The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1914-11-03

MGOVERN SHOWS UP THEIR
ECONOMY" RECORD m
LEGISLATURE.
VOTED FOR APPROPRIATIONS
Proves Democratic Promises of Eco.
nomy in Nation Mere Vote
Catchers.

Milwaukee, Oct 2S.-Gov. Nc
Govern, in his opening speech at
Rhinelander, showed how insincere
| is the Democratic charge of extrava-
gance against the last legislature by
setting forth just what part Demo-
Gratis took i'll the appropriations by
the last legislature
On this point he said:
Democrats and Alleged Extravaganza
The Democratic platform de-
nounces the present state administra-
ton for it's reckless extravaganza in
the appropriation of public
funds This declaration was calcu-
lated, l suppose, to catch votes. II
so, it may be shrewd play. But
again consistency has been thrown
to the winds; for any fair or truth
full criticism of the large appropria-
tons of the last legislature must fall
as heavily at least upon the Demo-
Gratis as upon Republicans.
'These bills were prepared and
submitted by joint finance COM
mittee of the legislature There
tee. On the twenty-five most i'm
portant appropriation bills and
these include all the appropriations
subject to criticism-the total num-
Der of votes cast by them was eighty,
Of which seventy were In favor of
these bills and only ten against them.
Eight Of these twenty-five bills
InI Hu
the finance committee on the motion
of Mr.. Roessler, a Jefferson county
Democrat Seven others were recon-
mended for passage on the motion of
Mr.. Kneen, of La Crosse-another
Democrat. One was recommended
on the motion of Senator Randolph,
q Democrat from Manitowoc county;
and one on the motion of Senator
Bichler, an Ozaukee county Demo
crat. And the remaining eight bills
were recommended for passage on
motions made by other members of
the committee. The seventeen of the
twenty-five principal appropriation
measures were recommended for pas
sage by the joint finance committee
But the Democratic party is now hor-
rified at the reckless extravaganza
of these appropri atoms. Are we to
interpret this declaration of theirs as
proof of forgetfulness or a plea for
mercy? 1t is hard to tell.
Criticism With Poor Grace.
"There were six Democratic mem
In
session of 1913. They had collec-
lively a total vote on these measures
of one hundred and fifty; but only
sixteen votes were cast by them
against these bills. On the final pas
sage of seventeen of these twenty-five
bills the senate was unanimous.
While they were pending in the sem
ate twenty-one amendments were
proposed to them, in most cases with
a view to reduce the contemplated
appropriations. Of this number
fourteen were offered by committees
of the senate, seven by Republican
members and none by Democrats. But
the Democratic party now does pen
ance in public for the extravaganza
It's official representatives then ap-
proved.
while these bills were in the as
sembly ffty-four amendments were
offered from the floor, most of which
proposed reductions. Of this num-
Der thirty-two were proposed by Re-
publicans, thirteen by committees,
one by a socialist and only eight by
Democrats. AS there were thirty
four Democratic assemblymen in all,
counting the Democratic non-part1-
sans from Milwaukee, the condemna-
ton of these measures now found In
the Democratic platform comes with
poor grace. The time for criticism
was then; not now. The fact is that
the Democrats of the last legislature
supported these bills quite as gener-
ally and much more vigorously than
did the Republicans.
High Tax Charge of Democrats.
Another declaration of the Demo-
cratic platform is that taxes in Wis
consin "have leaped from four mill
ions of dollars to sixteen millions OF
dollars per year within ten years
without any visible advantage to the
state. Though denied again and
again, this statement has been so re-
peatedly made that further denial OF
it's accuracy is probably useless APP
parently. it is asking too much to ex-
pect a Democratic politician to dis
tinguish between taxes, expenditures
and appropriations. The subject
seems to be too abstruse for him In
dealing with this declaration, there
fore, | shall content myself with say
ing that there is no truth IN it. Taxes
we're not four millions OF dollars ten
years ago, nor do they amount to six
teen millions of dollars now, nor TO
anything like 1t. Moreover, there
has been visible advantage to the
state in the increased expenditures
OF recent years. To go no farther
efeld let me instance the new Capt.
toll Building 1t must have been Wis
ibIe to the Democratic platform
makers when they meet In Madison