The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1903-09-09

feet until the beginning or the next az
ministration. 1t happened consequently
that when we came into power In 1901
his reduction began, and the FIRST two
years of our administrator we had TO
run on i7i5 cent rate instead Of 5.ia
cent rate. which our republican predec 3
sors had enjoyed. This reduction made a
difference I'm our revenue the hrsl yeaf
Iq0W of S3i6 f7.32. and the cpnd year
O9O1) OF S256, $3.50, all of which would
have beer added TO the revenues IL we
had been running at the republican rate
OF 52is cents. This falling co.
enues at that time made il difficult for Us
to meet the necessary expenses. Tn
ruinous and riotOus conduct of the repub-
lican regime under Taylor left us tn
legacy of many extraordinary exp nsts,
and a disordcrcd condition OF the state
finances The general assembly OF lW2.
therefore, found IL ncccssa To increaS
the tax rate to 30 cents ON the hundred
dollars until the fiscal affairs should SCI
in a normal condition again That is the
present rate. but | am hap2y to saw, That
by reason of the prudence, economy aud
business-like management Of the demo-
cratic state officials il will be possible Tor
the general assembly next winter TO
either materially reduce the present rate,
or to so appOrtiOn IL in the interest OF the
school fund that thereafter II Will be pos
sible. without additional taxation, to give
a seven months public school term in
stead of five months term, as now.
This l believe would be a wise policy,
management of the present democratic
state officials. And yet Mr.. Belknap talks
about giving the state a business ad-
ministrationl But we shall pay our re-
spects to him on that subject later on.
with all our debts and claims paid there
will be In the state treasury on the Isl
OF next January nearly N,6OOG, The
largest showing over before made IN the
state. There is not a state In the union
whose fiscal affairs can make better
showing than ours. still Mr.. Belknap
says you ought to have change. what
will the people say? l think know the
Kentucky people too well to be uneasy
about their verdict.
In addition to this excellent financial
showing It can also be proven that the
present administration has done more TO
improve and enlarge the public instttu-
tiOns of the state than any other admin
fstration ever did. We have spent much
money in needed improvements I'm all the
charitable institutions, the state college
the state normal school for cOlored peo-
pie, the deaf and dumb institute, and the
two penitentiaries. All of these insttu-
lions are in a better condition now than
ever before. The two prisons, instead OF
being a great drain upon the revenues or
the state as they used to be under the
old management, are now under the bust
ness-like control of democratic ofhcials
self-supporting, and ! am Informed by the
commissioners that this year they VIII
paw a small revenue to the state instead
of being a tax upon It, as was the case
before the present system was adopted.
Let us make "A comparison upon TINS HurS-
ton Of prison management ana see the
difference between the republican and the
democratic administrations. During the
years of 1895. 1897 and 1888. in Gov. Drad-
leys administration, to run the two pris-
ons cost the state $50, 757.Ol. During the
years 1901 1902 and 1903, under this admin
istration, they have cost the state only
81, 763 "a. This makes a saving TO the
state in the three years OF 49, ,y93.dd.
These figures speak for themselves. Sew
eral of the charitable institutions or the
state have been so administered that they
have been able out of their allowances
under the law to save enough to buy con
siderable additional land for their instl-
tutions and to make other valuable IN
provements-all out of their per capita
allowance. Much political capital mas
been sought to be made out of the man
agement of some of these institutions
but | can say and prove that never De
fore were they more successfully or cap
ably managed than they have been dur
ing the last three years. There was some
trouble at the HOpkinsYille asylum over
two years ago. l made a most careful
investigation of IL and concluded that the
superintendent was responsible Tor IL. L
promptly removed him and put another
man in his place. Since then there has
been no trouble there. Last spring dig
sensation was attempted to be made out
OF some charges of cruelty to patients at
the Lakeland asylum, and an enort maue
to hold me directly accountable Tor them
because l had appointed the head ohlcia
of that institution. An Investigation was
and also by myself in person and by my
representative. / found that In two cases
attendants lad used unnecessary force In
dealing with patients, and when discoV-
cred the two attendants were promptly
discharged. The principal charges made
against the officials there, and about
whose testimony so much was said by
the hostile press, were made by two con-
Wet patients, George Portwood ana
Mary Noble, and to give some idea OF the
character Of this testimony l will tell
who they are. Portwood several years
ago killed man In Lexington, and upon
trial was sentenced 10 be hanged. GOV
Bradley commuted his sentence TO Ire
Imprisonment. He made application to
me for a full pardon. II was refused
He feigned insanity and was tried on
that question last winter. The jury was
deceived and authorized his transfer TO
the asylum. lie was taken TO Lakeland,
but the doctors there quickly discovered
his purpose and that was TO escape
They took extra precautions with him
and prevented his doing so. lie was
therefore offended at them for not letting
him get away, and at me because l did
not pardon him. He was trying TO get
even" in his testimony. He has been
transferred back 10 the prison where he
properly belongs. The other witness,
Mary Noble, was transferred from the
lrison to the asylum. She, too, had to be
closely watched. She was not insane
Her prison term expired while she was at
the asylum and she was released. Since
then she has been arrested upon char ge
Of housebreaking, and is now In the