The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-09-03

Federal Circuit had so decided. The re-
mainder OF these expenditures were on
account of litigation growing out of
Governor Russells administration, and
for which the Democratic party is not
responsible and to employ counsel with
whom he had made contracts. Senator
Pritchard can not take credit in his
platform for what he call 1.-The clean,
able. and economic administration of
Governor Russell, without being held re-
sponsib1e, for the unnecessary expenses
he incurred.
A SUMMARY.
In making a summary Of all these
figures we find that the fusiOnists start
ed out with $3O3, 2393S in the State
Treasury. They turned over to Treasur
er Lacy the Sum of $37 ,528,36, having
spent the difference, which amounted TO
1855, 711.02. When we add this to the
$3.50 ,93490 of expenses paid by the
Democrats brought over from the Re
publican administration, we find that
the Republican party should be charged
with $549 1882 If the State Treasurer
is now behind and there is deficit, as
it is admitted there is, it is not the
Democratic party that is responsible, but
it is a legacy of Fusion misrule when
It seems it is exceedingly difficult for
the State to get rid Of. In view OF these
facts, can there be anything more pre-
sumptious than the attempt of the Re-
publicans to hold the Democratic party
responsible for their own mismanage-
ment.
DEMOCRATIC APPROPRIATIONS.
Senator Pritchard says that the Demo-
Gratis in three years spent $1,0SS, 5453l
more than he Republicans did in the
three preceding years. 1t is trues that
the Auditors Report shows these figures.
But Senator Pritchard should have known
that there is included in these expenses
the earnings of the penitentiary and all
of the asylums and the like, which We're
spent, as we'll as the expenditures on ac-
count Of the oyster fund, and number
of other special funds. The effect of this
is seen by an examination of the peni-
tertiary expenses. In 1896 this institution
was in the hands of the Democrats. In
1897 and 1898 it spent 1929 458.79 and got
overwhelmed in debt. In the next two
years, still under Republican control, it
spent the vast sum of 1898, 1882, and even
then lacked $33, 100000 of paying it's run
ming expenses. So that in the two years,
1899 and 1900 which Senator Pritchard
charges up to the Democrats, but while
it was under Republican rule, this institu-
ton alone spent 1869, 21754 more than in
the two preceding years and was still in
debt $33,00000. This accounts for $685.,
217.54 of the 81 ,OSS, 545, 81 increased ex-
penses. Over 1857 $50. 55 Including 1902
are accounted for elsewhere by reason of
expenses for Confederate soldiers. asy-
Iums and education.
The Democatic party is always open
and frank with the people. 1t has moth
ing to conceal, its management is clean,
it has no defaulters, it has always met
every responsibility as it has arisen,
and in this campaign proposes to do the
same thing.
With the exception of the building
for the blind at Raleigh, which the Flu
sionists decorated with Jim Young's
name as a person to whom credit should
be given, a small appropriation to the
Deaf and Dumb Institution at Morgan
ton and one or two small appropriations
in 1895 for betterments to the insane
asylums, the Fusionists did nothing for
1899 the Democratic party met the in
debtedness and Encouragement Of the
penitentiary and attempted to look af-
ter the oyster industry of the State. 1t
increased the appropriations to the va
rious charitable institutions and made
liberal appropriations for permanent i'm
provements. But in 1901 it was seen
that the contemplated improvements had
not kept pace with the growth of the
State, that numbers of insane persons
were cared for in the jails and County
Homes of the various counties, that the
deaf and dumb and blind We're not suf-
f1ciently cared for, that the old Confed
crate soldier was not sufficiently housed
at the Soldiers Home, and that the pen
sions previously paid to him were to-
tally inadequate. The Democratic party,
in advocating the Constitutional Amend
ment, had pledged itself to the mainten-
ance of a four months school in each
school district of the State, which pledge
has been kept.
In order to meet the responsibilities
which this situation placed upon the
party, it became necessary to make
larger number of appropriations for per-
manent improvements and betterments
of these institutions, increased appro-
priations for their maintenance and
care, because of the great increase in the
costs of living on account of the trust
prices, and increased appropriations for
soldiers and for the cause of education.
They passed a new Revenue Act, de-
creasing the rate of taxation for public
purposes, increasing it for pensions, and
increasing the amount Of taxes to be
collected from railroad, telegraph and
telephone companies and the like.
number of provisions were proposed that
upon investigation Were shown would
prove burdensome to the industrial tn
terests of the State, upon which being
shown they were modified ito meet the
demands of the representatives of these
interests. The hardships of the previous
Revenue Acts, first enacted by the Flu
sionists in 1895 and 1897 and several of
them retained by the Democrats in 1899,
were relieved. The Merchants Pur-
chase Tax was changed to meet the
wishes Of the merchants themselves, and
as a result the State will not derive
so great a revenue from these taxes as
heretofore. And as a result we find that