South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-06-15
OWES $3.50, 600 WHICH
MUST GO WITH OLD YEAR
Will Discharge 100000 This
Month and Balance in De-
Cember-TaxeS Will Be Suf-
fiCient for all Purposes.
Special Correspondence.

Special Correspondence.
INDIANAPOLIS, June 15.-There is
10 be quite a surprise for the spell
binders Of the republicans and bull
moosers this fall in Indiana. it became
known Monday
Practically without warning one of
the chief talking points In the cam
paign for the opponents of the demo-
cratic party is TO go glimmering. 1t
is TO happen, in all probability. by the
end of this month. but at least it will
happen late this fall. =.
For years the question of state
finance has ricOchetted from party TO
party in Indiana, always the cause Of
political charges, always the one big
bone Of contention between political
leaders - as 10 which party was
handling the state government most
economically.
Now, with one sweep, il appears that
this old campaign canard is TO be
thrown into the sea of forgetfulness,
at least for a time. William II. O'Brien,
auditor of state, today made public
plans OF the present democratic state
administration TO pay Oft the last cent
Of the foreign debt Of Indiana before
the present administration quits office
next winter. There now exists $780,
600 of foreign debt owing by the state.
This is the smallest amount of foreign
debt. il is said, owing since the civil
war.
Make Big Payment Soon
OF the amount $15O.00Q is 10 be patd
of June so, of this year, according to
Mr.. O'Brien. The remainder is to be
paid of Dec. 81, of this year. unless all
plans fail Besides the payment of
the S150,000 this month the state will
take care OF 100000 in temporary
loans. which accrued during the early
80,
the fact that for many years state ad-
ministratiOns had anticipated their
revenues from year TO year. leaving
the state gradually plunging deeper
and deeper into a financial abyss and
always lodging the issue Of an inc
creased tax levy.
Last legislature the democrats faced
the states financial condition unfiincb.
ingly and today's announcement from
Mr O'Brien was the result. The pic
ture of Indiana being left without a
foreign debt is one almost too good
to be true. democrats here are saying.
The legislature increased the tax
levy. devoting a gOOdly sum each year
To the educational institutions OF the
state. practically making them inde-
pendent. Besides this the act OF the
general assembly cleared up the finan-
ciai condition Of the state amazingly.
III may be possible that settlements
viii not be quite adequate to take care
Of all the mass Of bills and debt that
the state must meet, but by December
there will be a real balance in the
state treasury for the first time in
years, according to Mr.. O'Brien. It is
confidently expected that the total
June settlement under the increased
tax levy Will bring in about $4,000
000 It is intended 90 reduce the levy
TO some extent next year. having thus
righted the states financial condition.
viii let Voters Rule.
1t became known here today also
that many democratic leaders here,
after cOnferring on the problem OF
calling constitutional convention in
1915. are entirely in favor of allowing
the will of the voters of the state 20
work out as il will.
Quiet reigned in political circles this
week except for the innsistent pub
licity campaign in Indianapolis of the
leaders OF the bull moose. Their!
chief organ, recently organized. has
been frOced to suspend publication,
but the leaders are using a Beveridge
newspaper here for all il is worth.