The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1907-09-03

| party has had an opportunity to show
to the people of Kentucky the cLarac-
ter of an administration that might
reasonably be expected Of it should it
again be entrusted with power. IN
order that the voters may decide fair
ly and vote intelligently let us review
a little history that is so recent that
all may remember. You will recall
that in 1895, the Republican slogan
was turn the rascals out and give
US look at the books and we viii
disclose such mismanagement of the
states affairs as will appall the most
| incredulous." The people voted to
give them a look. For four years they
Hooked, and the people waited long
Aor that report which was to make
ibare the shortcomings of the Demo-
Iscratic party about which they had
been carping for years, but like the
letter that was looked for" the re-
port never came.
What "Look at Books" Showed.
Now let us see what the RepubIi-
cans found when they got a look at
the books. They found that the states
affairs had been honestly and econom-
ically conducted and every dollar paid
into the treasury had been strictly
accounted for.
The first acts of the Republicans
were the issuance of 100000 in bonds
and an increase in the tax rate 10
cents. The bonds sold for premium
of $780, and the 10 cents extra tax
produced during their incumbency ST.
200, 1000, making a total, of bond sale
and increased tax, Of $1,739,O71 With
this additional large sum provided for
them by legislative enactment they
managed the states affairs so poorly
that when the Democrats came into
possession Of the offices in June, 1900,
there was a bonded debt of 81 900, 600
hanging over the state, about $780,
600 of unaudited and unpaid claims,
and a deficit in the school fund of
$147, 900, making a total of s., SAT 600
for which the state was liable and only
s363,334 III the treasury to pay it with
Since then, under the wise policy
pursued by the Democrats, this large
debt has been paid and 81, 1862 APP
propriated and expended on our char
liable and penal institutions and other
most worthy causes, and all this with
a tax rate of 212 cents less than the
Republicans had.
Among these appropriations that
have been paid are the
State Capital. ............... $780, 600
Asylums. .... go. .......- 3S0,15S
State College and Normal
Schools ......... 228,500
Penitentiaries '...... 1866
Confederate Home. .......... 1S5, 800
Children's Home Society. -. So, 600
Is there one among these apprOpria-
tons that Mr.. Wilson and his asso~
ciates do not approve?
My colored brother, $55 900 has been
appropriated and paid to the normal
and industrial school at Frankfort,
school established for your race.
Now will Mr.. Wilson tell you of any
| thing his party has done for you or
anybody, except for the. chosen few,
commonly designated as PIE Hunt
ers?"
Property Values in Kentucky Increases
Our opponents say that we have
been wantonly extravaganza and reck-
| lessly wasteful of the peoples money
that in order to meet the growing
demand for more revenue, instead OF
| increasing the tax rate we have,
through the state board OF eQualiza-
ton, increased the value of the taxa
| BILE property. My friends the increase
J in property values in Kentucky since
| 1900, when the Democrats came into
power, has been remarkable but nat
ural
From 1900 to 1904 the property
values in Kentucky increased from
$1.365 ,130,71S to $1,527, 486, 230 as
shown by compilation of such values
recently gathered and published by
the Manufactures Record of Baltimore
Estimates of conservative statisticians
indicate that a gain of 20 per cent
has been made since then. or that
property values in Kentucky today
are over 81 SOO.OO0,00O and that of all
states in the South, Texas alone, on,
account OF its large area, stands ahead
! of our own state.
The safety and security felt by
those investing in the state under<
Democratic administration is shown
by the large increase in organized cap
ital. During the four years of Brad
ley's administration s3S,58S.340 was
incorporated under our laws to do
business. :.
From January I, 1904, TO June 30.
1907, three years and a half of the
present administration. $197, 1875. 800
was incorporated under the laws OF
Kentucky. And yet with all this splen-
did showing Of increased property
values, the total equalized value ca
all property assessed for taxation IN
Kentucky is $67S,O41 ,918 or slightly
In advance of one-third of the actual
value.
My fellow citizens since have been
at the head of the fiscal department