The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-10-17

4
honesty. 1t is as II merchant should
1 charge the cost of a years stock OF goods
( against one months BUSINESS. II is as IL
/ the cost OF operation and the earning
power OF railroad line or a steamship
should be reckoned by finding the per-
4 centage OF the first years income 10 the
/ entire cost OF building the road or the
| boat. The absurdity f. apparent; so is
the dishonesty Of those who employ this
method TO prejudice the public through
1 deception -
Quoting from the total appropriations for
any institution for a term OF years the
portion OF that money used for perma-
nent improvements Of any nature. put
! into additions to the plant that will be
serviceable for years to come: and by
deducting also any unexpended balances
that are covered back into the states
treasury at the expiration OF the term
The remainder is the real operating ex-
psnse; and measures. other things being
equal. cost OF administration. This COM
putation has been made from the oficiai
records for the four years OF Republican
and the four years OF fusion control II
shows that the cost for the former was.
in round numbers $4,000 in excess of that
for the latter period That is to say. with
nearly a million dollars expended in cost
Of maintenance under Gov. McGraw and
like amount under Gov. Rogers, the
cost under Republican rule was a little
more than 5000 year than under Dem
ocrahc This does not take into account
q decrease OF the number OF penitentiary
inmates. allowance for which would prac-
tically wipe out the excess.
Even these trifng~ differences should
not be stated without mentioning some
conditions that fully explain them. For
they rest entirely upon the difference be-
tween the tendency OF the McGraw adj
ministration toward restriction OF expen-
diture and economy, snd that OF the Ros-
'AS HbihtiiTttatiou W tApansiUn uf eX-
pense account and wastefui profiigacy. The
absolute proof OF this IN that. II the last
two years OF these terms alone were COM
pared. without the FIRST two the balance
Is greatly in favor OF the Republican
showing. The net expenditure for cost of
maintenance OF the institutions of the
roor NJ -an
isss-ol.
The reasons are perfectly understood
by all who were in the state during the
entire period In 1892 everything In the
state OF Washington was based upon a
boom programme. A large population had
recently settled here, ideas were all of
sudden and enormous wealth. statehood
required vast provision OF public facili-
ties. and the people no less than their rep
resentatives shared the universal view It
was an era OF large ideas and OF utter
confidence in an immediate future of I'M
bounded prosperity. Naturally, govern
ment was affected by this disposition of
the people. As soon as misfortune came
1T was the duty of the Republican party
to readjust AFFAIRS to changed conditions,
and that duty was performed. Retrench-
ment became tho prevailing policy; and
thus Gov. Rogers came into ONCE at a
time when the retiring administration
had already effected great economies and
introduced the more careful policy that
business depression necessitated.
That system governed, perforce. the nrst
acts OF tho new regime. II was seconded
and furthered by the ignorance and In
difference OF a fusion legislature that
threatened for a time TO destroy our pub
| Ito institutions altogether by cutting OF
their supplies II was two years before
the Rogers system was In fair working
order before Us inspiring principles could
expand into acts. its horde Of oficehoid-
ers get settled in their places and IT'S ap-
! petite ma fan expression. The last two
years. now drawing to a close. are its fair
! embodiment: especially In connection
with the extravagant demands of its rep
resen,A,vss in the last legislature. on
this hasis, comparing two years with two
1 years, the fully mRtured and executed pol.
/ icy OF one administration with another.
we are able 20 see how greatly the state
I prontsd financially by Republican and lost
| by susion supremacy. with the record of
/ governor ana legislature Tor the last two
/ years IN mind, complete fusion success IN
/ Washington This year wovid cost The peo-
| pic no, less than halt a million deilars.
We are glad 10 rest the case Of the
I party. rs far as practical administration
I IL concerned upon the aseertNinea facts
( A less reckless and malicious body than
I she fusion party would not have dreamed