Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1916-03-10
OPENING GUNS OF STATE CAMPAIGN ARE FIRED
Continued from Page One.

q Page One.
tration you failed to use the figures
of the 3-mill levy raised in 1909 for
1910 expenses and used the figures Of
the 1.23-mill levy, fixed in 1912 and
raised in 1913 to cover 1913 expenses,
which was the first year of the pres
ent administration. Possibly, after
submitting this to Mr.. Leghorn, who,
as stated before, is given the credit
of having furnished to you the figures
used in your letter, you may be able
to submit an answer to this and also
to your other error of 100000 pre-
viously referred to in this letter.
General Fund Overdraft.
You also take exception to my max
ing reference to the overdraft in the
general fund on the day you retired
from public Office. AS it amounted to
$450,555.24 it would be expecting too
much for anyone to think you would
appreciate any reference to it. 1t is
true that I have referred to it on
many occasions and have also, both
publicly and privately. called atten-
ton to the balance in the general
fund on January 18th, 1915, just
~, vo<, yoors yotov xs,hiot, xuoc e. C0E =
O72.93. I have never claimed this as
a saving of that amount; savings
made are not arrived at by this meth
cd. 1t does, however, indicate diff
ference Of $1,6S5,62s.17 in the gen.
eral fund on January 18th, 1916, as
compared with January 18th, 1918,
the date when you left office. When
this condition is considered in con-
nection with the low general fund
levy made in September. 1912 (1.23
mills) to cover current expenses for
the first year of the present admins
tration it also gives answer to the
need for the mill levy for 1914. A
large part of the moneys raised by
this levy were used to clean up the
overdraft legacy left by you.
For the purpose Of justifying the
overdraft you take to yourself credit
for having paid off $1,200,000 in
bonds during your four-year term Is
it not true that 100000 of this
amount was paid in 1909, your first
year in Office, from moneys raised
during that year, provision for which
had been made in the tax levy fixed
in September, 1908, before you as
sumed Office? If this be true. and
your message to the 1911 legislature
80 shows it, It leaves only 100000
for which you can Justly claim credit.
And in doing this we must remember
that on January 18th, 1910, there
was $103.353.67 on hand in the gen.
eral fund: that on January 18th.
1918, when you left ONCE, there was
an overdraft Of $450,555.24 in the
fund. These two amounts total
$553,908.91, SO the actual amount Of
bonds you are entitled to take credit
for retiring is $146.0s1.0s. This is
quite q reduction from the $1,200,-
900 claimed by you.
In claiming credit for the payment
Of these bonds you state it was "a
legacy from the Roxers administra-
ton Of which you claimed to be an
important member" The death of
Governor Rogers occurred on Decem-
Der 26th. 1901. after the people Of
the state had shown their confidence
in him by re-electing him. Are you
not reaching back through eight
years Of Republican administration
to claim this credit! Do you desire
to leave the impression that Repub-
lican governors. during administra-
lions preceding yours. were not as
capable as you in caring for the in
terests of the state? Regarding the
administration of Governor Rogers, Of
which had the honor to be an
humble member, and which you by
innuendo criticise. do not feel here
called upon to take the space neces-
sary to answer your criticism. but
beg to say. however. that 1t has been
recognised by the great majority Of
the people Of the state as having been
the best administration the state has
/ ever had. And while you probably
will not agree with the conclusion. in
my opinion this public recognition
stands ~ true today az it over did.
Actual Taxes Raised.
The actual taxes for all purposes
collected by the state and covering
expenditures during 1910, 1911 and
1912. the last three years of your ad-
ministration. and 1913, 1914 and
1915. the first three years Of the pres
ent administration. were as follows: