Milford chronicle., 1912-10-04
REPUBLICAN EXTRAVAGANCE Z?

kEPUBLlCAN EAIRAHAGANCE ?
There seems to be disposition
on the part of one of our Democra
tic contemporaries to condemn thr
Republican administration for it
conduct of the affairs from a finan
cial standpoint, accusing the ad
ministration Of extravaganza anC
Icarelessness in expending State
Funds. The sole argument useC
is that about $4,000, 900 a veal
more is spent than thirty years ago
and asking the question why the
Republicans expend $4,000, 600 pei
annum, while the Democrats ex-
pended about $4,000, 900. The best
answer to this inquiry is that that
was 80 years ago. Do they think
that Delaware has stood still for
that length of time?
1t is a very regrettable fact that
comparative few Of the voters of
Delaware have even a general
knowledge of the finances of the
State. These figures are public
and can be obtained with no trouble
and should be carefully studied,
for after all, the ultimate criterion
Of a good administration is the
condition Of its Treasury.
In reading the statement that is
to follow it should be borne in mind
that a Government should have
enough receipts to meet the de
mands upon the Treasury for all
purposes that are needfull and
beneficial to its people, and no
more. 1t is as radically wrong for
any Government to pile up and un-
surplus as it is to have a
deficit. In other words it is the
duty Of the people to pay taxes
for the proper conduction
Of their Government, but the
Government has no right to ask for
more
Now let us see where that adj !
$4,000, 900 goes. The figures
used to make up the following |
statement are the expenditures |
made at the very last of the Demo
cratic regime and the expenditures
Of the year Of 1871. The Republi-
IAN administration is spending now /
more than 5, 13600O on Education
han did the Democrats S21, 900
more for thePublic Health Sl3, 900
more for the benefit of Agricul-
ure and protection Of live stock
81 900 more for the Improvement
If Public Highways $50, 900 more
or the maintenance of Public In
and for charitable pur-
,Oses and $4,000 more for Public /.
Defense. Adding to these amounts
he more than $50, 900 spent in
911 on the new State House, t
'hich had not then been completed Z
ou will find that more than the c
5000, 900 has been accounted for. +
low please note that all these o
mounts represent increases in ap- c
ropriations made for the direct t,
eneft of the people Of Delaware. q
.lso please note that the business
the State has grown almost so cl
er cent in the past 30 years, but u
le necessary increase in the cost t.
conducting this business has not
cen calculated in showing where
ie S3000,0 600 goes. a.
The statement is made that this to
oney comes out Of the pockets of "a
e Delaware tax payers. It does ey
1t-nOt one penny of it. The in w
ease in the amount paid for r. r.
,enses, which is the principal j.,
urce of revenue the State has eV
1m its own people, is less than pl
5000 during the past 30 years ae
his increase is no more than in Of
opertion with the growth of the tic
lsiness of the State during that tei
he. The increase in other sources CO.
revenue from Delaware tax. s5 Tq5i
yers is no more proportionately. tn
lie total of all taxes paid into the er, er
ate Treasury in 1o11 from with fo' iin
Delaware, including all licenses
d taxes paid by individuals. firms, IS
operations, banks, etc, within @s nS
is State, excepting public service an
rporations), is less than $3.50. 600 len
t as much as the State spends on me- ne,
lucation alone. There is spent sys
the direct benefit Of the people, enS snS
the State, $500 for every Si.OO II Z
id into the State Treasury bv son
IN. The people of Delaware are soH 051
red less for State Government "
IN any other State in the Union. and
you ask, does the money MI
ne from2 Itcomes from a source =
tdoes notefectthe pocket books Gt
taxpayers in the least - i. e., of
N public service corporations San
other corporations without the oh'