Ruinous Democratic Influences

The state of Michigan was fortúnate in getting rid of the Democratie administration as soon as it did. Had it continued two years longer the state would have been bankrupted. Thai this is a legitímate conclusión is sIiowd trom the faet that wherever the Democratie influences longest continued, there the worst conditions were found when the Republicana resumed control. A most remarkable instance of this is the state of affairs in the house oi correetion at lonia. It will be remenibered how likc grim death the last remnant of the Democratie administration - Warden Parsci) - hung onto his snap,, long alter he had been legally removed. A great howl went up from the Democratie press over the persecution of so good a man, and extravagant assertions were made as to the economy and good management of his wardenship. It will prove of interest to the people to learn the exact state of affairs developed by the board when Parsell was tiually ousted. The last legislature appropriated $3,000 for general repairs at that institution. This was intended to cover the two years. but l'arsell used up the entire amount during tha firsi year. And yet, when his successor took hold, every roof on the premises leaked and the boilers were badly out of repair. The present warden had to begin work on them at once, and the expenses will have to be paid out oi the current expense fund. For stationary and printing, for two j years $500 were appropriated. Of that amount all but si...ii was used the first year. For bedding, etc, for two years L1,000 were appropriated, and ijpSOJ used the first year for from 300 to 350 men, leaving from 450 to 500 men to be supplied from the balance of $200. The inmates" was almost entirely used up. Out of 950,000 feetof lumber on hand j July 1, 350,000 feet was found to be culi lumber, almost entirely worthless for furniture. The best had been picked out to make a showing for the Democratie administration. Although Warden Parsell is eredited by the Democratie papers with having said he -'had to spend 519,000 the first month to ñx things up," it - is a fact that when he turned the institution over to his successor there was a general air of dilapidation about the whole premises. and sa far as could be ascertained no improvements had been made to the property during his whole term. And yet 17(5,000 were drawn from the state treasury to run the institution for the two fiscal years ending June 30, 1S94, besides the special appropriations of $7,500, making the enormous total 8183,500 for that institution under Democratie rule. The average number of men in the reformatory during Parsell's management was 3 3. The number now is 488. No penal institution in the United States will show so shameful a financial record as the state reformatory did under Democratie management. The vast sum of money mentioned was squandered in extravagant, if not corrupt, purchases, and in general mis management. There is not a reformatory in the United fStates that is self-sustaining, and nothing but arrant ignorance or dishonesty will prompt any party to promise to make sueh an institution a source of profit to the state. The large increase in the number of inmates without profitable einployment, the . hard times and the diffieulty of selling j the prison output at profttable figures, make the outlook for the institution for the next two years far from promising; but it can be said of the present warden that, if he has to draw 390,000. ' a year from the taxpayers to run the institution, there will be a voluntary . vacancy in the wardenship, without any quo warranto to kick him out. As a fitting finale to the Democratie record, it must be mentioned that a I suit at law is now pending to recover from Parsell about #1,500 paid to himself and wife in salaries, after the date of his removal by the board. The supreme court has decided that he was not entitled to the pay, and the only honest thing for him todo ís to refund. More. Hamnah Cliafee, of Adrián, aged 102 years, died Sunday not from discase, lut because of an accident. This shows why people somctimes move away from Adrián- they istand a chance to live foreve rthere, you know, unless taken off by acci-' dent.