Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 September 1908 — REPUBLICAN EXTRAVAGANCE. [ARTICLE]

REPUBLICAN EXTRAVAGANCE.

The Republican state committee 1s (issuing documents and sending “plate” natter to Republican papers attempting to show that there has been no unnecessary increase in expenses and no increase in taxation under Republican management. We give the rate of state taxation for 1896—the last year of Claude Matthews’ administration as governor, and that of the last year available —1907 —Governor Hanly’s administration: 1896 —Democratic. Benevolent and reformatory....* .5 State debt... .3 Educational 12-3 State 9 State school 11 , .29 2-3 1907—Republican. Benevolent and reformatory ..* .5 Educational 2 3-4 State 12 State school 13.6 , .33.35 We speak of the administration ol Claude Matthews as Democratic because he was governor and in 1896 we had had only one Republican legislature, which merely continued the Democratic policy in vogue up to that time.

Observe that in 1896 three cents of the 29 2-3 went toward paying the state debt, and that there is no such levy in 1907. Under the operation of the Democratic law for its payment we now have no levy for that purpose; but the Republicans, instead of reducing taxation as the debt and interest was being paid, have increased taxation.

They liave not only increased the rate, but the total taxables as compared with the Democratic period, have been enormously increased. The Republicans apply their levy of over 33 cents to $472,709,072 more taxables than the Democrats had for the application of their levy of 29 2-3. So the full story of excessive taxation is not told in the rate above. To illustrate the increased cost of government we present the following record of disbursements: 1894 —Democratic. State and general fund (including $647,088 applied on state debt) *2,787,267 1906—Republican. State and general fund (no payment on state debt).. .*5,093,255 —Rockville Tribune.