The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1909-08-04
Concerning FinanciaIC Con-
ditiOn of State.
PROVES GROUNDS BY FIGURES
Says Editor Bell Tackles a
Subject Which He Does
Not Understand.


editorial flogging to-day at the hands
of former Governor Beckham. when
he answered Bells recent alleged ex-
posure Of Democratic mismanagement
of the affairs and finances OF the
State. Beckham says that Bells state
ment is so full of errors that 1t would
be difficult to correct them, but he
says he should have known that the
Democrats did not succeed Gov Brad
ley's administration, for Governor Tay
lor succeeded the Bradley administra-
ton, and the Democrats succeeded
Taylor and did not get hold Of the
books until two months after the Re-
publicans had been sworn in. The
numerous other errors enumerated by
Beckham follow briefly:
"The Democratic officials did not
get possession of the auditors and
1ireasurel' & offices until February e.
1900 nearly two months after Audi
tor Stones report was made. But
even his report when examined show
ed a bad condition of the finances.
He says that there was in the treas
ury at that time Sl,G6O, 426.0S, but
that 1865, j7432 belonged to the
sinking fund That fund existed for
the purpose of accommodating enough
money TO pay off the bonded debt of
the State, $1,000 900, and TO pay in
terest on the school bonds. So when
we take that amount from amount
in the treasury, it left S91, S50.66
cash balance in the treasury that was
legally available 10 carry on the gov
eminent. And it should be remem-
bered, toe, that for three of the four
years of Auditor Stones administra-
ton the tax rate was J21a cents on
the $4,000, and that for the first
two years of the Democratic admin
istration it YVES Az cents and after
that 80 cents. Bad as it was on Jan.
|. 1900. see how much worse it was
when the Democrats took charge on
Feb. 20, 1900 Here is statement of
the condition:
The liabilities of the common
wealth at that time were as follows:
Deficit in the common
school fund. .. e.. IS 1iI, 1889
Deficit in the general
expenditure fund. .... 3S50SS93
Amount due common
schools, which was
paid by present ad-
ministration under
judgment of the
court of Appeals. E. 13O,s20.25
Bonds of the State
outstanding. =. e.. E. 1,OOO,OOO.00
There was at this
time in the office of
the auditor great
mass of unaudited
claims against the
commonwealth to the
extent of at least. E. 400, OOO.OO
Total liabilities above
enumerated. =. =. ..s2,OG2, 991.S7
From which deduct
the cash assets Of. e. &c., 334.51
Leaving liabilities of
the former Republic
an administration in
excess of its assets
the sum Of. E. E. 81 500, 657.36
This statement shows that when
the Democrats came into power they
inherited debts aggregating about
81, 200, 100000, with cash in the
treasury 1868 10000, making the
net debt to pay nearly sl.700 10000.
"The effort of Editor Bell to hold
the Democratic administration re-
sponsible from the time of Auditor
Stones report shows that he has
tackled a subject which he does not
understand and that his entire ar
ticle is misleading and full of err
rors.
Again he tries to attack the accu-
racy of the State Journal about the
amount of appropriations made dur
ing each session of the legislature
while the Democrats were in control
but omits to put in the largest appro-
priation, next to that for the new cap
itol, made during their administra-
ton. The act of 1904, increasing the
school term from five to six months,
Involved an annual appropriation of,
approximately, siOO.OOO.OO. But he
carefully leaves that out of his esti-
mates.
when he suppresses, innocently
1t may be, such important matters.
what reliance can be placed upon any
of his statements? His article is so