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

1oung Tor the three years was 315,962.16,
which was $6l,92432 more than DR..
Thompson would have collected at his
cid rate.
REPUBLICAN EXTRAVAGANCE.
Senator Pritchard, in his platform,
throws down as the gauge of battle, the
challenge of a comparison between Flu
sion and Democratic rule. For the
Democratic party I accept the challenge
and will discuss but for few moments
comparison of the administration of
the States great penal institution by
the two political parties. According to
Fusionist authority during the last year
or Democratic control of the penten-
tlary only five thousand dollars was
drawn from the treasury for it's main
tenance and support, and Treasurer Worth
declared in his official report to the
Legislature that but for the unusual
Hoods that year there would have been
a handsome surplus to the credit of the
penitentiary
In 1887 the Fusionists obtained con-
troll of this institution, making great
promises of retrenchment and reform.
In a comparatively short time Governor
tence of it's management was so great
that he did the unusual thing in poll
teal affairs of removing his own APP
pointees Mr. John r. Smith, and sub
stituting Mr.. Newborn in his place.
But the institution went from bad to
worse. Escaping convicts was a daily
occurrence, charges of bribery and cor
ruption We're rife in the air, while the
bills and accounts of the institution
We're hawked about the streets of the
cities of the State. 1t soon became
known that the institution was prac-
tically bankrupt
When the Legislature met in 1899 one
OF its first and grayest duties was to
provide for this institution, make provi-
sion for paying it's debts and arrange
for its future management. Expert ac-
countants were employed and after
months of arduous labor it was officially
stated that in two years of Fusion mis-
rule it's debts had reached the enormous
figure Of more than one hundred thou
sand dollars. The Legislature provided
for the issue of $4,000 of bonds which.
were sold for more than $120,000 and the
debts paid off as promptly as they could
be ascertained. With it's credit destroy
ed, with no cash on hand, it was impos
sible to successfully run the institu-
tion without making direct appropria-
tion from the State Treasury and $685.,
600 were appropriated for 1897 and $780,,
600 for 1898.
PENTTENTIARYTAND DEMOCRATS.
The Legislature made arrangements
for a competent management, but by
decision of the Supreme Court of the
State the Fusionists retained control for
two years longer. Providence favored
the management in its last year for the
greatest crops We're made ever known in
it's history, and it's earnings ran up to
the enormous sum OF 1885, 4S2.02 where
as the largest earnings therefore had
been when the Democrats last had
charge of it when the earnings reached
the sum Of $140,924.33. But notwith-
standing these very great and abnormal
receipts and an appropriation OF $lO5,OO
for the two years, when Governor Ay-
cocks appointees took charge in 1901,
the penitentiary was again found to be
overwhelmed with debt, and since that
time the present management has paid
out of the earnings (for no appropriation
has been made to assist the Democrats),
more than s33, 900. SO far as is known
they have paid all of these debts now.
Now one word as to the Democratic
administration. Taking charge of the
institution with a debt of more than
S33 1000, with no appropriation from the
Legislature, they have run the institu-
ton SUCCESSFULLY paid off every debt
and today there is in the State Treasury
to the credit of the institution more
than 81 900. 1t is the expectation of the
management that they will raise crop
of nearly 1000 bales of cotton, from s.
600 to 10000 barrels of corn, from 5000 to
10 900 bushels of peanuts, and they have
on hand about $500 bushels of wheat
The earnings of the conVicts employed
on public works will pay every dollar
of their support until the end of the
fiscal year, so that the entire crop will
be a net profit to the State. a reason
able estimate as to prices should place
the value OF this crop at $4,000
What then, is the result of the COM
parison? The facts speak for them
selves. They need no elaboration on
my part Simply this: Judging by eX-
perience if either Superintendent Leazar
or Superintendent Mann, had been in
change of the penitentiary during the
four years of Republican misruie, there
would be today no deficit in the State
Teasury Every appropriation for the |
needy soldiers, for the erection of new |
asYlums for the insane and the special |
appropriations for education could all
be paid without any special appropriation. |