The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1899-11-03
STATE AND COUNTY FINANCES.

SIAlE AMI COUNI1 FINANCES.
1t is true that the State levy this
year is fifteen cents on the hundred
dollars higher than it was last year.
and that the county levy is twenty
cents on the hundred dollars higher.
But there was never more
essentially dishonest argument than
that of the Populist press in attempt-
ing to make it appear that this in
crease was the result of Republican
mismanagement.
The increased levy in the State is
due directly to Popuist mismanage-
ment. The Legislature of 1897. Popu-
list in both branches, deliberately cut
down the levy to point below that
which they knew would be necessary
to raise sufficient funds to defray the
expenses of the State, merely to make
show Of giving the people lower
taxes than The Republicans had done.
Not only this, but they refused to
make appropriations for the repair of
old public buildings and the construc-
ton of new ones absolutely needed.
with the same demagogical purpose
IN view of mailing a show of economy.
The result was that when the Repub-
llcans came into power they found a
deficiency i'm the State finances of
S44O,OO0, caused directly by the failure
OF the Populists to make high enough
levy two years before. They also
found the State institutions i'm such
condition that large appropriations
were necessary TO restore them to their
former efficiency and make them
adequate to meet their growing needs
IL was to make up this Populist de-
iiciency and provide the funds neces-
sary for the proper maintenance of the
State institutions that the Republi.
cans were obliged to increase the State
levy. If it was crime to do this.
why didn't the Populist majority in
the Senate use the power it had and
block the legislation? If there was
any steal in any of these new appro-
priatlons, how can the Populist
Senate clear its skirts? Surely i'll
there was anything culpable i'm the
action Of the last Legislature, the Pop
ulist Senate must share the blame
with a Republican House But there
was nothing culpable. The culpabili-
ty is to be laid upon the Populist
Legislature of 1897, for its deliberate
refusal to make Il large enough levy to
meet what it knew the expenses of the
State would he, thus putting upon the
state the shame Of having to stamp
It's warrants "Not paid for want of
fuhds," and forcing the creditors of
the State to either wait for their Just
dues, or discount their claims to some
money shark" So much in expla-
nation Of the additional State tax.
And now as to the additional county
levy.
This has been made nece. sary
wholly by unforeseen and eXtraordin-
lry expenses incurred during the
year 1898, mot due in the least to Re.
publican dishonesty or bad manage
nent The Bell murder trial, for ex-
ample, cost the county Il thousand
lollars. Surely no Republican official
S responsible for that And then
here were the two grand iuries called
)y petitions signed by men of all
parties, and which would never have
)een called at all, in all probability,
t Il Populist county attorney had
lone his duty. And then there was
he heavy expenditure for bridges,
like eight thousand dol.
ars for last year and this. The levy
night have been kept down if this eX-
Denditure had been refused. But
Who is there to argue that these
BRIDGES, demanded 10y the people to
make travel easy and safe, should not
nave been built? These things that we /,
nave mentioned have made up the
TENS ofeXtraordinary expense. In as
ar as they may be criticised, Repub-
lean officials are not responsible for
hem; and in so far as Republican
'fiicials are responsible for them they |
re not to be criticised. And what I
yer culpability, if there were any, I
ttached to the Republican commits G
ioners must attach also to the Popu