The weekly intelligencer., 1900-10-06
A. 10 vissOnri,. lnaebtednes..

As to NissOurrs Indebtedness.
The republican newspapers and
spell-binders persis, in their damnsble
efforts Of belRtling the works Of our
democratic officials II reducing the
bonded Indebtedness Of the state.
During the present Administration the
interest-bearing bonds Of the state
have been reduced 81, ,6Ss, 600. When
ever the question Of the reduction OF
the debt is referred to, instead Of CIV
ing the administration credit therefor,
the Aforesaid spell-blnders insist that
the fund commissioners have only
done what the constitution required
them TO do, etc. The present adHln.
istration has already retired 81, ,6Ss, ,ooe
more Of the bonds OF abe state thar
the constitution required, land within
a few weeks they will call in $500, ,OOC
additional bonds.
Mr.. E. C. Brokmeyer, the editor oi
the republican campaign book, anc
who as a yellow journalist, has nc
equal, on page AZ Of his book. says:
The democratic state platform noI
only declares that the bonded debt O
Missouri is $685., 900, but also Asserti
that the continuance OF democrats
state government means the final anC
full payment Of the state debt in th'
first two years Of the next admins
trailon.' State Auditor Seibert fxei
the total state debt on January /
1900, at 81, ,24o, ,sS9.42 (see state au
dilor's report to the governor for III
gear ending December 81, 1899, pag'
y. Mr.. Seibert tabnlates the stat
debt as follows in his report:
Total bonds outstandinR. E. E2,sl7, 900 0
Total certificates Of indebted
ness outstanding -. 4,Ss, SO. A
otal state debt January
il, iSOO ,........ .....---.. -. ''zso'oSS'A
Thus the spectacle is presented o
spOlilical party declaring in its plat
form and on the stump, when biddini
for votes, that the state debt is les
than a little more than $500, 900 an
will be wiped out within two years
while the democratic state auditor o
public accounts publishes oficiall
that the state Indebtedness is nearl
three times as much rs declared in tb
democratic state platform"
Mr.. Brokmeyer hopes 10 leave th
impression that the auditor and tb
democratic officers are practieing
deception upon The Taxpayers Of tb
state by misrepresentation as 10 th
real Indebtedness Of The state, but b
dsceives no one.
Today the iuterest-bearing debt G
Missouri Is s2,sI2, 600 In option bond
bearing 81 per cent interest. Not
wiihstanding the persistent efforts G
the Globe Democrat and the republ
cans OF tbs state generally to damag
our reputation and credit, these bond
command q premium in every markt
in the civilized world. They will a
be paid off and cancelled during tb
second year Of Governor Dockery
administration.
The school and seminary certifcatt
Row outstanding amount TO 1898
sS9.42. Concerning them, GoyernC
Stephens, in bis message to the forfeit
general assembly, truthfully and we
said:
awhile in estimating our indebted
ness we must take into considerable
our certificates of Indebtedness,' q
gregasisg Ss,fee, ,ooS.Sz, draw'.s
per cent and per cent interest,
6 must at the same time be remembers
!. that they are also assets Of the stat
that the principal is not TO be pai'
aud the interest which accrues therec
can be used for the sole purpose
assisting in the support Of our publ
schools and state university. The re
!. debt OF the state is therefore, insiI
nificant, in proportion to our assesst
valuation, and while 1t may not |
entirely e1tinguIshed during the presel
administration, | see no reason why
l. cannot be paid on within the ear
q days Of the succeeding one. My Ow
d judgement is the rate Of iaxatio
should moi. be changed until we ha'
seen every dollar Of our interest-bea
Il ing debt paid Of and cancelled"
Any Missouri school boy, who is I
Q al familiar with the laws, The histor,
the constitution and conditions in th
state, knows that the certificates I
o Indebtedness" cannot be termed
J legitimate debt OF the state. TbeI
certificates are neither negotiable nc
a transferable. II :he state owes then
: it owes them TO itself. II they ha
ever to be paid, they will be paid
the state. II they should be burned {
o stolen, the state would not be a los'
d thereby. Again, within two years Il
!. democratic state officials will have Il
o pleasure Of witnessing every dollar
:. the legitimate debt Of Missouri cal
celled, and every outstanding bon
y redeemed.-Jefferson City Press.
TaIatlon in Missouri.