The Advocate and news., 1898-08-10
Standing Up
For Nebraska.
POpuIlSts Take a Record for Honest
State Government Which Is
Without Parallel.
THE PEOPLES MONEY SAVED.

While Kansas POpulists have been
giving the State safe, economical State
government, Populists in other States
have not been inactive. The record In
Nebraska is a splendid one. The first
year shows that S502644 was saved in
current expenses. During the previous
year the total required was $l,536,697,
but the Populists got along with 81 l,O34,-
O52. This saving amounts to an average
Of $1,377 per day. In period OF eighteen
months the State debt was paid on to
the amount Of $700,542. The records OF
the State institutions show that the
wards OF the State have been well cared
for. and at a very materially reduced
cost. The Secretary Of States Office has
shown a continual deficit ranging from
$9,918 to $16,66 but for the year 1878
It will turn $1,000 In the State treasury
In twenty years this deficit has amounted
to $126,269, which has been raised by
taxation. In the State printing in only
four items, the printing Of the session
laws, the House journals, the Senate
Journals and the school laws, net saw
ing of over $4,000 is shown over the
amounts paid in 1896. AS compared
with 1889 the saving Is $14,3O6.
The State Treasurer seems to be one
of those plain, honest men who runs his
Office as q sensible business man would
do in his private affairs Instead OF
boarding money in the treasury or loan
ing 1t to banks and individuals and
pocketing the interest, he has promptly
paid 1t out to redeem outstanding war
rants, Of which there were more than
$555790 when he took charge. He has
paid off $410,542 of these warrants and
1920, 900 of bonds, making total reduc
tiOn in the debt of $700,542. In 1897 the
change in the school fund management
became apparent to the people when
S739591 in interest was distributed to
the schools as compared with an aver
age Of $500, ,205 for the previous six years.
For the first six months Of 1898 this fund
has reached $3.50, ,695, nearly as much as
the entire amount for year under Re-
publican management.
The establishment of free employ
ment agency In the labor bureau has
proved of immense value to the people
OF the State. The general work Of this
department has been greatly improved.
State officers paid into the treasury
in fees $66, ,113, compared with $13,21S
turned in by their Republican predeces-
sOrs during the previous year. Under
decision from the Supreme court In the
cast OF the last Republican Auditor 1t is
no crime for the Auditor, who is ex-
ofiiciO Insurance Commissioner, to re-
tain the fees paid In to this department,
but the present Popullst incumbent
thinks that the money properly belongs
to the State and has paid $4,000 into the
treasury on this account.
A big reduction has been made in the
cost of the collection of taxes. In 1896
It cost $47,97S to collect the taxes, but
In 1897 the cost was reduced to $36,576.
In 1866 1t cost the State $15,SOO to
maintain the Auditors Office, and in
1878 the fees received exceeded the ex-
pense Of maintaining the Office to the
amount OF $l2,705, making a $2S,505 bet
ter showing than was made by their pre-
decessors. In the land department, the
present commissioner collected $669, ,644
In eighteen months, as compared with
$313,973, an increase Of $355,971.
The State oil inspector has been In
Office three years and a half and he has
turned $6,726 into the treasury. In the
seven and one-half years previous to the
beginning Of his term his predecessors
only turned in $71O4. The present in
spector has twice as many inspection
towns as his predecessor had, which nat
urally greatly increases his expense ac-
count. These are only few items taken
from general statement Of the good
work done The whole record Is one OF
which all good citizens must be proud