The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-11-07
AUDITOR ALIENS Statement.


Commerce. the States fiscal agent, which
and credit to the Fund Commissioners. But
1t Is apparent that there was no loss to the
State by reason of these errors in book
keeping.
The irregularities noted during the period
of Democratic control are as follows:
THE report of the Auditor for 1SS7-S
shows 97s Hannibal and St Joseph Railroad
bonds redeemed. whereas there were only
92s OF these bonds outstanding January l.
1SsI. This was merely a clerical error. which
corrected itself in the following reports:
The Auditors report for the biennial
period ending December 81. 1S90 shows the
issue Of a warrant for sls5. 79O. to pay in
terest on school certificates. instead Of a
transfer in the usual form-an error in dis
tribution only, which did not affect the
total"
The credit balance OF cents Of the
Fund Commissioners dropped from the ac-
counts. December 81. 1880"
The apparent unsettled balance of $50. 50
against the firm of Kohn. Pepper & Co.,
now dissolved"
Nearly all OF the officials connected with
the State administration from January l.
1865. TO December 81, 1872. have long since
passed away, and / would he recreant 20
honor and to the facts as shown by the
books il | should by Inference impute dis
honesty to them. 1t Is true. however. that
there was negligent bookkeeping. especially
during the four years TO which have adj
verted; but having carefully reviewed the
reports of the Auditor and the experts.
concur with Messrs. Haskins & Sells in the
statement that:
Nothing has been disclosed indicating
any misappropriation of the funds OF the
State or any Irregularities other than those
heretofore mentioned"
During the last twenty-eight years. under
nep1nprat{c odp ctr "A
have been expended to meet the obligations
incident to the bonded debt. exclusive of
bonds issued to refund the public debt OF
this amount. SIG 9O1. .395 65 was for the pur-
chase and redemption of bonds: 16S61, ,054. .25
for the payment of interest on bonds; $5l0.-
254.H for premiums on bonds; $3.50 1876 q
for the payment of interest on the school
and seminary certificates and s1oo, i13 .65 for
pay of fiscal agents, engraving. expressage
and other incidental expenses Every dol
lar of interest has been paid and the bond
ed debt. at the beginning of this year. in
cluding certificates of Indebtedness. reduced
to 81. go. .S3942
During the same period there has been
disbursed through the revenue fund s55,-
375. .o9l 81 to meet the various expenses of
the State government. This money has
gone to maintain the schools; for criminal
costs; for pay OF the General Assembly; to
maintain educational, eleemosynary and
penal institutions; for assessing and col
lecting the revenue; erecting and repairing
State buildings; public printing; for the ex-
penses of the general State government and
for other purposes shown by the Auditors
exhibit In this connection i desire to note
that the entire cost of maintaining the
State government proper during the last
| twenty-eight years was but s.. So. 5S9. loan
| average yearly expense Of only s351. .S7S.1S.
1 Will not now submit a comparative re-
view of the aynandfrrlreS of he rin do
partments of the State government during
| the three periods covered by the AUDITOR
statement The exhibit supplies all neces-
| sary Information. and comparisons are In
vited and can be easily made. 1t is conclu-
| sively shown that the administration of
| fiscal affairs. under Democratic control. has
been honest and frugal. New institutions
| have been established, and others have been
| enlarged to meet the growing demands OF
| this great commonwealth: ample pro-
| vision has been made for the care of the
| insane, the deaf. the blind the feeble-mind-
| ed and other unfortunate classes of our
1 people: the State University. the Normal
schools. and our splendid Public School
\ system have been generously fostered and
| promoted: fruit experiment station has
| been established; reformatory and penal IN.
| stitutions have been provided: and the in
| debtedness Of the State. except the amount
| due the school funds will be fully paid al
| the close Of the coming year. All these
| achievements have been accomplished at
| reduced tax rate, the present rate being
| one-half of that imposed by Republican
State administrations. This tax rate will be
| still further reduced with the liquidation OF
| our bonded debt. Missourians, of whatever
| political faith, should be proud of this
financial record.
L know that fair-minded Missourians o,
| all parties have confidence in the f1nancia
| integrity of the administration of State af.
fairs. but the Auditors statement was nee
| essary. that our credit might not be pu
| under suspicion in other States OF the
| Union. Tho examination of the books ha,
| fully maintained the honor of the State
! and those who have DETAINED her are put tc
| open shame. ALEX. NJ. DOCKERY,
| Governor.