Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1920-01-29
Democratic Efficiency.


Jefferson City, Mo-, January 19.-
Some more democratic efficiency is
emphatically demonstrated by the
1919 contributions OF Secretary of State
John L. Sullivan to the state treasury,
totaling 81 ,9s7 1855, a gain of 1892, :
$50 over the collections of 1918 when
the total aggregated 1885, 1856, and
fully $685., 1858 over the collections of
1917 when the total reached $1,050,-
0S7. All previous high achievements
in annual collections of past years
were broken by this financial coup
d'etat. 1t is record the citizens of
Missouri have reasons to be proud of
especially since $1,725, ,076 10, repre-
senting the collections of the State
Automobile Department, will be di-
vided for good road work among the
ia counties of the state and the city
of ST. Louis. The gain over the total
derived from this source during 1918,
which was 81 1894, 1928, is fully $780,
314. The gain over the collection of
1917 which totaled $617 ,942, was ST.
1O7, 7,134, gain of nearly twice the size
of the sum collected that year. In
three years Secretary Sullivan,
through the licensing of automobiles,
has substantially furthered the build
ing of good roads in Missouri by turn
ing over for distribution among the
counties total of $3,737, ,7S0, derived
solely from this source. In the same
three years all revenue and good road
funds collections of Secretary of State
Sullivan have totaled $4,633,3 ,321.63.
Besides the huge and record break
ing 1919 collections of the automobile
department there was derived that
year from the good road corporations
fund an additional $7S,07540; sem
mary fund, $4,l7s.60; incorporation
taxes, 1852 1851 20; notary commissions,
$15, $50; Secretary of State fees $1O,-
570.s5; from the sale Of law volumes,
$1,566.65; and from Land Department
fees, 81, ,036.40. These sums, with the
SLIPS, ,O76.7O from the automobile
licensing department added, bring
the total 1919 collections of Secretary
Sullivan up to 1887, ,945.S5.
This 1919 record breaking financial
accomplishment of Secretary OF State
Sullivan, and the additional one OF
Governor Frederick d. Gardner in
paying off in two years deficit of
$2,250, 900, dating back many years,
but which indebtedness assumed large
and alarming proportions during the
four year period, commencing with
1909 when Republican officials were
in power and ran the affairs OF the
state with high hand, are two achiev-
ments in finances which go to establish
the efficiency of these two state officials
and constitute ample reasons why
Democratic rule is highly beneficial to
the people of Missouri.
The year 1920 opened for Missouri
with all regular state government
obligations of past years paid and q
surplus in the State Treasury of over
1910, ,0O0 with which to favorably COM
mence the new epoch in the financial
history of the state, a condition chief
ly due to efficiency and business ad-
ministration of the affairs Of the State
onthe part of Missouri's government,
F. D. Gardner, Secretary of State
John L. Sullivan, and State Treasurer
George A. Middlekamp, three demo-
cratic officials elected in 1916to accom-
plish the very task they have just COM
pleted, but it was done in three years
instead Of four, and therefore year
ahead of the time really allotted by the
people to perfect this tremendous
coup de grace.