The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-09-03
Rev. j. VI. RHODES, A. NJ, president. l

1857 $685., while the Democrats have
spent in 1901, and have appropriated for
1902 from the public Treasury for the
same purpose, the sum of 81, So, 3SS. %.
which is $S05, 529.71 more than the Repub-
licans spent when they we're in power
for the same purpose, lacking only few
dollars Of being two dollars to their one.
From the figures heretofore given it is
apparent that if the Democratic PARTY
had not been called upon to pay for the
extravaganza and mismanagement Of the
preceding Republican administration.
everyone of these very necessary and
needy appropriations to the old soldiers,
to the asylums, and for the education Of
the children of the State, would have
been paid out of the ordinary receipts of
the government, under areyenue act that
levies lower rate OF taxation than was
ever before known in the history of the
State.
REPUBLICAN PENSION RECORD.
AS striking instance of the love of the
Republican party for the Confederate sol.
der and for the cause of education. I
need cite one Of the closing incidents of
the fusion rule in North Carilna. The
fiscal year of 1901 began on December
list, 1900. At that time there was in the
Treasury $3.50, 1929. Mr. Worth remain
ed Treasurer until January 18th 1901
during which time he paid upon appro-
priatfons which were not due and which
ought not to have been paid until Mr..
Lacy became Treasurer, the sum of $13,-
5000, leaving an apparent cash balance
in the Treasury when he turned over the
office of 1888, 1929 But While paving
more than s13,o0000 of appropriationsnot
yet due he had failed to pay the fol-
lowing sums which should have been paid
and which were at once paid by Treas
Erer Lacy upon his assuming the duties
OF his office: Appropriation to public
schools, $99,08199; appropriations to
Confederate soldiers, $21, 639.50; interest
on the public debt, which had been due
since January 1st, 1901 $33, $4,000; ex-
penses of the General Assembly, SASHA,
making an aggregate of 1853 67462 When
these sums were paid they left the cash
balance which Senator Pritchard charges
to Mr. Lacy of s37,52S36, which should
have been 59,5S8.4O but for Martins de-
falcation.
For the first time since the State debt
was compromised and settled, the State,
under fusion rule, defaulted in the prompt
payment of the interest on the public
debt, although it had ample funds in the
Treasury for the purpose and especially
appropriated by law therefor. 1t is but
fair to say that the credit of the tSate
was not seriously injured for the reason
that the Citizens Bank of Raleigh know
ing that the Democratic administration
was about to come in, advanced the
money, paid off the coupons, and held
them until Ben Lacy paid them.
1t is a significant fact that in the last
days of fusion rule they failed to pay
the old Confederate soldier s21 $3.50,
though the money was in the Treasury
waiting for them.
The appropriation made by the Demo-
cratic Legislature Of 1899 of $10OO000 90
for public schools was also held back,
though there were ample funds. in the
Treasury with which to pay it. And yet
the Republican party appeals to the peo-
pie of the State as the friend Of the Con-
federate soldier and OF public schools,
as favoring the care of the insane, and
advocating the maintenance of public
credit.
DEMOCRATIC SAVINGS.
In the beginning of the campaign Of
$685. DR.. Cyrus Thompson, being then
Secretary of State, visited the county OF
Sampson and made a speech, in which
he held up the administration of the af-
fairs in his office as being peculiarly
entitled to credit and he attempted to
discredit the preceding administration.
He rolled as a sweet morsel under his
tongue the fact that he had collected
some eighty thousand dollars from in
surance companies, a much larger sum
than had been previously collected
The Legislature of 1899 established the
office of Insurance Commissioner and
placed in the office Mr.. James r. Young,
taking this branch away from Dr. Thomp-
son. The fiscal year of this office runs
from April to April. During the fiscal
year Of 1898, DR.. Cyrus Thompson collect
ed from insurance companies the sum
Of $84 ,S792S. In 1899, Dick Young turn
ed into the Treasury $92, S6521 In 1900.
S91, 072.92 and in 1901, 1892 ,034O3. In 1893
he turned into the office fees, which un-
der the previous law had gone into the
pockets of DR.. Thompson as Secretary OF
State, to the sum of $9084.34; in 1900,
S., 1880, and in 1901 $11 295. so, making
a total of 6,211 90 which, but for Demo-
cratic law, would have gone into the
pockets Of the Secretary of State. The
only expense to the State in making these
additional collections is the Commits
sioners salary of 100000 a year. He
has clerk, but a clerk was also allowed
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