Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 61, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 November 1911 — REPUBLICAN CHARGES FALL [ARTICLE]

REPUBLICAN CHARGES FALL

Democrats Inherited Huge Appropriations FALLACY OF CLAIM IS SHOWN In Official Report of Auditor of State O’Brien—Only a Few of the Cheap Skate Republican Papers Fell for the Falsehoods. The utter fallacy of the charges of the republican dope-dispensers of extravagance and ritisJmanagement of the financial affairs of the state by the - democrats, is demonstrated in a statement just issued by W. H. O’Brien, auditor of state, showing the exact condition ■of state finances on Sept. *3O, 1911, the closng day of the state’s fiscal year.

It will be remembered that Governor Marshall explained to the last legislature the financial conditions arising out of appropriations made by previous republican legislatures—and not yet paid—without providing any means to meet the appropriations when they fell due, so that the attempt now to make political capital by laying the conditions to the present democratic adminstratfon can have no weight with people of any intelligence, and it is worthy of note that many republican newspapers —thbs z ' the better class—have refused to attempt to honswoggle their readers with such palpable false statements. The statement of Auditor O’Brien, just issued, shows such tremendous gains over the statement of the year previous as to make Mr. O’Brien and his cobleagues on the State Board of Finance—Gov. Marshall and W. H. Vollmer, State Treasurer, rejoice. Until the business of the fiscal year was- closed and the exact condition of each and every fund definitely ascertained these officials were not disposed to positively refute numerous charges relating to the state’s finances circulated for political effect although they knew the charges to be false and easily controverted. So they bided their time, secure in the knowledge that at the proper time an authorized statement would dissipate the charges to the satisfaction of every man, woman and child in Indiana able to read the English language. The statement shows gains—big gains—all along the line. From whatever viewpoint—transfer of funds, disbursements, receipts, appropriations, deficits — the democrats gain and the republicans lose by the comparisons. These comparisons are easily made as Sept. 30, 1910, marked the end of republican rule in the state and Sept. 30, 1911, marked the end of practically one full year~ of democratic rule. Thus, comparisons between the fiscal years ending on those dates are real-for-sure comparisons between democratic and republican management -of state affairs.

The statement is so clear that even a child would have no difficulty in picking out the following salient features: 1. The (republicans in their last year transferred from special funds to the general fund for current expenses $1,658,158.04, while the democrats in their first year transferred $1,268,506.76, making a gain for the democrats of $339,651.28. 2. The general deficit for the last year of the republicans was $251,171.14, while the general deficit for the democrats first year was only $45,495.63, making the startling gain for the democrats of $205,675.51. 3. On Sept. 30, 1910, the close of their fiscafl year, the republicans showed a treasury balance of $92,758.35 but to obtain this balance, $789,660.61 was transferred from the sinking fund to the general fund. One year later the democrats showed a treasury balance of $52,491.55, with only $491,883.61 diverted to the general fund. 4. The disbursements for the democratic year were $33,680.68 less than for the republican year. 5. The regular and specific ap-

propriations for the legislature of 1909, available 1910 and 1911, totaled $8,955,692.33 as compared with a total of $7,421,223.50 by the legislature of 1911, available 1912 and 1913, a decrease of $!,- 534,438.85. It is easy to elaborate upon the pbints made as the statement is specific in its details. In regard to the transfer of funds It shows that the republicans transferred from the sdnkling fund to the general fund, $270,742.30 on Oct. 5, 1909. and $518,9,18.31 on Sept 9, 1910, making a total for the fiscal year of $789,660.61, and that during the same year the amount transferred from the benevolent institution fund was $868,497.43, making the total amount transferred, $1,658,158,04. Coming now into democratic control, there are two transfers from the sinking fund to the general fund, one of $239,211.54 on Jan. 27, 19H, and a second of 8148,964.45 on July 20, 1911, making a total for the year of $388,175.99 to which is added $880,330.77 from the benevolent institution fund, making a. total of $1,268,506.76, whfidh total is less by $389,651.28 than the total of -the year previous, thereby establishing the democrat gain noted previously. iOn the point regarding disbursements it must be said in all fairness that the total disbursements for the republican year entering into this comparison were $11,287,184.34. while the disbursements for the democratic year were $83,785.08 more, or $11,370,869.42. but fairness also demands that there be deducted from this $103,000 paid on the State Fair pavilion bonds and $14,463.76, accrued interest on the Vincennes University bonds, or a total deduction of $117,465.76, which reduces the 1911 disbursements to $33,680.68 less than the 1910 disbursements. This makes an actual reduction of $92.27 a day in disbursements between the years > 1911 and 1910.

In regard to the State Fair pavilion bonds it must be recalled that the republican legislature of 1907 authorized the bond issue without providing flor the payment thereof. The handsome building was erected and when it came time to pay for it the republican state auditor, John C. Billheimer, then in office, repudiated the issue and declared there were no funds on hand with which to meet the bonds. The matter drifted until the present democratic auditor came into office when he and the board of finance decided that the debt- cona moral obligation against the state and should be met. Authorization was sought and obtained from the legislature and the SIOO,OOO with interest amounting to $3,000 was promptly paid.