The Butler Weekly Times Newspaper, May 1, 1902, Page 2

eokdlontioe. — A DARK CHAPTER. Official Historv of the Squan- dering of the State’s Securities. Indebted- Rail- How Twenty-Five Millions ness Was Taken Off the roads and Fastened on the People. Secretary of state Sam B. Cook in the latest chapter of his political hand book makes an excedingly in- teresting subject of the origin and re- duction of the state debt. In this chapter given to the press Thursday, Mr Cook saya: So much that is wholly at variance with the official records has been pub- lished by a partisan republican press concerning the creation and redue- tion of the state debt that a brief re- cital of the facts will not be out of place at this time. The republicans make two specitic allegations regarding the state debt which if both be true would relieve that party ofany responsibility for the more than forty millions of dol- lars, principal and interest, which the people of Missouri have been required to pay since the republicans were in control of the state. First—They assert that debt originated before the cans came into power, Second—That the railroads, to aid iu the construction of which the state the state republi- bonds were issued, were not eorrupt- ly or improperly relieved of their financial obligations to the state while the republicans were in contro), CREDIT LOANED THE RAILROADS, Prior to the civil war when million- aires were few and private capital lor the construction of railways was as scarce as it is wow plentiful for that purpose, both the national and the state governments werelending their credit toaidin the building of thease great enterprises, theconstruction of which wasadmittedly essential to the development of the country. The national government, in addi- tion to loaning its credit, made large grants of public lands to aid these enterprises. Missouri from 1851 to 1857 loan: ed her credit to these enterprises, taking assecurity for the-bonds issued a first mortgage lien on the property of the roads, including not only their build- ings, equipment, ete., but also the lands granted them by the natienal government. Counties, towns and inviduals made liberal subscriptions to these enterprises and these sub- scriptions, with the money advanced by the partiesconstructing the road, all went to secure the state. Governor Sterling Price was op- posed to the policy of the state aid- ing in the construction of railroads and vetoed the measure, but the gen- eral assembly passed a bill over his veto by the constitutional majority. It shou'd be borne in mind that the aid loaned by the state was for the construction of the main lines of the Missouri Pacific, Wabash(then North Missouri). Hannibal & St. Joseph, right of way, snperstructure, pany toaid in the construction of their road (amounting to four mil- lion three hundred and fifty thous- and dollars), and for interest paid on said bonds by the state, is hereby Blow. sold and assigned to Henry T in and their associates for the sum of two hundred thousand’ dol- lar outstanding state bonds, and shall be paid into the state treasury on or before the fourth day of July next.’ by this act there was fastened on the state a direct debt of $6,760,000, THE IRON MOUNTAIN DEAL, which som may be paid in any This republican legislature did not by any means limit its corporation- 'debt-releasing and state-debt-creat- ing tactics to the Wabash. The Iron Mountain went through | the farce of a public sale. The high- est bid was rejected and the road, which owed the state six millions of dollars, was awarded by the com- missioners to a firm by the name of “A.J. MeKay and others’ for the sum of $550,000, The commissioners rejected bids | for over a million dollars. Evidence taken before the McGinnis legislative committee developed the fact that MeKay’s visible property consisted of a span of Arkansas mules and an open spring wagon and that the “others” associated with him as purchasers included three brothers of one of the commissioners who voted to reject the higher bid. By this lron Mountain transaction an additional debt of $6,061,145 was fastened upon the state. TE MISSOURL PACIFIC STEAL, But still the ravenous maws of the political blood suckers of that cor- ruption-breeding period were not satistivd. The Missouri Pacific owed the state $10,780,000, At this same session a legislative committee re- ported to that body that after thor- ough investigation, they found the Missouri Pacifie road to be worth Re 3 This was 20 per cent above the amount due the state. Yet within a month from the date of this report this legislature passed an avt fasten- ing upon the state $5,780,000 of the Missouri Pacitic indebtedness and re- lieving the railroad company of this sum, Naturally the question would arise as to the cause which led the legisla- ture to add over five millions of dol- lars to the burdens of the people. The facts came out ina suit in the United States court in the case of James M, Lambet al vs. the Mis- souri Pacific railroad company, in which the evidence established the fact that a corruption fund of $193,- 648,60 had been used by the man- agers of the Missouri Pacific to pass the bill releasing the road of $5,780,- 000 and fastening that sum on the people. : THE FRISCO MILLIONS, But still there were other promot- ers and political favorites to be taken @re of, The Frisco owed the state six anda half millions of dol- lars. Another mock sale was held, and the road, with over a million acres of land, knocked off at $1,300,- 000. After the purchasers paid $325,- 000 they concluded the state could be beaten out of the remainder and peop'e when for $200,000 it released the state’s lien against the Wabash for the entire amount of that road’s indebtedness? FACTS FOR REPUDLICANS TO FACE. Can any republican face an intelli- gent audience and hold that the re- leasing of the Missouri Pacific's loan of $5,780,000 in the face of the re- pert of the legislative committee "(made at the same session) that the road was over twelve millions of| | dollars; or the sale ofthe Iron Moun- ing away of the Frisco with over a million acres of land for the paltry sum of $825,000, was an honest transaction? . No fair-minded, intelligent Mis- sourian, whatever his polities, can go over these records and fail to be convinced: First—That the legislator in loan- ing the credit of the state in aid of the construction of these railroads took ample security to protect the state against the loss of a single dol- lar—security which the republicans themselves, through their own gov- ernor and legislativecommittee, pro- nounced ample. Second—That these securities were corruptly squandered by republican otticials. Third—That the squandering of the securities fastened a direct debt upon the people of twenty-five million dollars. REDUCTION OF THE DEBT, After the republicans had thus sad- dled a direct debt of twenty-five mil- lion dollars upon the people, they reduced this total, before retiring to $20,889,000, This reduction was effected by use of funds received from che federal government to reimburse the state for moneys advanced by Missouri in the prosecution of the war, and by the collection of military and other taxes tevied directly on the people. Under the liberal republican adimin- istration of Governor Brown, 1871 and 72, the debt was increased $879,- 000, So when the democrats came into power in 1873, they found the state debt to be $21,768,000, bearing six and seven per cent interest, and the bonds at a discount. The tax rate during the six years the republicans were in pewer aver- aged 60 cents on the $100, and in- cluded, besides, during the years of 1865 and 1866, a one-doliar revenue poll tax and a two-dollar military poll tax So whatever reduction the republicans made in the debt exclu- sive of the amount received from the federal government as warindemnity was taken from the people by the most excessive and burdensome tax- ation ever known outside the carpet- bag ridden states of the south. HONEST BUSINESS MANAGEMENT. The democrats began a reduction of the state debt by restoring the credit ef the commonwealth, which enabled them to refund the bonds at arate of interest practically half ot what the people were required to pay under republican management. In order to lighten the burdens of the people, the tax was reduced until to-day it is only 25 cents forall state purposes. In spite of PRE stn ; if H came ere es Tron Mountain and Southern Pacific (now Frisco.) STATE AMPLY SECURED, The national government had granted these lines 1,834,434 acres of land to aid in their construction, and this valuable property was also included in the mortgage held by the state. Under the conditions imposed by the legislature, the state was amply secured against loss. If, however, any of our republican friends are skeptical on this point, they are re- spectfully referred to the inaugural address of the republican governor this” same” legislature generously passed an act relieving the purchas- ers of the payment of the remainder of their bill. by this last act’ the state had fas- tened upon it an additional debt of $6,198,770. These are all matters of record. They constitute one of the darkest chapters in the history of the com- monwealth. Riotous corruption held high car- nival in the legislative halls of the state, a condition more appalling, if possible, than that which has so recently aroused the honest citizens of St. Louis to the need for heroic in 1865, in reviewing the conditions| action in dealing with official boed- of the railroads, concluded with this | Jers, statement: “The roads are ample security for the amounte advanced by the state to them respectively.” So much for the creation of the debt and the security provided. HOW SECURITIES WERE SQUANDERED. THE HANNIBAL & 8T. JOE PAID. For some unknown reason, the Hannibal & St. Joseph railroad did not take advantage of the prevailing corruption to rid themselves of their three million indebtedness at the ex- pense of the taxpayers of the state, Now let us see if the securities were | This road, after the democrats came squandered and the debt thereby im-| into power, paid the entire amount posed on the people through corrupt | of its indebtedness, with interest. and fraudulent methods. In the face of these record facts, The Wabash owed the state in}can there be any question as to who principal and interest $6,960,000. is responsible for this debt of twenty- ‘The legislature, which was over-| five millions of dollars? whelmingly republican in both In the face of the inaugural mes- branches, in the session of 1868 pass-|gage of the republican governor ed this act: “that the roads are ample security “That the debt due or to become|for the amounts anvanced to them due, from the North Pacifie ra“tron? vost eetively,” can any honest repub- than 50 per cent in the tax rate, the democrats have steadily reduced the debt until to-day it amounts to only $5,180,839. Of this sum, $4,393,839 is held in trust by the state for educational purposes, the interest on which goes annually to the support of our pub- lic schools. This leaves outstanding bonds to of which will be paid during the com- ing year. MONUMENTAL PARTY GALL. showing, the leading republican or- long in paying the debt. It is true it has been a long and weary round for the taxpayers of Missouri, now happily almost ended, of the length of the journey. ing the flames. tain to the lowest bidder; or the giv-| the amount of $787,000, every cent In spite of this excellent business|due to a speech made by him ata gan of the state clamorously insist|shortly after he took charge of the that the democrats have been too|department of Colorado. In this but it is scarcely becoming a riotous} prominent men in the country has spoilsman of the dark days of repub-| occasioned a great deal of adverse lican mierule in Missouri to complain |Comment as to the To use the language of an excep-|Stops the Cold and Works~off the tionall intelligent southwest Missouri editor, the man who deliberately sets} Laxative Bromo-Quinine Tablete fire to his own house should not be|cure a cold in one day. No cure, no too criticalas to the amount of|Pay. Price 25 cente. water his neighbor uses in extinguish- Most women with female weakness | wife of Thomas Endicott, of Duen- suffer dreadfully from piles in addi- tion +n their other pains, They may bec red by using Tubler’s Buckeye company to the state of Missouri for jiean to-day hold that his party did| Pi Uintment. Price 50c in bottles, | the Merritt family, highly respected _ bonds of the state loaned said com nut put a debt of $6,760,000 on the tures 75¢ .—H. L. Tucker’s drugstore residents of Springfield, Mo. GEN. GORDON IS RE-ELECTED. Next Confederate Reunion Will Be Held in New Orleans. Dallas, Tex, April 24.—General John B. Gorden was last night un- animously elected commander-in- chief of the United Contederate Veter- ans. General Stephen D. Lee was re- | \lected commander of the Army of | Tennessee and General W. L. Cabell | commander of the ‘Trans. Misissippi| department. C. I. Walker was elect- ed commander of the department of northern Virginia to succeed the late General Wade Hampton. The next reunion will be held at New Orleans. At the afternoon session consider- able business was transacted. The support of the veterans was with- drawn from Grant university, Chat toonga, because it was alleged that a professor of that institution had written an unfavorable article on southern women, The Confederate memorial day was changed from May 26 to June 3, the birthday of Jeffer- son Davis, but any state desiring another date will be allowed to take individual action, Forty thousand dollars more is needed by the Davis monument committee, and reports showed that the work of procuring funds for the monument was pro- gressing slowly. Of the $200,000 necessary for the construction of Bat- tle Abbey, $176,033 is on hand, The kaliph’s parade of 80 floats was held last night. Lodgings for 140,000 people have been found and it is estimated that 12,000 veterans are attending the reunion. Fifteen thousand confederate veter- ans paraded the principal streets of Dallas to-day, led by the Grand Army band of Canton, O, General John B. Gordon and staff rode atthe head of the column of veterans and many noted confederates were in line. Famous battle flags, riddled _in war, futtered at frequent intervals. The business sessions were cancelled because of the parade. The reunion will close to-morrow. It is declared to have been the most successful one yet held. Homeseekers’ Excursion. Tickets onsale March 4thand 18th, April Ist and 15th, May 6 and 20, 1902, going limit of fifteen days final return limit of 21 days from date of sale. Rate of one fare plus $2.00 for the round trip and applies to points in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, lowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi Mis- souri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Wiscon- sinand Wyoming and to all points in Indian Territory, Oklahoma and Texas. E. C. VaANDERvooT, Agt. General Funston is Reprimanded. Washington, April 23.—Brigadier General Frederick Funston has been officially reprimanded by the presi- dent for saying in a recent speech that Senator Hoar, of Massachusetts, was “afflicted with an overhented conscience.” The Kansan also is ordered to cease further public dis- cussion of the Philippines. The following letter was made pub- lic at the war department this morp- ing: “To Brigadier General Frederick —Funston,—Commanding Depart- ment ef Colorado, Denver, Col. “War Department, Washington, April 22.—Sir: I am directed by the president. to instruct you that he wishes -you to cease further public discussion of the situation in the Philippines, and also to express his regret that you should make a sena- tor of the United States an object of public criticism or discussion. Very respectfully, “WiLLiaM Cary SANGER, ‘Acting Secretary of War.” General Funston’s reprimand is banquet given at Denver in hishonor speech the general made the reference to the Massachysetts senator object- edto by President Roosevelt.” Ais slighting reference to one of the most al’s good taate and discretion. Young Wife Missing. Joplin, Mo., April 24.—The young weg, Mo., mysteriously disappeared a week azo. Her hushand fears foul play. 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See adver- tisement elsewhere in this issue. 18-6t CALIFORNIA ted Best Persona’ Tourist Excursions —TO— San Francisco, Los Angeles, Leave KANSAS CITY EVERY FRIDAY VIA§THE GZ EAT ROCK ISLAND ROUTE aa and Scenic Line. Tourist car via southern routeleaves Kansas City every Wednesday. An-economical; pleasant and comfor way of reaching the Pacific Coast in th Latest Improved Pullman Tourist, Write for information and literature J, A. 8TEwant, G. 8, W. P. A. Kansas0'ty “ana CURES HOTHING BUT PILES, A SURE and CERTAIN CURE known for 15 years as the BEST REMEDY for PILES. TABLER’S Missouri Pacific Railway Time Table at Butler Station. NORTH BOUND Wo 1... . ‘ No. $1] Local Freight........... INTERSTATE DIVISIO No, 849 Depart No, 850 Arrive. Arrival and departure of trains at Worland. Wo. Kanaga cu A a lo. reas No.3 cree: Meaccad Mall ... 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