Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1900-10-05
Difference in favor, Of Re.
~ Dub1iCans


DrbA1cans .................. $16'27447
4, Now, il there was any difference in
the cost of maintenance in the two
years the excess should be in the year
when there was the largest crop, but
such 10 not the case, for the crop that
Il cost $207, 900 to inspect was about
one-fourth less than the crop that the
Republicans inspected for $l91. 900. And
Il must not be forgotten that the Lind
administration also had board Of ap-
peals to fill with it's heelers at cost
OF $4,000, bringing the total excess
over the expenses Of the last year Of
Republican rule quite up to $4,000;
The cause Of this difference in ex-
pense is not far to seek. 1t can be
found in the fact that Gov. Lind APP
pointed to- the chief places in the
bureau men who were totally unfa-
miliar with the work, and who were
given places for purely political rea-
sons, and this compelled the depart
ment to enlarge the pay roll in order
to get men to do the work. The ex-
cess in the pay roll Of 1900 over that Of
1898 would, as Mr.. Dunn has pointed
out, pay twenty-seven inspectors SAL
aries of $500 a year. EACH, The depart
ment has simply added to the pay roll
enough Of these $500 inspectors to do
the work Of the $1,000 to $4,000. men
who devote their time solely to Dem
ocratic politics. ..-> >-.
: But It. was Mr.. Dunn's expose Of the
mismanagement-to call it by its mild
est name-in the prison Irvine plant
that appalled, the people and dumr-
founded the Democratic managers.
They could not deny the accuracy Of
the figures, for they were taken from
Warden Reeves official reports to the
state auditor. In making his report Of
the facts Auditor Dunn speaks almost
as reluctant witness, dislikinS to
attach discredit and reproach to tho
state of which he is so proud. He
simply gives the Official figures that
show an excess Of $341 ,651.45 in the
operating expenses of the, prison. for
1900 over those of 1899. Ht' +,
He then points out that, according
to Warden Reeves report, there Is on
hand at the prison 1,175, 900 pounds of
sisal for which the managers paid 81
cents a pound, and which can be
bought in the open market to-day for
] SM cents a pound, showing loss Of
cents a pound on 1,175, 900 pounds, or a
total loss Of $4,000. That is as far an
Mr.. Dunn carries the figures, but those
who have read ind followed his speech
70 further. They face the fact that
the state has been disgraced IL not
robbed, and want to know the worst.
The fact is that the managers OF the
Irvine plant bought, as Warden Reeves
report to the state auditor shows, more
Y than 100000 pounds Of sisal, costing,
/, according to the same authority, not
less than 81 cents pound. Now, this,
a about the highest price ever paid for
that product, and that price ruled for
hut a short time, that time being when
the Philippine insurgentA were makirk
< their most successful fight against the
American forces. It is a most singular
thing that Col. Reeve, who had just
J returned from the Philippines az a
! nominal officer Of an American reFt-
Y ,nent. should be 80 convinced of the
nerrnanence of the Aguinaldo govern
i ment" as to stock up the prison Irvine
& plant for years to come at a fancy
price that could hold good only in the
i event of the failure Of the Americans
70 subdue the rebels in the Philippines.
IT Col. Reeve had ever followed his
U men into actual battle In the Philip
K pine war he would have seen enough
q to convince him that the Tagals could
not hold out long against American
arms. and he would not have paid out
1 the states money on a. speculation, the