of
that term will amount to fully $25, 600"
Yet, Notwithstanding the admonitlon
OF the auditor the extravaganza and steal
ing continued, the legislature OF 1893
passing appropriation bills amounting to
So ,OS7 ,209.75, and in 1895, when the tax
payers of the state were being sold out
by the sheriff Tor their inability to secure
enough OF the gold standard to pay taxes
OF under foreclosure of mortgage. the
boodling legislature compacently appro-
priated So, lac, 22S. 40. Why, in four
years more they would have skinned the
state and had the hides OF the taxpayers
hung out in the sun to dry But the
worm turned. a new political day dawn
ell at Elensburg one bright September
morning in the year 1896, and, by a union
of the forces opposed to the greedy old
methods, the ides OF November witnessed
the crushing defeat of such of the republ-
can party as from interest, ignorance or a
fellow feeling still gathered under the
boodler banner.
Another sample of the looting OF the
state: When Washington was admitted
into the Union the national government
gave it grant of land sufficient, with
proper management, to have built and
equipped all the institutions necessary
for the state, which the republican party
has mortgaged to the hit. Here is a
summary OF these land grants, together
with the amounts OF Indebtedness against
them:
For state charitable, educational
penal and reformatory institu-
tons, to be selected -. acres, 100000
The state has selected -. acres, 81
Against this land the republican party
has caused to he issued warrants, thus
mortgaging the land, as follows:
Western hospital for insane G4,99S.9-
Eastern hospital for insane. 49,, 100000
/ Penitentiary. ................ u, 1921
Soldiers home. .............. S,500.0(
Reform school ............. $1,000. 0(