Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-04-23
Some Facts About the Expendi-
lures Under the Present
Administration
COMP ARlsoNs
Executive Expenses and Growth of
Expenses in Other Departments -
Calamity Howlers Attempting to Be-
little Great State = Henchmen Of
Corrupt Leaders.
[By Ora Williams.l


gone wrong with the grand old state
that men should expostulate in wrath
as if dire calamity impends:
That singular political phenomenon
broadly known as calamity bowling
has not been unknown in Iowa. 1t has
generally accompanied political adver-
sity. Those who have been consplcu-
Gus because of dismal forebodings
have usually had the good sense to
find some real grievances on which to
base their mutterings; but here in To-
wa, at this time, we hear the distress
ing calamity cry without any OF the
accompanying incidents which AFFORD
excuse. Wherefore? Why?
Someone has taken the dear voters
into confidence and has shown that the
state of Iowa Is going to wreck and
ruin because of the extravaganza and
wastefulness of Governor Cummins.
Why, it is actually costing nearly So
000, 900 year to keep the governor go
ing, or rather for the governor to keep
the state going. And these calami-
lyllGS uP llGll eAiAA NAAAN
per, "Ain't it awful
OF course they assume the governor
is the whole thing. They have made
the discovery that Governor Cummins
has the expenditure of all the money
of the state and is responsible for ev-
erything That this discovery is CO.
incident with their parallel announce
ment that there is really nothing for
governor to do but sign notarial COM
missions and issue pardons and 1t is
sort of honorary office which ought
to be passed around among the boys
who want something nice-that the
two things come together does not dis
concert these new light calamity howl
ers. Consistency is not in their politi-
cal dictionary.
A bill of particulars is sometimes
printed. A star item appears to be one
expenditure under the Cummins adj
ministration of 1915 for legal expenses
in state lawsuits. Governor Shaw did
MT spend that much. He never brought
suit against thieving CRATER who
worked for the state. 1t is true Gov
ernor Larrabees administration spent
$4,000 or more for legal services in
state cases-but perhaps that doesn't
count. Cummins is lawyer. He ought
to have gone into court and tried the
cases for himself.
The Mileage Question.
Then there is another count against
Cummins. He actually travels on
mileage books paid for in cash. His
predecessor never did anything like
that Oh, no.! But Cummins charged
-, c1oO for tioy, ~, 10
business. Under Shaw the, railroads
would never have made this necessary.
Shaw bought no tickets. Cummins is
censurable.
There is much more of the same sort
which these preachers of woe are cir
culating to make the dear people be-
lieve that Governor Cummins has scat
tered the money of the state to the
winds.
Now let us see what is the matter
with Iowa Perhaps there are some
errors in this elaborate scheme of MAX
ing Cummins responsible, and then
figuring him out profligate. Certainly
there are some things Governor Cum
minis cannot be held responsible for
There is the office of attorney general
costing the state $4,000 to $4,000 each
period more than formerly. Surely
Governor Cummins has not lorded it
over Mr.. Mullan, standpatter. sim
liar increase is noted in the office
where John Crockett. the standpat clerk
from Hardin. has full swing. Then
there is the railroad commission. In
the state auditors report for 1901 it is
credited with using $23,162.23, and the
report for 1905 shows $26.S5S.O2. Will
Colonel Palmer admit that Cummins is
the whole thing in the office which has
been so long standpat retreat in a
progressive state house. Not much;
Dave doesn't divide with anybody.
Here is another item. The district
judges of Iowa drew in salary for the
period 19o4-5 total of $685. 19.Os, and
for the corresponding period of four
years before $264,976.s1. Did Cummins
pay them? And the supreme court
cost s63,157.5s, as against $50, 1886 Is
this the fault Of Cummins?
Some of the increased cost of the
state is apparent rather than real tho
the muck-rakers who are tearing down
Iowa and Iowa's fair name overlook
this fact Governor Cummins signed a
bill which swept away the last vestige
of the free and easy way Of doing
things on boards and commissions. 1t
fixed the invariable rule that every cent
taken in fees or otherwise must be
turned into the treasury and every
dollar which goes for expense must
come out on a warrant of the auditor.
The old system of officials pocketing
fees and turning over as much of the
surplus as they had to was stopped.
To Illustrate. In the state auditors
report for 1905 there is an item of ex-
penditure of s25.570 for oil inspection,
while six years ago 1t was not a cent.
Now, everybody knows the oil inspec-
ton is being done cheaper than ever
before What does this mean on the
books? The discrepancy is found in
the fact that whereas under the old
system the inspectors paid themselves
and spent was they pleased under the
new law they are paid as other Off
Gals and their fees go into the treas
ury. And the oil inspection business
is a source OF real revenue to the state
and is increa sing. Yet the calamityites
juggle the figures to show it is an add
ed great expense. They give but one
side Of the ledger.
Continued on Fifth Page.)