Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-10-01

the state treasury at the incoming OF
his administration Let us see.
Call as witness the Hon. David T.
Littler.
Mr.. Littler was a member of the
senate from 1895 to 1898 inclusive.
He served in the senate at the sessions
of 1895 and 1897. The following is an
extract from a speech delivered in the
senate Feb. T. 1t was reported by the
Associated Press, and published in the
newspapers of Feb. ). Senator Littler
is close personal friend of Gov. Tan
her. The Associated Press reported
Mr.. Littler as follows:
Then raising his voice until he
could be heard in the corridors, Mr.
Littler thundered:
The present depleted condition of
l the state treasury is due to the stub
bornness and lack of qualification of
the appropriations committee of the
last senate (republican senate of 1880
The consequence is we have a bank
| rupt treasury, and we are today
| asked to authorize the governor to
| borrow $3.50, 900 to supply the def
| cheney in the treasury, and / am au-
| thorized to charge that deficiency to
the chairman of the appropriations
| committee of the last senate Dunlap,
of Champaign, republican, and 1 re-
fuse to serve on the revenue COM
| mittee with him, and want my name
stricken from the list
Senator Dunlap was on his feet
and said: i want the people to dis
tinctly understand that the represen-
| tations made by the senator Uittler)
are not true
81 Isn't it true, shouted Littlef,
that you were urged to increase that
levy, aud isn't it true you opposed a
larger levy than was finally made?'
The appropriations were made
directly in accordance with the re-
publican caucusses,' replied Dunlap
i repeat, continued Littler, that
l am authorized by the governor him
self to state from my seat in this senate
| that the chairman of the committee
on appropriations is more responsible
for the depleted financial condition of
| the state than all others put together,
| and L charge that his willful DISPOSE
| ton against correcting the tax levy is
| the reason for our financial condition
| today
Read Senator Littler's testim ony
over again, and note that he declares,
| not that Gov Altgeld is response bic
for the deficit, but that it is due to the
chairman of the republican commit
tee of the Legislature of 1895, of which
Mr.. Littler himself was also a mem
| Der. Note, also, that he makes this
declaration on the authority of Gov.
Tanner.
Now, let us see what Tanner says.
Call Gov. Tanner to the stand. A day
or two after Senator Littler's speech,
the governor having had ample time
to give the declaration of Senator
Littler full consideration, and put the
best phase on it that he could, he
gave out he following statement in
an interview:
During the session of 1895 (when
the republicans controlled both
branches by an overwhelming ma or-
ity-Altgeld being governor), went
to Senator Dunlap, Speaker Meyer
and Representatives Cochran and
Needles Gall republican leaders) and
begged them not to disgrace the old
commonwealth. / pointed out to
| them that they had appropriated $1O,-
400, 900 for expenses, and by their
levy had only provided IS, 900, 900 to
pay it. l told them, when they cut
down the tax levy, that Gov. Altgeld
would be obliged to call a special ses-
sion of the legislature to correct their
mistake. knew this would have to
be done, and on these gentlemen
have named was the responsibility for
the extra session. The tax levy as
passed in 1895 was 81. 400. 900 short
of the appropriations. The extra ses-
sion called by Gov. Altgeld raised
81 900, 600 more, but this still left a
deficit of $1,40O,OOO This 1 then
considered, and now consider, an in
excusable piece of Legislative blunder-
ing"
Tanner at Golconda was making a
political harangue, and using mate
rial prepared for him by his partisan
machine.
Tanner in his interview was max
ing a statement as governor. not as a
politician. In this statement he con-
firmed the declaration of Senator Lit
tier that the republican committee
was responsible for the deficit, and
added: This then considered, and
now consider, an ineXcusable piece of
Legislative laundering"