The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-13

Jefferson City, Mo, March 1.-THE ex
tinguishment OF the bonded debt proper o.
Missouri was celebrated this afternoon IL
the hall Of the House of Representatives
An elaborate programme of short anc
bright speeches. beautiful weather. a large
attendance Of visitors and arrangements
perfectly carried out were the features OF
the celebration.
Although the celebration was denominateC
''bond-burning affair." yet this feature wa:
not literally carried out. Practically. tecy
were Cancelled and rendered absolutely
worthless. The hall was decorated for the
occasion.
Three old Mexican cannon doomed from
the Capitol Hill all day. Flags were fyini
from the Capitol grounds and public build
inSs, and altogether a gala-day appear
ance greeted the visitors.
The Jefferson Club contingent, some
SeVenty-nve strong, arrived an hour before
the date for the celebration to open. The
club sent Ben Fritch's military band OF
twenty-five pieces along, and the, first StoI
made by this delegation was to serenadt
Governor Dockery at the Executive Man
sion. The band furnished music for tn,
rest Of the day.
INTERNATIONAL CANDIDATES.
This gathering was a field day for guber.
material candidates. four OF them. Sam b
COOK. Mayor Reed. Lieutenant Governor
Lee and Speaker Whitecotton being In evi.
dence. Juase CAN'T. who some think may
onlookers
There were other candidates present.
among them being: J. NJ. Sallee of Bethany
James Cowgirl OF Kansas City. for Treas
urer; ColoneI Walt Brcnaugh OF Clinton, for
Railroad Commissioner.
Among the st. Louis men present were
James hineaiy. Judge F. NJ. kleiber, James
EEagerman, Jr, VIM. J. Flynn. John R.
Butler. John p. Dolan r. F. Combs, Thos
!; Ward, ]. $. Dunwoody. J. R. Waddil,
Seibert. Members of the Democratic State
Committee were also present, as well as a
large number of politicians from various
parts parts OF me State. All together 500 visitors
rom distance We're here. Ex-Governor
Goes Of Oregon occupied a seat of honor
vita the speakers
There was some disappointment felt that
ana ex-senator Vest were not present The
Two former could not leave their duties at
washington, and Senator Vests health
would not permit his presence
1t was 2 o'clock when the proceedings
opened with Fritchs Band playing Dixie. "
Governor Dockery, Mayor Reed and the
on1e orators , received ovations when they
entered the hall. Representative Olive Of
cape Girardeau raped for order, and an
nounced that Governor Dockery would act
as master of ceremonies.
GOVERNORS SPEECH.
;, me Governor proceeded at once to deliver
1 desire to render my grateful scIno,,.a,r-
n ents for the high honor of having been csIIed
ee,e9ratss the complete extinguishment Of Mis-
The taxpayers OF the State ara N he conor,+
tb that at last they are ernancipated from
'he burden Of State bopded indebtedness
edness has been accomplished under the sara
o I,sr, financial management OF the DemocratIc
T, The debt was created between the years of 1851
ana 49, Az that time both Missouri and the Ma
In
ton Of railroads This commonW rs fSt tben
ITS credit ts to certain great railroad enter
in EPa1 af a the property of the roads nciud
granted by the National Government h Ia aid 9ee a}
their construction. -
thus bond-aded by the state The rainoass cere
about about sSe..o Ooo and were amply sufficient to
sued in aid Of their constructop Oh bonds Is
Of the e a ahs s, oads Nth the
IN the payment Of interest upon the bonds; but
q Governor Fletcher. in the concluding statement
rate review Of the financial eonaittdn Of sa tSs
which had been aided by the State. de-
the ,s amounts advanced by the State to them re-
;, However. in 1868. under his administration, the
the sale OF the railroads in which the State held
81 35 $40. to various Republican politicians and
y, realizing for the State the paitry sum
0i se.l5l,iO6. or a net loss of 81, 6N,s 4.
SECURITIES SQUANDERED.
II this loss had resulted from mere error, in
Judgment, the darkest financial chapter of the Re
have been written The saua1derin osu Of het tse
states securities, however was due to the cor
81 . the shameful transactions by which the State
tban s q Its Fair0ad secusties and the
posed posed, upon the people. occurred under acts APP
proved March Il: 1868, except the release OF the
proved on the sist Of March, Isss winch was ap
In SUPPORT Of the statement that securities
to cite two or three Of the most hagrantly nrofi
The lien of the State upon the Iron Mountain
I roaa baySs bse the farce Of public
bidder, the whole transaction being tainted with
he tnfamy OF debased nepotism and favoritism
brothers Of one Of the commissioners appointed TO
make the sale We're awarded the property. al
rhe fact was developed by an investigating COM
nittee of the Legislature at the time that the
IRON Mountain road consisted Of pair of Of A ahe
eon ors es and !, spIas By this trans;
o,,day. was fastened upon the state ee'' q '''s
Frlsso.,' was the subject q another. sham sale
" which more than S. 900 900 was added the
Perhaps the most shameless disclosure Of the
tre ami, ceres OF s9,c5lisd sales was developed
sse Of James N Lamb ct al. vs.. The Missouri
len upon the Missouri Pacific road ad ' amountns
Co. Which Wss Sg ,ss for
uption fund Of s1a3. $3.50 to debauch the mem
The entire management Of our our railroads at tb,,
iine was honey-combed with peculation and
!, This era Of splendid finance to quote the
al n resat ss of great Republican Jour
lss to the taTpayers Of the State that the
i0an party from power in this Capitol
DEMOCRATIC REFORMS.
The period OF Democratic control began in 1871
With the inauguration Governor Of that prince
uptbe patriotslas weodson TSe ana IN i9ooe
orm in the administration Of our fiscal affairs.
inued under all Of his successors II affords me
saf pleasure to pay this Just tribute to the
~ !. Of Missouri's Governors and their associate
1ntii the present NON tp ,he DAYS OF sias Woodson
,Ha years age the Democratic party entered
STATE onr eres s s bssn a,e
onored oy Republican management: our railroad
under lead Of none t sHIn' Isl o Sese e
{ bonds. issued by Republican county courts: our
Seans and IN per Unit al
{ taxation was SO cents on the 800 valuation:
arnngs Of the State Separtmsnts and the sna
St gpsn h the PULLS moneys were treated
he State Penitentiary' was a Teproach to honest
aSs a Tiers So but eight State
!, eoe 900 the per CAPITA being meager Is cents:
q aS G anS f i've
lection laws. the mt st brutal in the history Of
rec government. disg-aced our statute books
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE
Under these untoward conditions the Demo-
fSirs 1t at once entered upon the work Of
pnitnS the credit N the Commonwealth by
onds at 9h per cent, which were sold at a !
rem,um IN every market of the country. 1t re- :
ueeo state taxation from 80 cents on the 800
a!uation to 2 cents:l and this session OF the
Assembly has further reduced asa.e tax.