Evening journal., 1912-10-02
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 2. 1912
REPUBLICAN PARTY AND STATE FINANCES.


rr NFAIRNEss invariably characterizes Democratic
~ discussion of Republican achievement in this
State That is particularly true with respect to the
manner In which Republican officials have collected,
handled disbursed State funds Through Ignorance
or righteousness certain Democratic newspapers in
this year have resored to misstaemens of
with respect to the dominant party and its fiscal
policy and has based such missatements deduc-
tons which. lest the public mind be affected by such
misnformation, regard IL duty to meet and re-
flute
The Republicans have been accused of extravaganza
carelessness in the OF the States money bas
ing It largely upon the fact that approximately $780,
600 year is spent then spent thirty
years ago The Democratic critics do not seem to be
able to understand why the Republicans spend $780,
year in running the State Government, while the
Democrats many years ago expended approximately
100000 year One might think, judging from the
earnestness with which the Democrats discuss that
question that they have been induging in thru-year
sleep and, having awakened cannot understand that
while they slept Delaware has progressed and that
progress necessarily has led to greater
expenditures
1t is surprising that Democratic editors who profess
be the guides of public opinion know little about
State finances and that drawing upon their own
funds of ignorance, they want only sproad broadcast
misleading statements which made all the in
excusabe by the fact that the truth is easy OBJ
tain. Many voters in Delaware have only general
knowledge Of the State finances They rely upon the
newspapers keep them posted anything out OF
the common that may interest them That is unfortun-
ate it enables designing men, like the Demo-
cratic editors opportunity to upon them and pre-.
judco their minds with misleading information
Tho facts and figures bearing upon State finances
are public property. Any person may ask for and
cciye any information general specific in relation
to them In view the fact that the condition of the
treasury is regarded the ultimate test of a good
administration it is surprising that more Delaware
With the fiscal end Of State government Il has
been the policy of the Republican party-and II is
regarded the ideal one by political economists and wise
statesmen the world overthat the receipts
of government should be large enough to meet all
demands upon the treasury for purposes which
needfu and beneficial its people II is clearly
to collect money in such amounts will pile up
MUS. In fact that is wrong as it is to collect
little money that results in deficit at the end OF
the fiscal year The wise hnancier only collects enough
make the receipts and the expenditures balance II
is not always possible to do that exactly, but If adj
ministration be wise, it at least approXimates IT,
Now let us see where that additional 100000 goes.
The figures used to make up the following statement
the expenditures made at the very last OF the Demo-
cratic regime and the expenditures of the 1911.
Tho Republican administration is spending more than
$4,000 more education than did the Democrats:
$4,000 the public health; $4,000 more the
benefit OF agriculture and protection of live stock; $751;
600 more for the improvement OF public highways;
$4,000 for the maintenance of public institutions
and charitable purposes $4,000 for public
defense Adding to these amounts the than $S6,
600 spent in 1911 the State House, which had
then been completed you will find that moro thar
the 100000 has been accounted for
Now please note that all these represent in
in appropriations made for the direct benefit
Of the people Of Delaware. Also please that tho
business of the State has grown almost fifty per cent
in the last thirty years, but the necessary
the cost Of conducting this business has not been cal
culated in showing where the 100000 goes
The statement is made that this money comes out o.
the pockets of the Delaware tax payers It does not
not penny Of it, The in the amount paiC
for licenses, which is the principal OF
the State has from its people less than $4,000
during the last thirty years This increase NOR,
than in proportion with the growth the business
the State during that time. The increase in other
sources OF from Delaware taxpayers is no NOR
proportionatey The total Of all taxes paid into tn
State Treasury 1911 within Delaware including
all licenses and taxes paid by individuals. firms, cor
porations banks, ETC. within this State. excepting public
service corporations, is less than $230O00-not
the State spends education alone. There is spen
for the direct benefit Of the people by the State s.
y for every 81 paid into the Treasury by them Tb
people of Delaware taxed less for State Government
than any other State in the Union.
Where you ask does the money come FROM It come
from source that does not affect the pocket book
6, taxpayers in the least-from public service cor