The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1899-05-11
A Defense That Is q Confession.
Secretary Lesueur tries again

Secretary Lesueur tries again to
befog the true condition of the state
treasury, but incidentally admits ali
the essential points OF the charge
These points are that the general re-
venue fund is exhausted and cannot
meet the current demands upon it.
that there is deficiency of several
hundred thousand dollars in sight;
that expenditures are steadily run
ming ahead of revenue; aud that it is
proposed to again violate the statutes
by transferring monev from the ill.,
terest fund to the revenue fund to
avert the prospect OF state warrants
if they are issued for claims due and
overdue. Lesueur uses more words
than before. lie takes nearly two
columns to urge that the financial
condition of the state treasury is
satisfactory. But he completely re-
flutes himself. His confession, in his
own language, can now be added tc
that of the governor, who admitted
but underestim ated, the deficiency in
his message; the state auditor, who
placed the deficiency at large sum-
and the state treasurer, who said that
his hair had turned gray in trying to
meet ordinary expenses.
Here is Lcsuenr's confession, as
found in his lengthy statement print.
ed in Democratic paper: "Oh. bu,
the governor and the auditor have
said that there was a deficiency. Ger.
tainly, but howS A deficiency Of .esti.
mated revenue under estimated de.
mands, but neither gentlemen has said
there would be a deficiency of rcve.
nues under appropriations as they
will be enacted into law. How could
they until now, when the bills are
pretty we'll shaped up" Lesueur is
looking to tho legislature itself fol
financial succor. He knows that ap.
preparations will no: be lighter than
usual. The cost of the legislature it.
self is $4,000 more than the cover.
nor's estimate, which admitted def.
cheney in revenue "for ordinary ex.
pense alone of S16S,446." Lesueul
anticipates relief from fhe additional
revenue to be provided by the lcgis.
vofv t,Sc of
pectstions. The bills are not yet laws
They are of doubtful constitution
ality. In any case, the treasury can
not be relieved for some time. The
best that Lesueur can say for the
treasury is that it is all right pro
vided the present extravagant and
incompetent legislature is judiciou:
in appropriations and able in pro-
viding revenue.
Lesueur is in the position of the
man who promised guest meat fol
supper and, as the meal drew near
went to the woods to look up squir
rel. The general revenue fund car
be helped at present only by illegally
depicting some other fund. Demo
cratic ringsters may call this soune
finance, but prudent managers know
tho meaning of such makeshitts, eve,
when uncomplicated with a violation
of law. Under such system of bust
ness revenue laws are hastily togglei
up to meet present emergencies ani
cover up past mistakes. In q shor
time the crisis returns moro formid
able than ever. Secretary Lcsueur i
perfectly well aware of the difficulty
or rather existing impossibility, o
legally paying current expenses will
no general revenue on hand. Hi
guess about what the legislature will
appropriate and what revenue law
it will enact is of no particular i'm
portance. Sanguine guesses abou
future events are a poor basis TO
running a state treasury. The treas
ury of Missouri. is unable to NEE
current demands OH its general reve
nue.. The hole in it amounts to Sc
veral hundred thousand dollars ant
is growing daily. Lesueur's flori'
expectations are not negotiable
Globe Democrat.
| MANY old soldiers now feel the ef