Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-05-06
ECONOMY IN STATE
Auditor General Bradley Calls
Attention To Extraordinary
Expenses In Late Years
Is FER RETRENCH NJ { Mt
Promises, II Elected Governor. To
Toke Initiative In Bringing About
Reduction.

Last Wednesday Auditor General j.
b. Bradley issued a formal statement
further outlining the platform upon
which he will conduct his campaign
for the republican nomination as gov
ernor He declares that he will not
base his candidacy upon equal taxation
and primary reform alone, and says that
both principles are we'll established and
it only remains to perfect the operating
machinery.
There are other things of just as
vital Importance which have not been
given the consideration they should
have had and which shall urge just
as strongly as | can" he states.
Over-capitalization of corporations is
one of the greatest evils the people
have to contend with, he continues.
1T is the people who have TO foot
the bills and they are the sufferers.
Ny experience as auditor general has
shown me to what an extent this has
been carried on. Numerous examples
can be quoted right here in Michigan.
perhaps the most conspicuous one being
the Pere Marquette railroad. want
it known at the outset of my campaign
that if l am elected / shall urge the
legislature to enact the most stringent
act possible TO end this damnable
abuse.
1T must be apparent to every one
that the expenses of the state have
reached point where business econ
omy is an absolute necessity, and | am
prepared to take the initiative in that
direction. Figures showing the exist
ing conditions are appalling and speak
more loudly than anything which may
be said upon the subject.
Since Michigan became a state a
sum of S7h. 637 652. u has been appor-
,tioned in taxes to be borne by the
general property of the state. This is
exclusive of the taxes paid ,bv the rail
roads and other corporations. the latter
being a separate source of income OF
this amount S25, COL. s69 05. or practi-
cally one. third of all the taxes ap-
portioned since Michigan became
state, have been spportioned in the
last eight years. This is something
for the taxpayers to think about.
Extravaganza confronts one on
every side," it is asserted by DR..
Bradley For instance the legislature
assembled for the FIRST time in the
present capitol building In 1879. 1t
was in session ISL days at total of
$119, 634 and daily cost of $129. The
session of 1907 was in session l7S days
at total cost of Si90.3Os, and daily
cost of S1,069 the highest daily cost
of any legislature ever assembled In
Michigan.
Take the state senate of 1907. 1t
had thirty-two members ana had to be
tended by sixty-two officers and en-
ployss. The senators drew $19, 301, 40
while the employees drew down 1872,
oil. co.
"No one ever contended that the
Pingree administration of 1897 was
an economical one but it fades into
insignihcance compared with the
present one Here are figures showing
the expenses of the various depart
ments Tor the years 1907 and 1897:
1907. Capitol en-
ployes janitors, etc. $40. S53 81
1897. Capitol en-
ployes janitors. etc. 81, 7Os.27
---- $50, 055 O4
1907. Dairy and Food
Commission. ..... S42. 5l7.O2
1897. Dairy and Food
Commission ..... II, 263. rs.
----31, 253 26 !
1902. Labor Dept.
Factory Inspection 26. 6.9l7.O9
1897. Lanor Dept.
Factory Inspection 10. 22I. .O3
-----l1. 696. O6 /
1907 Game warden S2s. .O6l. 81
1897. Game warden. s 5,7s7,5l
---------.22, 324 Oh I
1907 Live Stock
Sanitary Com. -. s29. A.
1891. Live Stock
Sanitary Com. m 2. .451. 22
------ 2.37s. % I
1907. Extra Clerks
general fund.- . S9e, 7a7. Oe.
1897. Extra Clerks
general fund.- -. 68. O56 81.
- 80. $50. 21 /
1T strikes me that there Is sore need
of business administration.
'One other thing promise to do
If elected and that is to put an end to
the using of state employees in the va
rious departments as political scouts.
There are now several departments
the principal business of which is to
run around the state playing politics
and during every campaign large
number of extra clerks are employed in