The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1913-06-20


stamp out illiteracy in Kentucky were
enacted, and I will always remember
with pleasure my assistance and CO.
operation with the members of the
last general assembly, whose useful
ness and whose real benefit to the
state have never been exceeded in my
day by the members of any legislature.
Corporation Assessment s.
Equally important with the fulfill
ment of platform pledges is a fair
and just increase of the taxable value
OF corporations. l co-operated with
the board of assessment and valua-
ton, and the members of this board.
after careful, capable and thorough
examination, fixed the franchise value
of railroads and other corporations.
The railroads are now resisting the
fair and just assessment made by the
board, but | believe the board will be
sustained and upheld by the courts
and the burden of taxation will be
put Jointly on corporations and on in
dividuals, and in reasonable time will
pay the states Indebtedness, and, |
hope, justify a reduction of state
taxes.
THE last legislature authorized the
appointment of a commission on rev.
enue and taxation. That commission
has been appointed and is doing good
work and will make an important and
beneficial report at the end of the
present year, which report will be
laid by me before the legislature.
"The state constitutional amend,
ment on the subject of taxation, which
many persons advocated. has been
submitted to, and will be voted upon
by the people at the next regular
election. If adopted it will enable the
members of our general assembly to
impose a greater tax on corporations.
Republican Debts.
when | was inaugurated as gov
ernor | found Republicans had put
debt on the state amounting to about
a million and a quarter dollars, and,
as it has been repeatedly published
that the appropriations made by the
first legislature of the present admin
istratiOn were greater than the appro-
priations made by the first legislature
of the preceding Republican admins
tration, 1 requested the auditor to fur
nish me a statement showing the ex-
penditures made in the respective
years referred to- The appropriations
made by the first legislature under
the administration, which came into
power in 1908, amounted to $685.
O21.63; the appropriations made by
the first legislature of my admins
tration, in 1872, as shown by the sign
ed statement of the auditor, amounted
to s575 ,244.6S, which shows that the
appropriations made the first year of
my administration did not sum up
one-half as much as the appropria-
tons made by the preceding Republi
can administration.
Meeting Current Expenses.
81 am hopeful that, at the end OF
the present fiscal year, We will be
able to show, leaving out the interest
on the state debt, accumulated during
Republican rule, that the revenues of
the state this year will about pay its
Indebtedness for the present fiscal
year. Kentucky is in debt, and We
all regret it. Many of our sister states
are also in debt far in excess of Ken
lucky. Even the new state of Okla
homa has a debt at present of over
six millions of dollars. | am now en-
deavoring and will do all in my power
to cut down expenses and inaugurate
retrenchment and reform.
"In conclusion, l wish to say the
people of Kentucky have tried me and
have known me long enough to judge
of my Democracy and to understand
that believe the success of the Dem
ocratic party in Kentucky is para
mount to my success; and while
pledge myself to support, actively,
any of my opponents who may be
nominated for United States senator,
II that should occur. I will, all the
time, uphold and advocate the last
state Democratic platform of Ken
lucky, and also the national Demo
cratic platform, adopted by the 1912
Baltimore convention, and will try
to be conspicuous, if l am elected
United States senator, in earnestly
assisting our able and faithful Demo
cratic president in carrying out the
pledges made in the national Demo-
cratic convention.
Will Canvass State.
1.-THE verdict of the voters of the
Tnff cd Otaf -, h. L.
election must be upheld. The people
must rule. Monopolies must be de-
throned. The power of special inter-
ests must be destroyed. The unjust
burden of tariff taxes must be remov-
ed. The currency laws must be re-
vised and made more beneficial and
suitable for the people. And all other
Just and needed reforms, set forth in
the national Democratic platform,
must be complied with.
''As 1t is more than one year before
the primary election is held. in which
United States senator will be nom-
mated, / shall not commence a speak
ing canvass for several months, and
will devote my time to the discharge
of my official duties as governor. At
the proper time, however, l shall
speak to the people in every part of
the state.
Il have had long training in public
affairs and know the needs of Ken
lucky and the United States. My long
experience in national legislation will
enable me, if elected, to render good
and efficient service as soon as l COM
mence to discharge the duties of
United States senator, and my heart
will be full of gratitude to all who
support me.