Gilpin observer., 1910-10-27
REPUBLICANS GIVEN
TO DECEPTION.

Either through inexcrsable ignor-
ance or wanton determination to
cast veracity aside In order to gain
political point, a number Of par
tisan spellbiniers AMI newspape,. Is
have been making accusations OF ex-
travagance IN the conduct of various
state offices that have not the slight
est foundation. Many people who be.
lieve in political decency, and "in Civ
ing the devil his just Dues" have
kept Informed as to the real condi-
tions, and such people, without re-
gard to partisan preferences, know
that the state offices were never more
thoroughly or economically admins
! tered. To those who do not know the
truth regarding these matters, a few
words of explanation will doubtless
prove interesting.
Some facts are here given on the
secretary of states office, which has
been made the object of attack by
number of Republican workers.
When James B. Pearce took charge
Of the office it was in a state of
chaos and lack Of system that made
it almost impossible to accomplish
anything. Consequently his first act
was a thorough reorganization and
the Introduction of business methods.
The change and the resultant bene-
fits are discernable at glance.
| Only about 25 per cent of the cor
porations of record had been entered
on the flat tax books previous to
1909. Without extra help Cr expense,
all being done during overtime by the
regular force, the entire list was
compiled, and in % months Mr.. Pearce
has collected $65,O0O more flat tax
than did his predecessor during his
entire term.
Moreover, the present secretary of
state has every month turned this
flat tax money over to the state
treasurer, al detail deemed trifling and
unnecessary by those who preceded
Mr.. Pearce in handling this fund.
Records show that John A. Holm
burg has SO far failed to turn over
S11 1,016.77, while James A. Cowie still
freezes onto $4,247.41, and beth are
now fighting in the courts to keep
from giving up this money. Timothy
ried away s16,546.31, but after a de-
c.sion by Federal Judge Lewis was
induced to disgorge, at the same
time paying sSO8.57 interest. Suits are
Cowie, who will undoubtedly be fore
ed, in time, to pay over to the state
treasurer the amounts illegally held
by them, with interest from the date
is noteworthy fact that instead Of
following the pre- ecedent established.
Mr.. Pearce not only collected $65. 900
more, but made no attempt to keep
any part of the amount in his own
pocket. He believed himself a servant
of the people, and that money collect
ed as taxes belonged to the people
and not to individuals.
Some fellows who have no hesitan-
cy about juggling the truth have
given It out that the secretary Of
states incidental fund is much larger
under the present administration than
previously, but the records tell an
others story. Mr.. O'Connor had fund
Of $l5.5s1.S2. and had 1t all spent a
month before the close of the bien-
nial period. The appropriation for the
present secretary Of state was $16,-
900, but $3.50 was transferred to other
funds, leaving the actual amount $751;
900. And to this amount, after all bill
Of his department are paid he will
have remaining and will turn back in.
to the general fund at the close OF
his first term in January, 1911, not
less than $4,000.
Facts and figures prove that prac.
t.cally the same condition exists in
all other departments under this De-
mocratic administration, and that the
charges made by the opposition are
nothing more nor less than pure bun.
combe, without the slightest founda-
| ton on facts.
Fancy French briar and meer.