The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1902-08-07
RECORDS COMPARED
In the Matter of Debt Reduction
In Indiana.
NEW TAX is NOT RESPONSIBLE

NEW TAX Is NOT RESPONSIBLE
For the Rapid Scaling Down of the
States Obligations by Republican
Financial Officers-Cause Is Found
in Economical and Conservative AID.
ministraton of the States Business
Affairs.
The Democratic state platform de-
nounces Republican leadership for
claiming credit on account of the re-
duction of the state debt, and declares
that this reduction has been effected
as the result of a tax law enacted by
a Democratic state legislature. An ex-
animation of the record reveals the
utter indefensibility of this position.
Democratic officers had charge of the
fiscal affairs of the state for two years
after the state began to derive the in
creased revenues resulting from the
AC" ldA law, anu WClO QAdDiCy IL tuCy
were willing, to begin to wipe out that
monument to their own methods of
financiering, the state debt.
When the Republican financial Off
GERS went out of office in January,
1891, they left the debt at $S,056, 615.12.
At the end of that fiscal year the
Democrats had increased it to SS,346,-
615.12. At the close of the next fiscal
year 1t was the same, the increase be-
ing due to money borrowed for cur
new tax law added to the revenues of
the state $1,419,77S in 1891, and ST..
461, 1877 in 1892. Thus in two years
they had an increase of revenue of
$2,S30,975 and no reduction of debt
until 1893, at the end of which fiscal
year the debt was s8,OO6. 615l2, re-
duction of only $4,000 from what it
was the year before and the year pre-
ceding that
From the debt of 1890 there was a
reduction of only $4,000. Democratic
state officials paid just $4,000 more
than the sum by which they had in
creased the debt, when the state reve-
nues were millions more than they
were under their predecessors.
When the fiscal year of 1894 was
closed, Democratic state officials had
paid on the debt $4,000 additional,
or since taking charge in 1891 in all
100000. That put the debt at s7,436,-
615.12. That amount was $500, 200 less
than the debt the Republicans left and
$4,000 less than the debt was after
the Democrats had increased it. They
paid 100000 more in January. 1895.
The total of $4,000 reduction of
state debt by Democrats will bear the
following analysis:
In 1898 there was paid $4,000 on the
original debt and s29OO0O borrowed by
Democrats. Total, $3AH r"A.
In 1894 there was PCT $4,000.
In January, 1895, there was paid
$4OO, 900.
In these years of De- ocratic finan-
ciering. with the two preceding. 1891
and 1892, when the Democrats increas-
ed the debt, the revenues Of the state
were. on account of the new tax law.
s4,4S6,92S more than they had ever
been. In addition to this they had the
use of $57s.224 sinking fund, created
for the sole purpose of paying the
debt. In all they had at command
S5,000,000 in excess of revenues and
sinking fund with which to reduce the
debt But out Of this vast sum they
used for that purpose only s5S0,000,
the greater part of s1.300.000 state
debt reduction by them being made
with money paid the state by the gen.
eral government for equipping troops
during the civil war.
Alongside this record place that of
the era of Republican management
which has succeeded. Here are some
of the results:
The state debt reduced s3643 900,
with payments this year which will
bring the total debt-reduction we'll
toward $4,000, OO0-an average debt
pairing of considerably more than a
An annual saving of interest pay
ments to the people of Indiana
amounting to $4,000 year.
A million and a half dollars spent
in enlargement and Improvement of
state institutions.
A saving of millions of dollars to the
people through county and state fee
and salary law.
A Substantial reduction of the tar
levy.
How has this result been brought
about? Not by hap-hazard. Even an
increase in the income of an individual
or a state does not necessarily mean
a decrease in the debts of an individ.
ual or a state. Money is saved at the
point where it goes out. not at the
place where it comes in. In Indiana
the saving has been effected by the
establishment and maintenance of
strict business methods in state insti.
tutions, including a merit system of
appointments; competitive bids in the
purchase of all supplies; system of
accounting which renders dishonest
administration impossible; and strict
methods of supervision.
A vote for Republican legislative
candidates is vote against the state
debt.
81 State of Things In Hayti.
Port au Prince, Hayti, Aug. 2-The
Eirminite army commanded by Gen