Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 76, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 February 1909 — RESPONSIBILITY MADE VERY PLAIN [ARTICLE]

RESPONSIBILITY MADE VERY PLAIN

Republican Extravagance Bankrupts the State. THE CAT till OF THE BAG Despite Retiring Governor Hanly’s Formal Declaration That "the Financial Condition of the State Is Exceptionally Good,” It Is Now Revealed 'That Indiana Is Virtually Bankrupt) -—Republican State Officials Call on 1 Democrats to Provide a Way Out. Indianapolis, Feb. 23.—The state's financial affairs cat has been out of the bag for a long time, but it was not until the last two or three days that it, became really conspicuous to the public at large. Just now everybody can see it and understand its significance. The Democrats have known for many months that the Republican state officials were in distress over the condition of the state’s money matters. Governor Hanly’s statement in his last message that “the financial condition of the state is exceptionally good” did not deceive them for a minute. Gov- ■ ernor Marshall was cognizant of the facts long before he was inaugurated, but he did not go deeply into them in his first message to the legislature, ! for he knew that they would be devel-I oped in proper time. And they have been. A great cry for help has come out of the Republican Macedonia. For a dozen years the Republicans have been managing all j departments of the state government, I executive, legislative, judicial and administrative. They have had every* thing their own way and have spent money like water. And now they confess to Governor Marshall and the legislature, and incidentally to all the ’ people, that unless they get speedy j relief there will be no money in the i treasury after April 1 to meet the I state’s obligations. It has home to light that for several weeks the old state house crowd has been trying to get the legislature to ! enact a law to compel the county treasurers to advance money to the state treasurer prior to the settlement periods. A bill for this purpose was prepared in the state auditor’s office. A copy of this bill was given to a Democratic senator and to a Democratic representative’ with a request that they Introduce it and urge its passage. Naturally these Democrats did not act in a hurry. They were not looking for opportunities to pull Republican chestnuts out of the-fire. So they waited until the Republicans were forced to show their hand and shoulder the responsibility. j State Auditor Billheimer finally came out In the open. He told Governor Marshall that unless the state could force the counties to advance revenue it would practically have to shut up shop about the first of April. Mr. Billheimer addressed a communication to the governor in which he explained the situation in part. The governor thereupon sent a message to the legislature asking that proper steps be taken to save the state from impend-

Ing bankruptcy. Along with this message he sent the state auditor's letter. The legislature will act. It will do what it can, but the record has been made clear as to the responsibility for the condition that must be relieved. • « • The attempt of the Republican state officials to make it appear that the public funds deposit law enacted in 1907 is responsible for the shortage of current state revenue will not stand the wash. They would like to have the people believe that because of that deposit law the county treasurers have not responded to the state’s appeals for advances. And yet the facts are that the deposit law went into effect Jan. 1, 1908. and that during the fiscal year 1908 the advances received by the state were larger by many hundred thousand dollars than in any previous year of the state's history. During this year the advances amounted to $1,772,000, which was nearly three times as large as the amount received in 1907, and a half million dollars greater than in 1906. The real trouble goes clear beyond all this. The fact that the state has been living from hand to mouth for years—that it has been compelled to snatch its share of the revenues from the county treasuries as soon as the taxpayers have paid in the money—is clear proof of both extravagant and reckless management. It is now conceded, even by persons who have apparently been. Indifferent heretofore, that the Democratic I policy of retrenchment is absolutely necessary if the state is to escape one or the other of three things—a higher tax levy, an Increase of the state debt or bankruptcy. If there is any failure of this policy during the remaining days of the general assembly the blame must rest with the Republican senate. For partisan reasons the Republican politicians would like to see the state’s affairs so conducted just now as*to make it necessary to raise the general tax levy or to borrow mopey during the administration of Governor Marshall. These ixjliticians would like nothing better than to see this undesirable thing within the next two years. In several campaigns they have charged that the Democratic party created the public debt and that the Republican party paid it This 1* not true, but if a borrowing of money should be forced tn the near future, every Republican politician, if the record is not kept straight, would shout “I told you so!” at the top of his lungs. But the record is being kept straight. And the people know that the state’s financial troubles are the result of years of wasteful government by Republican officials and reckless appropriations by Republican legislators. • • * Great pressure has been brought upon the members of the legislature by the friends of the state and Purdue universities and the state normal school to Increase he special tax levied for their benefit from 2% cents on the SIOO, to 4 cents. It is estimated that this increase would produce about $200,000 a year more than the present levy yields. There is a decided feeling among the Democrats of the house and senate that this tax should not be increased at this time. It is believed that the schools named can get along very well without it during the next two years. The gift cf the Muncie normal school to the sate was rejected by the house because it carried a special tax levy for its support, something like $130,000 a year. Other measures carrying appropriations are also doomed to defeat as they come up. There is no end to the propositions put up to the legislature calling for a greater outlay of the state’s money than the present condition of its revenues will justify. Most of these, or at least some of them, are due to ignorance of the facts, but there are others that have grown out of sheer recklessness of consequences. A firm hand has to be kept on the situation all the time. All of the state’s institutions will be taken care of and proper provision will be made for carrying on all of the state’s legitimate business. but when that Is done the treasury door will be locked if the Democrats have their way. However, as the Democrats control only one house and the Republicans are supreme in the other, the sailing is not at all smooth. When the ways and means committee of the house and the finance committee of the senate come to put the finishing touches on the general appropriation bill there will be many clashes, as the Republicans are not expected to agree to the Democratic economy program.

Speaking in round numbers, 1,000 bills have been introduced in the two houses of the legislature up to the present time. The average for each senator is much greater than the average for each representative. A few members have offered no bills at all, while some others have all the way from ten to thirty credited to their names. Of the total number of measures introduced about one in ten will reach the governor and become a law. The work of killing as well as of passing bills is on in earnest this week and next week comes the deluge. The session ends March 8, and no bill will be passed after March 6, as the constitution provides that no bill shall be presented to the governor within two days next previous to the final adjournment. During this week and next Governor Marshall will be compelled by the rush of business to ■ work far into the night. He intends to read carefully every measure presented to him for his signature. It is not only a big job, but it is an exceedingly responsible one. The governor has made it plain all along that be would not interfere in any way with matters that are. within the province O f ths

legislature, but it is recalled that lie has never intimated that he would surrender any of his own constitutional rights. One of these ,la the veto. He will use it whenever he deems it necessary in the inerest of the publie. He will consider each case as it is presented and act upon ft wholly upon its merits, uninfluenced by anything save his sense of official duty. • • * The Democratic members of the house and senate are meeting frequently in caucus these closing days of the session, fn these meetings they settle on the particular measures that they will vote for or oppose. The Republicans are pursuing the same course. What will come out of it is a problem. The Democrats of the' house, being in a majority, will pass, it is believed, all distinctly party measures and all others that they consider important. The Republicans in the senate have votes enough to kill them when they get into that body, if they so elect. And here, too, it is a case of vice versa, as the Democrats of the house can perform a like service If they so elect. • • • It seems certain that the house will pass all of the Democratic platform propositions, including bank deposit guaranty, employers’ liability, reduction of offices and expenses, weekly payment of wages, trial by jury in indirect contempt cases, the repeal of the metropolitan police law, and such like. The house has already passed some of these measures. It has also passed the bill providing for a uniform system of public accounts and inspection. The attempt of the Republicans In the senate to amend this bill so as to give them ontrol of all of the machinery for partisan purposes may prevent itanassage, as the Democrats will notsHpport it on any other han a strictly non-partisan basis. For more than a week there has been a lull in the storm over the liquor bills and the proposed repeal of the county option law. But the matter will be fought out in some form and to some end before the session closes.

MILLARD F. COX.