Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1912-10-24


appropriation ,,.......... 100000
Increase of Confederate pen
sions .....,.............. 100000
Increase or public schools $3.50. 90, 10000
And we have a total of. 49,. S677 ,0S5.7O
Without this increase it is evident
that several hundred thousand dollars
could have been paid on the bonded debt
The Legislature evidently concluded that
it was better to have the reformatory
now, before any more little children
were sent to the penitentlary, and to
care for the old soldiers now, before the
white horse and his rider had carried
them all away. If Governor McMilhn
takes a different view of these matters,
let him say so. If not, let him cease to
misrepresent the facts, and admit, as
SeDator McAhster did, thai nobody was
at fault.
McMillin's Figures.
.At,ths point am reminded that Gov
ernor McMillin has been parading the
grand total of receipts and expenditures
during his administration and mine. This
means nothing, and amounts to nothing
now the money was speut and what our
respective attitudes were toward the
numerous items that go to make up the
totals Any schoolboy knows that the
receipts and expenditures of this and all
other states are continually increasing
l he states business grows in volume
year by year. The state collected and
spent more money during McMillin's ad-
ministration than it ever had before.
Just two items will serve as exam pies
of the increase OF TennesseeS expt ndi-
lures:
Public Education.
l1cMillin's last term ......S 349, 100. 90
Topper first term ........ 2,237, 621.19
Pensions.
McMilln's last term ,.....$ 30C,000.O0
Hooper's first term ....... l,460,O00.OO
If the state were not spending sny
more on schools and pensions, ITO say
nothing of its numerous public institu-
tions, than it did during McMillin's ad-
minstration, it could pay on the bonded
debt during my administration S3,O49,-
521.
Widows Pensions.
The Regular Democratic spellbinders,
from John Isaac Cox up to Malcolm r.
Patterson, or from Patterson on up to
Cox take your choice), have been over
exerting themselves to make the impress
sion that | opposed a $4,000 appropria-
stlon in the last Legislature for widows
pensions. In the light of the public
records, such statement is SO COM
pletely false that it is indeed remark
able that any public man or newspaper
of any pretensions to integrity would
dare to repeat it. am not willing to
concede, however, that any man of that
descripS zion has repeated it. The facts
are that. under special bill, the Legls-
lature OF 1911 increased the appropria-
ton for Confederate pensions 100000,
and $4,000 of this increase went to
widows, making the present appropria-
ton for widows pensions 100000. These
bills were voted for by all Republicans
and signed by me.
Afterward an item appropriating the
additional sum of $4,000 for widows
pensions was included In the general APP
preparation bill. have already explained
how the Legislature called for the re-
turn OF these bills, after | demonstrated
that they would bankrupt the treasury.
Then it was that the Legislature volui-
tariy cut out this $4,000 along with q
great many other items. Thas was done
without any recommendation OF sugges-
ton from me.
Under McMillin's administration there
was not a cent spent for widows PEN
sons, and you cannot find in one of his
messages to the legislature where he adj
vocated the appropriation OF cent for
Confederate pensions OF any sort, though
he did afterward modestjy claim great
credit for the little that had been done.
Moreover, he ignored the recommends
ton of the Confederate Bivoll4cs as to
the members of the Pension EJard, and
refused to commission them as required
BY law. Why? The reason given to q
member of the Board, by his brother,
John McMillin, who acted as the spokes-
man of the administration, was that
Major Guild as a member of the State
Senate, had voted for man who had
held office by divine right for some forty
years. But Major Guilds commission
lay unsigned from May in McMilln's |
first term IL .he night before he went |
out Of office the last time-with emphs- !
rs on the word last"
Patterson showed tais same indignity |
to the Confederate soldiers when he wall
Governor, which is only another evidence |
Of how these great minds run in the same |
channel !
Dibrelps Pension Letters.
The greatest fraud, however, that has
ever been practiced on the state and the |
people in connection with the pension |
business, is that whereby the Honorable |
Frank Uibrell, Comptroller, conducts his
political campaign at the expense OF the
state by inclosing a campaign letter with |
every check sent out to Confederate |
pensioner. l have in my possession a
full series OF letters thus sent by Mr.. |
Comptroller Dibrell, each bearing his |
pulchritudinous likeness, and assuring the
old soldier that he is the benefcient be-
ing away down at the Capitol City, with
out whom there would be no pension.
Each letter is stronger than its prede-
cessor, and the effect of them all is TO |
impress the veteran that the Legislature
and the Pension Board are small pota-
toes and few in the hill, with the excep- !
ton of Cox aud Morley, to whom he
comedies modicum OF glory. |