Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1903-03-19
ers Of the Fletcher legislature.
Democratic Reforms.

from power In this capitol.
Democratic Reforms.
The period of democratic control bega.
10 1919 with the inauguration as governo
q tnal prince among gentlemen. tina
Silas Woodson. The work of reform /
the administration of our fiscal affairs
, 50 happily begun under his administra
uon, continued under ali of his success
sors. 1t affords me great pleasure 10 pa
TINS Just tribute to the democratic man
eme OF financial affairs under ali o
Mlssouris governors and their ASSOCIATE
, W0odson until the present time.
Ihlrty years ago the democratic part!
entered upon. the work of administerin
credit had been d%ishonored by repub
ican management; our railroad securi
ues wantonly wasted: the counties wer'
$40, 900, 900 of bonds, issued by republican
county courts; our state bonds sold a
an enormous discount, although bearinE
= and Z per cent. interest; the rate o.
taxation was 50 cents on the S1OO valua.
uon;. the railroads were not assessed
the fees and earnings of the state de.
partments and the interest Upon the pub,
nc moneys were treated as perquisites
by the state officials; the management OF
the state penitentiary was a reproach tC
honest government; there were but
fund amounted to only 81, eco, os5, the SeA PEI
capita being a meager rs cents; one.
fourth of the state revenue only went tC
proscriptive election flaws, the most bru.
tai in the history Of free government
dlsgraced our statute books.
What Has Been Done.
Under these untoward conditions the
democratic party succeeded to the con
trol OF state affairs. It at once entered
upon the work of uplifting the credit of
the commonwealth by honest and frugal
management. 1t refunded our bonds at
~ pei. cent. which were sold at a pre-
| Mum in GNrnrp mn p1ynt - tI- -,.,+r II
reduced state taxation from so cents on
the 500 valuation to rs cents; and this ses-
sion of the general assembly has further
reduced state taxation to Is cents on the
Slv, Valuation-the lowest state tax rate
m the Union. 1t has by wise enactments
aided the counties in the payment of
their debts, and the restoration of their
credit. 1t has raised the assessment of
railroads from nothing to nearly 800, O0O,-
900, 1t has provided by law that the fees
and arnings of the state departments
and the interest upon public moneys shall
be paid into the state treasury.
1t has made the state penitentiary self
sustaining. 1t has multiplied our state
institutions from eight until they now
capital OF the state school FUND until it
nov reaches nearly four and one-half
millions Of dollars. has increased the
I'll last year it was ! ITO 600, the per
capita distribution being $l.20. 1t has in
creased the distribution of the state rev.
CiluS u tie support OIL the DuDllc SCHOOLS
from one-fourth to one-third. 1t has re-
pealed all proscriptive election laws and
accords to the minority the same rights
at the polls enjoyed by the majority. 1t
has paid 81 .76S, 900 of bonds, outstanding
january l, 1873, and 500, 402. 092. As of inter-
est thereon. Under the programme adopt
ed for the conduct of these exercises,
forty-four guns nave been fired-one gun
for each million dollars of this entailed
republican Indebtedness, principal and in
terest.
Gentlemen, the people of Missouri re-
ioice in view of the extinction of the
bonded debt. But past achievements.
however brilliant, will not meet the re-
q~uirements of the present hour.
To our keeping is committed the con-
troll of the fairest state carved out of the
brightest sta with which Thomas JET
terson embellished the crown of our Ma
g%randly. Under democratic control dur
ing the last thirty years Missouri has
leaped from ninth in point of population
to NTH in rank among the states, In ag-
In the development of mineral. horticul~
tural, manufacturing, railroad and other
resources we have not been surpassed.
no superior. We have great cities. beaIi-
tiful towns II villages, mighty water
ways, and an enterprising and progress
slve people. devoted to our great COM
monWealth and loyal to the American
Republic. Let US, however, if possible
still more strongly catch the inspiration
OF the wonderful activities of the age in
ward in the mighty march of national
industrial development which is the Won |
der and admiration of the civilized world. |
Filley's Telegram.
The following telegram, sem by
Chauncey l. Filley to the state sud-
tor, was read:
st, Louis, March T., 1903.-Honorable A.
O. Allen, State Auditor, jefferson City,
Mo-: Congratulations for extinguishment
Of evidence of bonded Indebtedness.
Would inquire if the only bond which is
and that under republican adj
ministration, is included in the crema-
tioh! CHAUNCE4 /. FILLEY.
Farris's Speech.
Senator Farris said, in part:
Mr.. Chairman: In rejoicing over the lib
Grafton of the people from Il burdensome
debt. we need not mean condemnation
censure for those who incurred the
has not been eXtinguished-our school
debt, if you please, which should be
lett IN Its present condition-is no reason
why we should not rejoice in the fact
every dollar of debt held by anv in
diVidual or corporation has been paid,
to contract, without dishonor
or protest.
The same elements which are necessary
to make man a good citizen will make
government a good government. When
ne democratic party came into power in
ne state of Missouri, in 1871, it found a
rs was its duty, undertook the task Of
'educlng the rates of interest and retir-
nG the bonds as rapidly as possible with
'ut addlng to the burdens of the people.
Regrets Partisan Feeling,
Lieut.-Gov. Lee spoke, in part, as
iollows:
The occasion which brings us together
is one which | hold should be one
u great. general and universal rejoicing.
For many, many years our people have
oiled, economical and denied themselves
many things that a great many people
ma a great state should have in order i
mould be freed from bondage. And now {
we have at last arrived at our
se fnreJ Journey end and that our burden
ing that we should exchange congratu- !
atoms and give thanks. l
And SO the people of great Missouri are /
together to-day to rejoice that
ne public debt is ~extinguished. I
l exceedingly regret that conditions of I
Official dissension and party divisions ,
no misunderstandings as to facts and 1
eng one OF strict non-partisanship and !,
ne sincerely participated in by demo- l.
rats, republicans and members Of all no. @
teal parties alike. :,
1t would, however. be impossible to b
lb1late and rejoice with a companion
no held and contended that there was :,
othing to rejoice about. {
However, despite these conditions, the
the people and not a part of
le people-of Missouri are to be credit +
with their part in the extinguishment :,
the state debt. Democrats and repub- !"
cans, populists and prohibitionists, peo- t
lie of all parties have paid their proper !,
on of the taxes and therefore of the J.
debt.
In the payment of our state debt, with II
1000, a sum of such magnitude that but
people comprehend it, let us try to
.alize what we have done.
average population of the state =,
ddrdl n thirty years has been about q Ii