The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1914-09-30
RECORD IS CLEAN
AS TO FINANCES
Increasing Expenditures OF Iowa Not
Evidence that Officials Handling
State Money Are Dcrelict.

stare MCNey Are ucScll"1s
Why has there been an increase in
the expenditures of the state of Iowa?
What basis is there for the demand
abolishing certain branches Of the
state government because of the cH-
pense they entail?
The state board of control and the
state board Of education are two OF
the boards or commissions in the list
OF those which some Of the profess
siOnal politicians say they would
abolish. These two boards cXpend a
larger part of the money of the tax
payers of Iowa than any other single
agencies.
During the year ended June 80 last
there was expended by the board OF
education, directly appropriated for
support and improvements at the four
state educational institutions $l,72O,'
$50 The millage taxes now amount
to about Sls5,O0O Il year at two of the
institutions and half that at the other
The board of education therefore eX.
pended or had for expenditure last
year over two million dollars.
The board of control used in the
last biennial period. of special appro-
priations, including in part proceeds
OF a millage tax, $Sl3,17S.G5; and for
support $3,732 ...S9C2; total $4,545.
4GS27.
There was therefore passed through
the board of control an average each
year for the two years OF over two
and u quarter million dollars.
Now nobody ut all familiar with the
work being done by these two boards,
or others of the state, large or small,
can, without debasing himself, accuse
either or any of them of waste or ex-
travagancc- or fraud or graft or even
Of improvidence. 1t is we'll known
that in no state Of the union is there
closer figuring on expenditures and
greater certainty that for every dollar
expended there is an equivalent re-
turn. State business, as exemplitied
by these and other boards and COM
missions and in every state office, is
on clean and economical basis.
But it SO happens that each one Of
these two boards, and also others hav-
ing to do with expenditures. has a
democrat for chairman or president.
Col. j. II. McConolgue. of Mason
City, is chairman Of the board Of con-
troll. He is lifelong democrat, a good
business man, a close igurer and one
who believes that every dollar OF state
money should be expended with as
scrupulous regard for results as II it
was his own money.
y. ID. Murphy. Of Elkader, is chair
man of the state board of education.
He also is a democrat, man of eX-
ability, devoted to the public service
and who would not permit use Of a
cont Of the taxpayers money but that
he believed fair return was given.
There are other boards and COM
missions of Iowa on which there are
democrats, by appointment, all faith
full and honorable men. The money
which passes through these boards, or
is expended under their direction is
all wisely expended. but not more so
than every other dollar of the tax
payers money which passes through
the state treasury.
John II. Hamilton. democrat, seek
ing republican votes to place the
democratic party in Office in Iowa,
supports press bureau which makes
state of Iowa costs more now than it
formerly did there must be eXtrava-
gance in the expenditure of the tax
payers money. No effort is made to
point out a single place where there is
any waste or loss; merely that be-
cause expenditures have increased
there is something wrong. But if
Hamilton is right in this line Of reas-
oning then the board of control and
board of education are more to be
censured than all the other state Off
Gals for these two boards spend the
major part of the states money.
But not only are these boards
watched by democrats in positions of
complete authority, they have had
democrats on these boards during all
their existence.
John T. Hamilton was a member OF
the board of control three and "A half
years, during which time the expendi-
lures OF that board increased enorm-
ously, and he signed recommends
ton to the 32d general assembly for
appropriations for his board, to be ex
pended under his direction, aggregat
ing $9I9,525.00 as against expenditures
under appropriations from the previ-
Gus legislature of $446,000.0o. That is
why expenditures have increased.
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