The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1904-10-21
THE POLITICAL SITUATION
HOW THE CAMPAIGN SIZES UP
ABOUT THE STATE HOUSE,
SHOWS FUSION ExTRAVAoANCE
Figures to indicate Where the In.
crease in Valuation Has Taken
Place Under the New Revenue Law.
Greatest in Money, Bonds, Etc.

An examination of the auditors
genco that the state debt will take
care of itself, If eXitsing conditions
are maintained. The state buildings
which We're destroyed by fire have
been rebuilt and those which were al.
lowed to go to decay and ruin under
fusion rule have been repaired and
made comfortable and sanitary. These
heavy items of expense together with
deficiencies left over from the fusion
administration have prevented the
present administration from cutting
down the state debt in the past, even
though the most rigid economy was
praCtised.
The outlook for the future is much
more promising; in fact, it is certain
that the state debt will be reduced
this year probably to the extent of
more than 100000, and there is no
reason why the same rate of decrease
should not be kept up in the future
The state debt is the least of our
troubles now.
MIR Don c. Desplain, deputy commits.
sioner of labor, has been delving in
tax statistics for a few days for the
purpose of asCertaining what interests
have been struck" by the new rev
enue law.
The recaptulatiOn of his figures is
very interesting. Especial attention
is directed to the heavy increase in
the valuation of bonds, moneys, cred.
its, etc, and in the assessment of
railroads.
On the other hand, the reader
should give particular attention to the
low rate of increase in the valuations
of real estate and live stock-the two
items of property in which the farmer
is most vitally interested.
You should remember, too, that an
! increase in valuation does not neces
sarily indicate an increase in taxes
Keep this important fact in mind while
reading Mr.. Despain's figures, which
are as follows:
Increase in valuation OF all property
including railroads, $l06,320, ,SG5, or Sc
| per cent.
Increase in valuation of railroad
property, $19,O02, ,S1S, or 60 per cent.
Increase in valuation of all proper
ty other than railroads, $S7,31S,047, OF
| "a per cent.
Increase in moneys, bonds, etc.
S11.919,175, or 3l7 per cent.
Increase in real estate, S6l,7l4,279
or II per cent.
Increase in live stock, $2,97o,39S, oil
| 16 per cent.
Regarding Economy.
Besides making extensive improve
ments in the grounds and buildings ot
the soldiers and sailors home al
Grand Island, the present state admin
istration has cared for it's aged in
mates as they never were cared fol
| before. The home is more neat anC
orderly, the beds and other furnish
! ings are cleaner and more comforta
bic, and the table fare is much better
Under Governor Poynter's admins
tration, the fuSiOnists confessed to ar
expenditure of an annual per capita
of $159,S7 AS is usual with fusior
reports, this is incorrect and untrue
for $12,49G.39 worth of products raised
for in the report.
This correction having been duly
made, the per capita is found to bt
| SlS3O2 per year.
During a similar period under Mick
ey the per capita is $169.52.
The saving for each inmate per yea
is $3.50, or at the rate of $47, fo1
the bicnnium.
Multiply $47 by 43S, the number o
/ inmates in the home, and we have {
total of $2O,5SS saved by the presen
administration in two years.
This is economy of the real brand
Fusion Incomplete.
AS election time draws near, the
futility of the attempt to bind the
democrat and populst forces together
becomes more apparent each day
/ The democrats refuse to vote for the
populist electors, and the populists a!
stubbornly insist upon voting for theiI
own national candidates. The pre-
tense Of fusion upon the state ticke
is too shallow to deceive anyone. Pop
ulists all over the state are loudly de
claring that they never will vote FOL
any man who supports Parker, anC
the democrats as openly avow tha
they will not support one of Watson,
adherents.
Under such conditions, clerks anC
judges of election may expect to SEE
the worst scratched and disfigured 10
of ballots that ever were cast in thi!
state.
( The open declaration OF Mr.. Tibbles
populist candidate for vice-president
that he expects his followers to vot,
only for such legislative candidates
as will pledge themselves not to vot,
for Mr.. Bryan for senator, has pro
voked retaliation in the democrati,
camp and has prevented fusion in sev
eral legislative districts where IN,
conventions were held after Mr.. Tih