The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-30
A spLExprp SHOWING.

Yesterday the State Finance Board voted
TO redeem 1900. 600 of the outstanding bonds
OF the State. Adding this 100000 to the
amount previously paid under Republican
rule. s2.s16.00o of the bonded debt has been
paid. leaving the state debt a. 7O4.sl5.12. Ii
is expected that another 100000 Of the
bonded debt will be called in before the
close of 1900. 1t will be said that the reduc-
ton is the result of Democratic legislation,
which gave the present basis Of taxation.
After making all allowance for the tax
law. the reduction of the debt is largely
due TO the economic legislation and adj
ministration. The state levy for the re-
demption of the debt would have fallen far
short of bringing about the reduction Of
debt above stated. The savings In the
general fund have teen so large as to add
largely to the total. The payment ordered
yesterday was made up of s217. 900 from the
levy for the payment of the state debt and
$4,000 from the general fund. If it had
been necessary, 100000 could nave been
taken from the general fund.
IT should not be forgotten that tens of
thousands of dollars annually are saved
by the Republican legislation of 1895. which
abolished the large fees paid to state Of
ficers and put them on salaries. Mr.. Hen
derson, who was the last Democratic state
auditor. admitted that he received $25, 600
a year out of the office. State Auditor Hart
has collected during the first six months
of the present year s12s, 900 from insurance
companies alone. Under the Democratic
system. which give the auditor 10 per cent.
Mr.. Hart would receive for the fees col
lected from insurance companies alone in
six months s12. 80. and So. 500 for the year
from the fees of the Insurance Bureau
| alone. The fees Of the attorney general
during the last four years of Democratic
| control no one hut those who received them
will ever know The late Governor Mat
thews could MT find out. The last Dem
ocratic incumlent of the office did not
| deny the estimate of s65, 900 for two years.
Whatever SUM are now collected by the
attorney gener.l go into the treasury. The
fees of the ofhee of the secretary of state.
based upon recent receipts now paid into
the treasury. Guild not have been less than
$4,000 or $500 a year. The clerk Of the
Supreme Courthad a large amount of fees,
which are nov turned into the treasury.
In short. the fes paid to state officers I'm
der the regimeabolished by the Legislature
of 1895 could MT have been less than $4,000
a year. and thy may nave reached s1OO. 900.
The business-lke system of auditing the
bills presented to the State for payment
has resulted 4 a large saving to the tax
payers. After yesterdays action by the
State Finance Board the annual interest on
the state debtat 3 per cent. will be $s4. $50
less than 1t vas when Hon. a. c. Daily
became state aiditor i'm 1895. The So, 900 or
100000 paid as 'ees to state officers prior to
the Republican legislation of 1895 and the
amount saved n the interest account thus
far would max a good basis for the liqui-
dalton of the tate debt. which has been
reduced 371s percent. since the Republicans
came into conrol of the State. 1t is a
magnificent showing.