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Editorial
October 15, 1896
Aberdeen Herald
Aberdeen, Grays Harbor County, Washington
What is this article about?
Editorial criticizes the Republican state administration for lack of financial transparency, questioning the state's debt, tax collections, expenditures, and demanding a detailed financial statement before the election. From Seattle Times.
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THE STATE FINANCES.
The Republican state convention gave the state administration an indorsement in blank. That is, it did not want to be told what it was called upon to indorse, but pronounce itself satisfied with the way things have been managed in the state since 1892 and pledged the party to labor for the continuation of such management. Is it not reasonable, therefore, to ask those who controlled that convention to take the public into their confidence in some degree and tell them why the old party should be given another lease of power? For example:
How much is the state in debt? Does it owe $100,000, $1,000,000 or $3,000,000? Which of the delegates who voted to indorse the administration, and which of the papers supporting that administration, can answer these simple questions?
Has the state received its proper quota of taxes from the counties? If not, how much is due, and what steps have been taken by the administration to curtail expenses to meet the diminished income?
Is it not true that every public department in the state is run at the same extravagant rate as it was during flush times?
Is any apologist of the administration prepared to defend its course in connection with the state capitol?
The campaign has now been in progress for some weeks, but not a word has been said by those who ask for a renewal of confidence in Republican administration of state affairs to justify their demand.
One of the unfortunate features of our state system is that the administration is under no legal obligation to lay a statement of the actual condition of the commonwealth before the voters, so that they can pronounce upon it at the biennial election. The public accounts are printed after the election, when it is too late to condemn or approve of the policy which has prevailed. There is nothing, however, to prevent the administration from making the facts public if it sees fit, and we submit that it ought to present to the voters without delay, so that it can be thoroughly sifted, an exact and detailed financial statement.
How much money does the state owe?
What are its assets to meet its indebtedness?
What has been done to curtail expenditures during the last four years?—Seattle Times.
The Republican state convention gave the state administration an indorsement in blank. That is, it did not want to be told what it was called upon to indorse, but pronounce itself satisfied with the way things have been managed in the state since 1892 and pledged the party to labor for the continuation of such management. Is it not reasonable, therefore, to ask those who controlled that convention to take the public into their confidence in some degree and tell them why the old party should be given another lease of power? For example:
How much is the state in debt? Does it owe $100,000, $1,000,000 or $3,000,000? Which of the delegates who voted to indorse the administration, and which of the papers supporting that administration, can answer these simple questions?
Has the state received its proper quota of taxes from the counties? If not, how much is due, and what steps have been taken by the administration to curtail expenses to meet the diminished income?
Is it not true that every public department in the state is run at the same extravagant rate as it was during flush times?
Is any apologist of the administration prepared to defend its course in connection with the state capitol?
The campaign has now been in progress for some weeks, but not a word has been said by those who ask for a renewal of confidence in Republican administration of state affairs to justify their demand.
One of the unfortunate features of our state system is that the administration is under no legal obligation to lay a statement of the actual condition of the commonwealth before the voters, so that they can pronounce upon it at the biennial election. The public accounts are printed after the election, when it is too late to condemn or approve of the policy which has prevailed. There is nothing, however, to prevent the administration from making the facts public if it sees fit, and we submit that it ought to present to the voters without delay, so that it can be thoroughly sifted, an exact and detailed financial statement.
How much money does the state owe?
What are its assets to meet its indebtedness?
What has been done to curtail expenditures during the last four years?—Seattle Times.
What sub-type of article is it?
Economic Policy
Partisan Politics
Taxation
What keywords are associated?
State Finances
Republican Administration
Financial Transparency
State Debt
Tax Collection
Expenditures
Biennial Election
What entities or persons were involved?
Republican State Convention
State Administration
Seattle Times
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Demand For Transparency In State Finances Under Republican Administration
Stance / Tone
Critical And Demanding Accountability
Key Figures
Republican State Convention
State Administration
Seattle Times
Key Arguments
Republican Convention Endorsed Administration Without Specifics
State Debt Amount Unknown To Public And Delegates
Unclear If Proper Taxes Received From Counties
No Steps Taken To Curtail Expenses Amid Diminished Income
Public Departments Run Extravagantly Despite Hard Times
Administration's Handling Of State Capitol Undefendable
No Legal Obligation But Moral Duty To Provide Financial Statement Before Election