The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-03-30
CHARGES ANSWERED
State Bonds Retired During Swanson 8
Administration as Governor.

Some interest has been aroused as a
result of the publication of accusations
made against the record Of Senator
Claude A. Swanson while he was
Governor Of Virginia. A statement
made by C. b. Garrett, general mana
ager of the new Virginia Democratic
League, indicated that the former Gov
/ ernor had been guilty of bad financial
management and that a large surplus
had been converted by him into a de-
felt
At the time Gov. Swanson went out
of Office he received general applause
from all quarters for his administration
of affairs. Therefore some attention
has been directed to the matter. and
there have been questions as TO the
facts in the case. These are obtalnable
from the office Of the Auditor OF Public
Accounts.
The Auditors reports show that on
the day when Gov. Swanson was inaug-
urated, Feb. /, 1906, the balance in the
treasury of the State was 1894, 6O2. q.
On the day when he stepped down, four
years later, and turned the reins over
10 Gov. Mann, there was $7S7, 449. 10 in
the said treasury. In addition, during
these four years, on the recommends
ton Of Gov. Swanson, the Legislature
had used S549, S54. Al of the current rev.
enues for the purchase and retirement
Of State bonds, using its surplus in this
way. BY this means 1899. 400 OF the
State debt was retired.
This means that, counting the cash
when Gov. Swanson went out and the
bonds purchased voluntarily during his
term. a total of 81. 1877, 303 81 was the
real surplus when his four years ended,
making a gain Of SAP, 70l.34 over the
amount when he took Office.
Ii should be remembered that the
State was under no obligation TO pur-
chase these bonds, but did so volun-
tarily, using its surplus in this manner.
1t might, however, be contended that
a comparison as of Feb. l is unfair
Taking, then. the end of the appropria-
ton year, which is March j, II is noted
that on March /, 1910. every appropri-
alton made during Gov. Swanson S
term was either paid and discharged
from the treasury or else had lapsed
and could not be used without new
appropriation. On March l, 1910, when
all obligations of the State under any
bill signed by Gov. Swanson ceased,
there was the sum of $l76, 0sl.94. Add
ing to this the bonds paid for and re-
tired during the term, there is total
Of SIPS, 1885, Al Of surplus at the expira-
ton Of the Swanson regime.
II is true that during Gov. Swanson ;
last year the amonnt appropriated to
20 into the sinking fund was not paid,
but under the settlement with the bond
holders il was not required to be paid
until 1910. Had il been paid on March
1. 1910, there was the money
in the treasury for that purpose
and a small cash balance would still
have been left.
In this last year of Gov. SwansOn's
administration the sum Of 1896. 900 was
spent by the State for good roads. As
there was not penny spent IN TINS
way during the last year OF the preced-
ing term, il will be seen where the in
creased revenue went in part. For ed
ucation, during Swanson's last year,
the sum OF 1868, 343. 48 was spent-more
than during the school year Of 1900.
For the same years the increase was
Sl56, 267. so for higher institutions OF
learning. Several hundred thousand
dollars more was spent for pensions.
All pensions were paid promptly dur
ing Gov. Swanson's term.
No taxes were raised. it appears, dur
ing his four years, excepting on liquor.
No money was borrowed nor interest
paid. The revenues of most States de-
clined during the panic year OF 1907
and Just following it, but in Virginia,
for the two years just after the begin
ming Of the panic, the revenues were
S9l6. 900 more than during the previous
two years, Gov. Swanson's friends thus
arguing that his policies paid for them
selves. Richmond Times-Dispatch.