The age-herald., 1899-10-08

reducing the state tax rate about one-half l and at the same time have our state set l the splendid example of compelling every l citizen to carry his fair share of the public burdens.
 The tax rate has been raised for two l purposes only, one to educate our children, l and the other to care for the ma1med heroes who fought our battles and immor- talized our state by their deeds of valor. l Reforms have been instituted in our edu- catonal system from the university down, fitness being made the standard of availa- bility and all the higher institutions are 1 doing now better work than at any time l in many years.
 Appropriations for the common schools l have been increased one hundred thousand dollars out of the general fund, and nearly a quarter of a million by special tax. We are trying to enfranchise the intellect ana make citizenship that will be the pride of our state. These things would have been impossible had not other reforms and economies been put in operation.
 The census of school children was over hauled, and in one county the number was reduced in one day from 9567 to 13,736. i The standard of qualification for teachers i has been greatly elevated, and on the lines recommended by me in my inaugural mes 1 sage to the general assembly, and the de-
  l ing progress under the stimulus of large l appropriations and moro progressive laws. The management of the public school l lands Q6th sections) has simply been dis- l graceful. The books of the department faiI l to show the disposition of thousands upon 1 thousands of acres; notes given for the | purchase of one, and aggregating some $50, 900, and running from 1850 to 1890, appear, so far as the records show, to have never been collected. In many cases notes were | fna,f- ar- tice given them, and thousands of acres of land have been lost by permitting squat ters to enter upon it and hold them until the state was barred from bringing suit. Under an act passed at the last session l have been having all these matters over hauled, and we have already recovered l back some 4,OOO acres of land that was be- ing claimed without any right, and have recovered some 5000 compromises where the whole could not be recovered. I hope yet to save more to the children of the state.
 Savings in the Convict Department When I came into office the convict de- partment owed about $30,00O. Supplies pur- chased for the convicts had to be bought on credit. Reforms were instituted and expenses reduced so that in a little over two years the deficit of 10000 was paid s67- 450 covered into the general fund to aid in paying the expenses of the state govern ment, and there is now a cash balance on hand of about $43000, and we hold manu- factured goods worth S14oO0. The total net savings is thus shown to have been nearly 00O in this time. Never but once before, and that some years ago, has any money been paid into the general fund from this department. There is no reason why the convicts should not be brought to aid in educating the children of the state whilst being punished for their crimes.
 The Deficit Paid
 Before was inaugurated a joint commit tes of the two houses of the general assem- bly, was appointed to examine the finan- cial condition of the state and report there- on. It made the examination, and on the 25th of November, 1896, reported that the deficit on January l, 1897, would amount to $56S, ,065.A Within a little over two years this deficit had been entirely extingushed and the state pays cash on every claim To accomplish these results every possible leak has been stopped, every unnecessary expense has been cut off and most rigid economy enforced
 The small expenses have been carefully examined into, and reduced where possible The insurance on the capitol has been cut down $500 in three years, and the same amount of insurance carried The cost of fuel has been reduced nearly one-half Other Economies
 A certlned report rom the state treasurer dated October 2, shows these facts:
 Cost of transmitting school funds under Section 3611 of the code:
 Year ending September 30 1894 96O 42 Year ending September 3O 1895 1.12S 93 Year ending September 3O 1896. ..... 1,091 36
 $3,16o71 Year ending September 30 1897 TAI. 1.6 Year ending September 30 1898. - 54S35 Year ending September 30, 1899. ...... 27S.77
 $1,5eS 97 The saving fin the three years of my ad- ministration has been $ 621.74, and the cost finally brought down about $1, 900 per an- mum to less than $500 per annum
 Cost Of transmitting money to New York to pay interest on bonds:
 Year ending September, 1894. S46. Year ending September, 1895. ......... 74992 Year ending September. 1896. e........... sOO.OO
 s2,so612 Year ending September, 1897 .. 205 % Year ending September, 1S9S. ..... 5000 Year ending September, 1899. .......... ....
 $500 This shows a saving during my term of $2,141.12. and that the annual cost has been gradually reduced from about $3O0 a year to nothing. Cost of transmission temporary loans: Year ending September 30. 1894 5O5. .29 Year ending September 30, 1895. ....... 1374.3 Year ending September 30, 1S96 ...... 122S.4 Year ending September 30 1S97..... ... .. Year ending September 30, 1898. ... :. Year ending September 30, 1S99 ....... ..... This shows that this cost has been re- duced from an average annual expense of over s1,0OO to nothing during my entire term. The difference in expense in these three items alone during the three years have been in office as compared with three pre- ceding years aggregates $6,S70.97, more than two-thirds of the entire salary received by me.
 Contingent Fund The amount expended from the contin- gent fund for the three fiscal years pre- ceeding my inauguration aggre- Bdteu 'pl0,oNH'VV l During my term for three years the aggregate is .................. S074.7