Makes Them Squirm

Under the above caption the Free j Press of the 25th inst. gives some facts and figures from the records of the present state administration which should interest every voter. These figures can be easily verified, and they show the Rich administration to be the most extravagant in the history of the state. It has expended all thesavings of democratie economy, and run up a bilí of Í159,892 for clerk hire alone. Republicans themselves are heartily ashamed of the record and would gladly escape its consequences if they could. Their organs are trying to explain it away, but they only make a bad matter worse. For the benefit of Argus readers and the enlightnment of every voter who believes in economy in public expenditures, the article is here given in full. It is worthy the consideration of every voter. It is as follows: The statement made under a Lansing date line in the Free Press last Friday to the effect that the present state administration. during the fiscal year ending June SO last, had expended something like $25,000 more than it had received, and had also succeeded in making away with about half a million dollars more than the administration of Gov. Winans did during the year ending June 30, 1892, has caused some of the republican organs to become wildly excited, and frantic attempts are being made to explain away the damaging charge. In order to do this the democratie administration is charged with having received $420,000 from the United States government, and an attempt is made to have this fact cover a multitude of republican sins. Although it is well known that the receiptof theabove sums of money has nothing whatever to do with the fact that the republicans expended half a million dollars more in a single year than did the Winans administration, it may be a prudent thing to give a brief explanation of the tax levies of the past four years, so that none may become befogged by republican eampaign statements. The state tax levied in 1891 wae $1,443 849 Hl The state tax levied in 1892 was 1,419,201 61 Total taxes during Winans' term . ï2,8tö,061 22 Received trom United States government 420,000 00 Total --3,283,051 22 State tax levied in 18ÍW $1,931 214 B9 State tax levied in 1894 1,689,135 89 Total taxes during Hich's term. -18,820,350 58 Notwihstanding this difference of 337,299 36 shown above ín favor of a lemoeratic state administration, the epublican press brazenly asserts that a large expense under the Rich adminstration was necessary in order to replenish depleted treasuries of the state nstitutions, which the books of the tate show is absolutely false. January , 1893, the democrats turned over to the epublicans a balance in the state reasury of $345,000, in addition to which institution treasuries contained 1165,000. Actual inventories of the roperty of state institutions on file how that the value of state property nder the Winans administration inreased more than $313,198; thus effectally putting to sleep the falsehood to which republicans have resorted, that ie state institutions had been permited to go to rack and ruin. Anyone desirous of ascertaining in 'bat manner the heavy tax levies of ie years 1893 and 1894 are being exended may find a portion of the dered information in the following able, showing the expenses of the everal state departments for extra clerks during the riscal years X892 and 1894: 1892. 1894. Democratie Eepubliean. Auditor-general $40,375 H9 Ï90 254 64 Secretary oí state 32,205 10 41,849 25 Land eommissioner 4,581 18 6,528 80 Board of health 9,788 79 H 826 70 Insurance commis'er... 884,98 41 67 State library 1,500 00 2,140 00 Railroad commissioner 1,720 iki 041 65 Attorney-generai 2,100 00 3.000 00 Supt. pub. in6truction . 3,010 60 4,710 17 Totals 96,166 42 159,892 f8 The above table. the figures f orwhicb were furnished by the books in the auditor-general's office, show that it cost the people of the state $63,000 more forthe item of extra clerks alone during the fiscal year 1894 than it did dur. ing the corresponding year of the Winans administration. No wonder. The average number of clerks in the auditor-general's office in 1892 was f ortyeight. During the fiscal year 1894 the average number was 104, and at the present time 120 are employed. It will require some explanation on the part of the reüublican organs to clear away those damaging figures, the authenticity of which cannot be questioned. The awards oï the board of state auditors for supplies, postage, stationery, traveling expenses and other sundries on account of the several departments of the state tells another tale of republican extravagance. These figures for the fiscal years 1892 and 1894, as taken f rom the books of the auditor-general, are as follows: 1892. 1894. Democratie, Kepublicati. Auditor-general t 5,18i 17 15,007 15 Latid i:ommi66ioner 479 18 2,0u9 99 Secretary of state 20,386 36 36,548 24 Governor's office 2i9 77 1,608 53 State treasurer 511 52 4,h81 45 Labor commissioner 1,734 51 S.994 32 Legislature 2,6016!) 13,532 42 State library 2,416 56 1,(199 68 Insurance commisson'r 2.135 40 5,15H ',:fl Com. of railroade 2.229 44 2,985 50 Eeports state offleers andboards 10,712 01 19,517 91 State ofh'ce6 and capítol 63 987 14 U5,769 97 Attorney-general 1,455 29 1,926 71 Sut. public instruction. 3.320 01 7.572 07 State i nstit utions 2,075 61 3 457 38 Supreme c.ourt 106 85 187 49 Supreme court reports. 75 82 23 35 öundries 10,350 74 6,166 90 Totls 129,957 07 190,245 04 The books are f uil of figures showing to the satisfaction of any reasonable person that the present state administration has been the most extravagant in the history of the state.