The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1902-04-26

Riotous corruption held high car
nival in the legislative halls OF the
state, condition more appalling, if
possible, than that which has so re-
Gently aroused the honest citizens of
st. Louis TO the need for heroic action
in dealing with official boodlers.
For some unknown reason, the
Hannibal & st. Joseph railroad did
not take advantage of the prevailing
corruption to rid themselves of their
three millions Of indebtedness at the
expense of the taxpayers of the state.
This road after the democrats came
into power, paid the entire amount
of its Indebtedness, with interest.
In the face of these record facts,
can there be any question as to who
is responsible for this debt of twenty
five millions of dollars?
In the face Of the inaugural mes
sage of the republican governor "that
the roads are ample security for the
amounts advanced to them respec-
lively" can any honest republican
today hold that his party did not put
"a debt Of So, 10000 on the people
when for 5000, 1000 it released the
states lien against the Wabash for
the entire amount of that roads in
debtedness?
Can any republican face an intelli-
gent audience and hold that the re-
leasing Of the Missouri Pacific's loan
of $5, 7SO, 900 in the face of the report
of the legislative committee made at
the same SESSION. that the road was
worth over twelve millions of dollars;
or the sale of the Iron Mountain to
the lowest bidder; or the giving away
Of the Frisco with over a million acres
Of land for the paltry sumo 1926, 900,
was an honest transaction?
No fair-minded, intelligent Mis-
sourian, whatever his politics, can 90
over these records and fail to be con-
vinced:
FirSt-That the legislator in loan
Ilng uhe credit Of the state in aid Of
the construction of these railroads
took ample security to protect the
state against the loss of a single dol
lar security which the republicans
themselves, through their own gov
ernOr and legislative committee, pro-
nounced ample.
Second-That these securities were
corruptly squandered by republican
officials.
Third-That the squandering Of
the securities fastened a direct debt
upon the people of twenty-five million
dollars
After the republicans had thus sad
died a direct debt of twenty-five million
dollars upon the people, they reduced
this total, before retiring from power,
to $40, ,sS9, 900.
This reduction was effected by use
Of funds received from the federal
government to reimburse the state
for moneys advanced by Missouri in
the prosecution of the war, and by
, the collection of military and other
taxes levied directly on the people.
Under the liberal republican admin
filtration Of Governor Brown, 1871
and 1872, the debt was increased
$S79, 900.
So when the democrats came into
power in 1873, they found the state
debt to be s21, 1853, 900, bearing six
and seven per cent interest, and the
bonds at a discount.
The tax rate during the six years
the republicans were in power aver
aged so cents on the $1OO, and in
cluded, besides, during the years of
1865 and 1866, a one-d0lar reytEas
POLL tax and a two.dollar military poll
tax. So whatever reduction the
republicans made in the debt exclu-
sive of the amount received from the
federal government as war indemnity
was taken from the people by the
most excessive and burdensome tax
alton ever known outside the carpet
bag ridden states Of the south.
The democrats began reduction of
the state debt by restoring the credit
Of the commonwealth, which enabled
them to refund the bonds at rate Of
interest practically half Of what the
people were required to pay under
republican management.
In order TO tighten the burdens of