The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1904-06-02

States Obligations by Republican
Financial Officers-Cause Is Found
In Economical and Conservative Ad-
ministration of the States Business
Affairs.
vention Republican leadership was de-
nounced for claiming credit on account
of the reduction of the state debt, and
the presiding officer declared that this
reduction has been effected as the re-
suit of tax law enacted by Demo
cratic state legislature" An exam
nation of the record reveals the utter
indefensibility of this position. Dem
ocratic officers had charge of the fiscal
affairs of the state for two years after
the state began to derive the increased
revenues resulting from the new tax
law, and were unable, if they were will
ing, to begin to wipe out that mOnu-
ment to their own methods of finan-
ciering, the state debt.
When the Republican financial Off
GERS went out OF Office in January,
1891, they left the debt at sS,056. 615.12.
AT the end of that fiscal year the
Democrats had increased 1t to $S,346,-
615.12. at the close of the next fiscal
year it was the same, the increase be-
ing due TO money borrowed for cur
rent expenses, Notwithstanding the
new tax law added to the revenues of
the state s1,419,77S in 1891 and ST.
461, 1877 in 1892. Thus in two years
they had an increase of revenue of
$2,S3O,975 and no reduction of debt
until 1893, at the end of which fiscal
year the debt was $S,006,615.12, 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
we're 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 100000 less
than the debt the Republicans left
and $4,000 less than the debt was
after the Democrats had increased it,
They paid $4,000 more in January
1895.
The total of s1,300,000 reduction of
state debt by Democrats will bear the
following analysis:
In 1893 there was paid $50, 900 on the
original debt and 100000 borrowed by
Democrats. Total, $4,000.
In 1894 there was paid $4,000.
In January, 1895, there was paid
$4O0, OOO ee
In these years of Democratic 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,
$4,4S6,92S more than they had ever
been. In addition to this they had the
use of S57S,224 sinking fund, created
for the sole purpose of paying the
debt. In all they had at command
$4,000, 900 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 S5S0,0o0,
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 $5,36S, 900,
an average debt pairing of considerably
more than a half million dollars a
year.
ments to the people of Indiana
amounting to more than $15O.OO0 a
year.
Two million dollars spent in en-
largement and improvement of state
institutions.
A saving of millions of dollars to the
people through county and state fee
and salary laws.
A substantial reduction of the tax
levy.
How has this result been brought
about? Not by hap-hazard. Even an
increase in the income Of an individual
or state does not necessarily mean
a decrease in the debts of an individ-
ual or state. Money is saved at the
point where 1t 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-
buttons. including. merit system of
appointments; competitive bids in the
purchase OK all supplies; system of
accounting which renders dishonest
administration impossible; and strict
methods of supervision.
A vote for Republican state and leg.
islative candidates is a vote against
the state debt Continuance for an
other term of Republican administra.
ton in Indiana will result in its total
extinction.
Most of the newspapers pretending
to represent the reorganizers are nov