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|u> <Wcrncfr Opens theUlinois Re- tv'"" • a publican Campaign. 5?rr^ U^:.-V-- :'r "T~> " m v p j ' A i r r N F R O M Speech b a ScatMag ArraifUKat of -A'", l Altfeid and Hit Henchwa. " * • * * ' - l I ' ' ? - • ' • * • J VemxtAt teecBtlw Explains What » Democracy Mean* In Illinois-It Bor­ rowed Over $1,000,000, Stole Nearly •» That Amount, anil Left a Deficit of v f* Over $SS,®00,000--Tells How Repab- \ ' licanlsm Is BjnoHTmou with Pa* • tr lot Ism, JPublic Economy and Hoa- est Administration. Gov. John R. Tanner fired the first gun of the Illinois political campaign at the great Republican rally At Goleonda. An immense crowd was in attendance, and while the Governor's two hours' speech bristled with figures of the Democratic administration, it was listened to with close attention and frequent applause. In introducing the issue of State politics he reviewed the issues of national poli­ ticks. Speaking of the Spanish war he said: "If monarchy and aristocracy can partition Africa and China, why may not a. people's republic, with its free institu­ tions, go forth and in the spirit of uni­ versal humanity place its shield over the homes and lives of the millions who have been downtrodden? Why should not new lands be open to American trade as well aB to the trade of the nations of Europe?" He declared the people have paid a dear penalty fc)r their experience with free trade, but that business prosperity is now , here and has come to stay. It has been coming every hour since the Democrats were turned out and the Republicans came in. The old Democratic hoot owl has departed from the once silent and deserted factory; the Populistic bat is hunting a more congenial darkness, and the combined wheels and spindles of a nation are again singing anthems to a re­ established prosperity and a revived and enlarged commerce. Nobody is fretting « about the treasury reserve now, because the treasury is full to bursting with good, shining gold. The mortgages have been lifted from the farms even in Populist ridden Kansas and Nebraska, and so much good, sound Republican money has come forth from the hiding places into which Populist, socialist and anarchist had once scared it that to-day every bank is full to bursting with sound dollars, ev­ ery one worth 100 cents. The bank pres­ idents will chase customers up and down the street to implore them to borrow at 5 per cent this very gold standard money which only two years ago the Democrats declared was so scarce that a few million­ aires could corner the world's supply of it and strangle the prosperity of the coun­ try. Only a few mfftiths ago these poor, oppressed, common people, over whom demagogues wept in 1896, had on hand so much of this Wall street money that they bought up $200,000,000 of war bonds, drawing the low rate of 3 per cent, and didn't give the Wall street millionaires, who bossed the job under Mr. Cleveland, so much as a coupon. The millionaires, to use a current phrase, "didn't get a smell," and they are now buying these same war bonds from the people, who originally purchased them, at a5 premium of G per cent. How different this is from fibe bond transaction of the last Democratic administration! Altgeld's Scandalous Administration. Turning from national affairs to State the Governor arraigned the Altgeld ad­ ministration and in the course of his re­ marks he said: "There is much to be said concerning the scandalous developments which have come to light since the ad­ ministration of Gov. Altgeld was turned out by almost the unanimous vote of Illi­ nois. The late Democratic administra­ tion was the most corrupt that this State has ever had since it was admitted into the Union, and I say this in full view of the fact that the last Democratic admin istration that the State had before Alt- geld's witnessed the wholesale robbery . of the State treasury. In reciting the history of the Altgeld ad ministration of Illinois affairs, yon will re' call that the Democrats boast of what they call the economy of their administration of the state's affairs. They praise the so-called business methods of Altgeld and the Demo cratic newspaper calls loud to the citizens, * "If you don't think Altgeld Is your friend, look at your state tax receipts while he was governor, and then at your Tanner taxes." To better understand what constitutes the economy of the Altgeld reign, what were his extraordinary business methods, and wherein lay the merit of his tax levies. It Is helpful to compare the Flfer Uepublican four years with the Democratic term, which followed it, which fully explains the ncces slty for the increased tax levy of the For tleth General Assembly. Flfer came Into the governorship January 12, 1880, at which time there was a cash balance In the state's revenue fund of $2, 322,570.40. Four years later, January 10, 1803, he was succeeded by Altgeld, at which time the balance in the revenue fund was $2,752,344.40, showing an increase of $429, 764. When Flfer turned over the state's affairs to Altgeld In January, 1893, there remained undrawn of the appropriations for the fiscal year of 1893, closing September 30, $1,683, 429.16. To meet these payments there was in the revenue fund January 10, $2,752, 334.4(0. Thus. Alfgeld came into the manage­ ment of the state's affairs with what can be properly termed a surplus of $1,068,905.24: Four years passed, when the account books in the auditor's office developed the startling truth that Democratic economy and Altgeld business methods had failed to provide as much revenue as had been ex­ pended by $2,589.2514.48, and that there re­ mained In the treasury $163,049.92 to pay appropriations of $1,969,905.28. This was the condition January 12, 1897, when I came Into office. Th/t Thirty-eighth and Thirty- ninth General Assemblies, which convened " during the Altgeld term, appropriated $14,- 996,195.00. to be paid out of the revenue fund: but the appropriation failed to meet the expeuses of government by $232,359.93, which deficiency was provided by the suc­ ceeding legislature. With above $13.000.C00 revenue to provide, ttte revenue receipts during the Altgeld term •ere $12.275.!163.12, of which $7,334,624.24 were from the tax levies of 1892 and 1895, inclusive, and $4,881,342.88 from miscellan­ eous sources. During the four Democratic years the assessed value of all state prop­ erty averaged $830,427,808, on which* was levied a total tax of $1.69, or an average yearly tax of 42(4 cents per $100. Compari­ son of the Flfer and Altgeld administrations shows that the two legislatures under Flfer provided by appropriation for the expendl- * ture of $11.774,;-:89'89 from the revenue fund, and the two under Altgeld. $14.!KKi,195--an increase of appropriation under Altgeld of $3,221,806.11. The Fifer expenditure of rev­ enue during his term of ofllce, was $10,822,- 632, and lie left, to be paid by his successor. '•» appropriations of $1,683,429.16--total, $12,- 506,061.16. The Altgeld expenditure of rev­ enue. during his term of office, was $14,865,- 261.60, and lie left, to be paid l>y his succes­ sor. appropriations of $1,969,905.28. and a deficiency ef $252,359.93--total. $17,067,- 526*1. The Flfer receipts or credits were $11,- 252,396, and the expenditures or debits were $10,822,632, showing an increase in the treas­ ury balance of $42^,764. the administration going out with a cash balance, January 10, 1893, of $2,752,334.40, and a surplus, July 1, 1898, of $1,068,905.24. The Altgeld receipts or credits were $12,275,937.12, and the expen­ ditures or debits were $14,865,261.60, show­ ing a decrease in the balance of $2,369,291.48, the aduilnUtxatloe going oat, January -]£ |B0T, with a catfh balance at a deficit, Juljr t, lST,o{ 18,' Altgeld administration fouM surplus of $1,068,806.34, aad l found July 1, 1897, a deficit of $2,06d,22B.29. a set loss to the state treasury of $3,128,130.58. , KfFect of Democratic Tax Levies. And here appears the effect of the boast­ ed low tax levies. Had these levies of 81 cents in 1893 and 1E94 been doubled, the Alt­ geld administration would almost have paid Its cost. Those tax levies produced less than $3,000,000 revenue, when they should have produced above $6,000,000. No one knows this better than the head of the ad­ ministration. The levy bill of the assembly of 1893 was Altgeld's work. He accom­ plished his dearest political wish of wip­ ing out the hated "working balance" with­ in the first two years of his administration. From September, 1895, on to the close of his term, the state of Illinois was bankrupt, stntiding hat. In hand at the back doors of money lenders, begging In startled whisp­ ers for secret aid, and pledging the honor Of individual Democrats to repay the illegal loans, and after nearly two years of poverty Altgeld passed over to Ills successor $163,000 with which to pay debts of over $2,200,000. The 60 cent tax levy of 1897. producing $3,647,962.48 revenue, looks large when com pared with the Altgeld levy of 52 cents In 1895, and 56 cents In 1896, but the present administration must not only Bupply rev euue for its own expenses, but it must liqui­ date the debts of the Democrats and re-es­ tablish a sufficient working balance In the treasury to prevent the recurrence of any­ thing like the humiliating beggary of the last two years of Altgeld's term. The administration opened January 10, 1893, with a balance of $2,752,334.40. The revenue receipts for the next six months, which Included the Inst Flfer tax levy of 1892, offset the expenditures, and on July 1, 1893, the balance was $2,736,825.47. The Thirty-eighth General Assembly had made Its appropriations, of which the first year's payments were now due. This balance of nearly $3,000,000 was nominally the balance which had been available for many years past, upon the adjournment of the legisla­ tures. A year later, July 1, 1894, the bal­ ance had fallen to $1,399,545.64, and by Jan­ uary 1, 1895, to below $1,000,000. The first Altgeld tax levy of 18*03 had now been col­ lected and its insufficiency was shown by the ebb of the treasury balance. The Thirty-ninth General Assembly met In 1895. and made its appropriation, the first year of which became available July 1. Two years before, when the Thirty-eighth (ien- eral Assembly adjourned, there was on hand to pay its appropriations above $2,700,000, but now that balance had shrunk to $898,- 251.71. When the university and the penal institutions had received their appropria­ tions and the charitable institutions, for the most part, had been paid one-quarter's or­ dinary expenses, the treasury was practical­ ly bankrupt. There was nothing to do but suspend the business of the state or borrow sufficient money for existence until the tax levy of 1895 was collected. The $250,000 which the constitution permitted the gover­ nor to borrow was a comparative drop to the bucketful of funds necessary. How Altgeld Borrowed Money. However, the great financial mind which brought about the disaster was ready with the remedy. The trustees of each state in­ stitution were instructed to borrow, where- ever they might, funds sufficient to main­ tain their institutions' until the state treas­ ury could relieve them. They were instruct-, ed to draw their requisitions on the state treasury and after these requisitions had of Qulncy no funds from August 3, . to April 22, 1896. During that.tin* ffc* trusts** borrowed $69,976.J»:< from the First National Bank of Qulncy, interest 7 per cent., amounting to $1,545.03. The Dem­ ocrats Inherited the home with a net bal­ ance on the ordinary fund of $23,933.20 and turned It over to their Republican successors with a deficit of $2,893.88. Kankakee Insane Hospital. ' The Insane hospital at Kankakee put off the date of borrowing until December 16, 1895. Within the next three months the trustees borrowed $96,092.43. paying Inter­ est at the rate of 7 per cent.. $2,015.74. The Democrats Inherited the hospital from the Flfer administration with a deficit In the ordinary fund of $3,230.68 and left with the Republican administration what they claim­ ed was a surplus of $8,636.66, but which, up­ on examination, developed into a deficit of $12,252.51. by the discovery of $20,889.17 of unrecorded Democratic debts. This, how­ ever, was in line with the Democratic book­ keeping. They had paid off loans of $96,- 092.43 and forgot to exhibit the fact in the cash book, and had contracted a trifling debt of $20,889.17, which they neglected to show among the accounts paynble. The business system, or rather the lack of business sys­ tem. which made such vital errors possible is interesting from the fact that the Kanka­ kee hospital was the Democratic model. They declared It the best conducted Insti­ tution under Aitgeld and have selected it as the highest example of Democratic -busi­ ness ability. Klein Insane Hospital. The northern hospital for the insane at Elgin received no funds from the treasury from August 1, 1895, to April 22, 1896. The fact is discoverable, however, only in the auditor's books at Springfield, as the hos­ pital reports to the state board of charities show uninterrupted receipts of cash from the treasury. During the period of suspen­ sion the trustees borrowed $83,977.74 of the First National Bank of Elgin, paying inter* est charges at the rate of 6 per cent.. $1,729. The Democrats Inherited s the hospital in April, 1893, with a cash balance In the ordi­ nary fund of $23,190.56. and bills payable of $16,339.19, or a surplus of $6,851.37. The debts of $16,339.19 were largely represented In subsistence stores and supplies. The Democrats left the institution in A|>ril, 1897, with $278.06 cash in the ordinary fund and bills payable to the amount of $51,548 66. Anna Insane Hospital. The Insane hospital at Anna led the list of the Institutions with loans of $237,008.24 and Interest charges of $4,833.45. The rate was 7 per cent., and a commission of 1 per cent, for obtaining the loan, thus making the Interest rate about 8 per cent. The last loan negotiated by the trustees was for $31,250, a requisition for that amount on the state treasury being discounted to May 1, 1897. A total of $72,116.67 was borrowed by the trustees of the Institution for feeble-minded children at Lincoln, the total interest charges being $1,669.41. Of the total loans $52,116.67 was paid during the Altgeld ad­ ministration; the remaining loans of $20, 000, borrowed in November, 1896, with In terest charges of $593, were inherited by the Republican administration when the Demo­ crats went out of office, and paid in July, 1887. Reformatory at Pontiac. The Democratic management of the insti­ tution failed to pay all of the loans of the reformatory at Pontiac. Between December I 17, 1895, and November 27, 1896, the trus­ tees borrowed $200,700. There'was repaid GOVERNOR TANNER. gone their usual course and had received the signature of the governor they were to be used as collateral for the loans. Within the next six months the institu­ tions of Illinois borrowed above $1,000,000, paying as high as 8 per cent. Interest, and commission in some cases, which put the interest rate above 10 per cent. The Altgeld theory of the uselessness of a working bal­ ance In the treasury was being demonstrat­ ed with a vengeance. In order that we may Judge fairly of the business methods of his administration, I feel it my duty to give you the result of my examination of the records of that administration, so far at least as Its transactions appear of record. To do this it becomes necessary to go somewhat Into de­ tail. We will start at Jacksonville. Asylum for the Blind. The trustees of said Institution received their full quarterly appropriation July 19, 1895. and were notified from Springfield that they would receive no more money until April, 1896, when the tax levy of 1895 would begin to come in. Between September 26, 1895, and March 23, 1896, the Institution borrowed $43,468.96, paying $1,037.43 inter­ est, at the rate of 6 per cent. A table of dally balances, drawn from the Institution's treasurer's reports, shows that the Interest at 6 per cent, on the bank's money actually Used Bhould have been $223.82, where­ as the bankers were paid $1,037.43. On Oct. 19, 1895, the Institution had a balance in the bank in the ordinary fund of $8,700.96. On that day they borrowed or "overdrew" $13,- 000 of the bank and placed it In bank to the credit of the fund. This loan of $13,000 lay In the bank seventy-four days, earplug $160.58 for the bankers before the state drew a dollar of It, nor was the last of it drawn until 164 days after It was borrow­ ed. For seventy-four days the state paid in­ terest on $13,000, when It had from $4,000 to $8,000 to Its credit in the bank. On Janu­ ary 1, 1896, the trustees again borrowed or "overdrew" $13,000, which laid in the bank untouched until the day before it was re­ paid from the state treasury, when $585.32 of It was used for one day. It had earned $153.82 interest for the bank while the money was lying In the bank's safe. It was by such remarkable methods of banking that the state paid $1,037.43 inter­ est on "overdrafts," when it shoald hare paid $223.82. Deaf and Dnasb Inatitutlosk The deaf and dumb Institution at Jack- sonvlllc received its quarterly appropria­ tions of -"<25,000 for ordinary expenses July 19, 1895, and received no more from the state treasury until April, 1896. In the meantime the trustees borrowed $80,216.19, paying $2,2(2.18 Interest, at the rate of 8 per cent. The first loan was made September 11, 1£95, and the last March 5, 1896. Unlike their brethren of the blind school, the trus­ tees did not "overdraw" their bank account, but borrowed money contrary to law, and they borrowed it regardless of necessities. From January 21. 18t>6, to April 1 of said year they paid Interest on $50,000 to carry an overdraft of from $11,962.86 on Janu­ ary 21, to $31,897.99 on April 1. The re­ ceipts from the state treasury April 23 and 30 gave the ordinary fund a cash balance, but the state continued to pay interest on $25,000 for the next eighty-six days. On May 1 the ordinary fund had a balance In the bank of $35,822.67. but the state was paying Interest on $25,000. In the ordinary expense fund the state used an average of $15,910.56 of the bank's fund for 142 days, and the Interest on this sum at 6 per cent, is $371.53. • However, the trusiees paid $1,- 270.85. Jacksonville Insane Hospital. The trustees of the Jacksonville Insane hospital borrowed between September 30, 1895, and March 31. 1896, $101,819.39, pay ing $1,380.19 Interest at the rate of 6 per cent. The atfcte treasarj Mid gaMliiri' during the Altgeld administration $143,750, the Interest charges at 6 per cent, being $1,997.37. The last two loans aggregating $66,000, were made In November, 1896, the interest rate being 7 per cent., the Metro polltan Bank of Chicago considering It such a desperate risk that. In addition to the requisitions on the state treasury, the trus Mees held themselves personally responsible Tor the payment of the loans and Interest. The principal was paid by the Republican trustees on July 12, 1897. The total Interest on the loans was $4,847.31. When the Democratic trustees retired March 1, 1897, there was $12.79 In the treas ury. to meet loans and accounts to the amount of $102,379.37. There was due from the state treasury $87,666.67 undrawn appro priatloii8, so that the net deficit was $14, 639.91 to March 1, with an additional deficit in the ordinary expense fund of $25,000 to July 1, 1897. Peoria Inaane Asylnm. The transactions of the Altgeld board of trustees of the Peoria asylum for Incurable Insane form one of the most lurid chapters In the loug story of dishonesty, -Incompe­ tency and reckless expenditure of public money which characterized that adminls tratlon. The story of the rise and fall of the I'eorla Insane asylum is unique. There is nothing like it In the history of Illinois. The line of action is s.-> crooked that the eye wearies In following It. So far as the rec ords show every Important act of the board was illegal; their methods were unprece dented and contrary to law, and In their transactions they had the help of all the machinery of the state. The trustees, Hu* Ited by law to the expenditure of $83,000. for specific purposes, spent $80,623.86 and left a debt of $10,823.66. Said board of trus tees organised by electing one of their own number treasurer, an act clearly contrary to the statute, and he was not required to give bond. The board's first work was the selection of a site. The site cost $19,500, but the bill for the land Is not receipted and to-day the trustees hold no deed to the property. The treasury being bankrupt, the trustees were instructed to borrow what money they need ed, wherever they could find It. December 11, 18U5, they made a requisition on the state traasury for $25,000, which, upon being ap prSVed by the governor, they used as col lateral for a' loan of $25,000. from the Com mercial National Itank of Peoria. This loan Was paid by the treasury July 15,, 1896. The amount was drawn against the appropria­ tion for a site and charged to that appro prlatlon, nlthousrh thev were entitled to draw uga'n*t It only theVost of the site, $19,- 500. But this was merely an Incident. All forms and regulations for drawing appro­ priations from the state treasury were dis­ regarded by the asylum trustees, the audit­ or, the governor and the state board of charities. The entire machinery of state appears to have been accessory to the job at Peoria. I'pon four so-called estimates the 365.000 appropriated for the I'eorla asvlum was drawn from the treasury and all of fhem were made by the trustees and accepted by the board of charities in violation of the statute. No vouchers for the payment of money or trustees' orders are on file. When the Republican trustees came in and called on their predecessors for au accounting, President Finiey turned over the records. They consisted of a handful of bills and statements, all of which could be carried In a coat pocket, and one account book, show­ ing the receipts and disbursements of the board from December 12, 1895. to March 20, 1897. No regular ledger, bankbook, can­ celled checks, building contract nor deed to the real estate, accompanied the record. Bills to the amount of $43,000 were re­ ceipted. None of the blils were approved by the board of trustees. One Mil for 4S.7W «• the trustees for "expense and services," was approved by Governor Alt­ geld, but it was not receipted. The law does not contemplate that trus­ tees of state institutions shall receive pay for their services, but as a total the three trustees received Jtyr "expense and ser­ vices," hotel billff-^and carriage hire, $6,- 094.66 for eighteen months' service, or an average of $2,031.55 each. The total loans were $35,000, paid by the treasury July 15, 1896, the interest at 6 per cent, being $273.95. There was expended on buildings, roads and grading $49,420.98. There re­ mained due to Contractor Malloy, when, the Republican board took charge, $10,823.66, which has been paid. This makes the cost of the building $54,919.26, not including amounts paid to engineers, architects and superintendents. I considered it my imperative duty to tear down the structure and abandon the site of this building, and so Instructed the trus­ tees. Sixty thousand dollars Is a conserva­ tive estimate of the loss at Peoria. From an aesthetic point of view, the destruction ef the I'eorla building was to be lamented, for it reduced by One the number of Gov­ ernor Altgeld's monuments in Illinois. The statement that Governor Altgeld Is an intellectual curiosity Is no news. His bitterest enemies grant that he Is one of the most learned, erudite and forceful men the present generation has seen in politics. When he was ushered into the world the Graces showeied Intellectual gifts upon him, but his work as governor of Illi­ nois suggests that the patrons of architec­ ture and finance did not attend his birth. Grain Inspection Department, ©n coming Into office In 1893 the Demo­ crats Inherited the grain inspection'depart­ ment at Chicago with $45,773.18 cash bal­ ance in its treasury. Four yeafs later they returned it to the present Republican ad­ ministration with a balance of $17,607.68 to Its credit, but the credit balance was not cash. A month after their retirement from of­ fice the Democrats turned over to the de­ partment $13,000 in cash, leaving a balance of $4,507.68 unpaid. From the time of its creation up to the time the department pass ed into the hands of Governor Altgeld's ap­ pointees, the department of grain Inspection had been self-sustaining, with a growing cash balance. In four years of Democratic management it lost $26,166.50. Within the next sixteen months, under the present Re­ publican management, the balance of $17,- 607.68 increased to $66,068.45. showing earn­ ings above expenses of $48,460.77. I'nder Democra'tic rule grain inspection was a farce, and the department's certificates in 1893 and 1894 were considered meaningless and worthless. But while collections decreased, the pay roll, under Democratic management. In­ creased and the cash balance shrunk. ..For the last Democratic year the collections were $137,339.19 and the expense $137,369.11, au Increase of $49,463.17 In the expenses over the previous year. Of this increase, $10,827.37 was Illegal back pay to employes, and $10,785 was plain stealing through stuffing the pay roll. Wrongdoers and loaf­ ers, well known in the city of Chicago, who never performed an honest day's work in their lives, were upon the pay rolls for three months before the election. Promineut state politicians, who were never known to do manual labor, were carried on the pay rolls for months before the election of 1896. Joliet Penitentiary. Through the operation of Governor Alt geld's system of employing convict labor cu state account the maintenance of the penitentiary at Joliet cost the state treas­ ury $495,034.66 during the four Democratic years. For the preceding twenty-one years, under Republican rule, the penitentiary had been self-sustaining, and its contingent ap­ propriation of $100,000 had always been re­ turned to the treasury. During the four Democratic years there was drawn from the state treasury, on account of the peni­ tentiary, $678,475.28--a sum in excess of that drawn for the same purpose in the preceding twenty-one years under Repub­ lican rule. The gross cost of the prison maintenance, during these four years, was $1,062,311.73, of which sum $495,034.66 rep­ resents the net loss of the state treasury, and $567,277.07 represents the earnings of convict labor. The Democrats inherited the prison In 1893 with $38,017.21 cash balance and $500 bills receivable. They left to the Republican management a cash balance of $15,476.92; accounts receivable $43,442.29, and a debt of $78,065.77. Chester Penitentiary. The Democrats Inherited the Chester pen iteutlary In February, 1893. with $40,000 In cash and undrawn appropriations. Four years later they retired with $101.21 in the expeuse fuud, with appropriations drawn out and expended five months in advance and with accounts payable of $69,300. At the time of the change of management. Fen ruary 1, 1897, „thls indebtedness was esti mated to be $57,000. To meet expenses for the next five months, or until the next ap proprlation should become available, $40,000 was found necessary, and on this showing the Fortieth General Assembly made a de ficiency appropriation of $97,000. Later $12,500 additional Indebtedness developed bringing the deficiency up to $109,500. On the day of Democratic settlement the books showed that there should have been on hand u Oasii uiilaiiCO of $16,817.54. Of this sum $11,750 was a memory of the Selter Bank failure at Lebanon; $2,018 of it was stealings from $2,500 of borrowed money that had been placed In the petit cash draw­ er; $1,763.17 was in I. O. U.'s of various persons and employes, and the balance of the shortage was found in errors In addi­ tions. The leading accounts In the prison boriks had not been posted since. May, 1895, and In the work of settling these accounts about $9,000 of stealings were discovered During the four Democratic years the pris­ on management drew from the state treas­ ury $517,887.29, and they left a debt of $69,- 500. A conservative statefient of their re­ ceipts and disbursements shows that the cost of their administration was $443,950.99 above the earnings of convict labor. To the credit of the earnings, however, there must be deducted from the total the stealings of thou? who had access to the cash. The shortage developed In the posting of the books was $8,768. University of Illinois. The history of the state university funds, under Democratic iB^nagement, begins with a violation of the law by Governor Altgeld and closes with the violation of the law by Treasurer Spauiding. The governor set the example for the university treasurer, and the man, following in the footsteps of his master, readily traveled the road to prison. Spauldlng's first draft on the state treasury was $178,500, and he received the money, by the grace of Governor Altgeld, three weeks before he was entitled to it under the l^w. Spauiding was elected treasurer of the university July 6, 1893. The financial panic of that year made money scarce and valu­ able, and the Altgeld-Spaulding bank In Chicago looked with greedy eyes 011 the university funds in the state treasury. From the day of the Spauiding election Altgeld urged the speedy approval of his bond, but through the objection of Alexander Mc­ Lean, a Republican, the only wise and doubting trustee, that matter was delayed until August 3. Two days later Spauiding drew $178,650 of appropriations. The form­ er treasurer. John W. Bunn, bad not yet settled with the trustees. The vouchers for the university expenses of 1892 had not beeji filed and approved by the governor, and the statutes specifically provided that the university moneys were not due nor payable until such vouchers had been filed. Three weeks later, August 24, ex-Treas­ urer John W. Bunn met the university finance committee and Treasurer Spauiding, and delivered the money, bonds and books belonging to the university fund. On the following day he filed with the auditor of state the vouchers for the expenses of 1892. On" that day. with the approval of tl>e gov­ ernor, Spauiding could have legally drawn money from the state, but not until then. Governor Altgeld approved the vouchers filed by Bunn. At what time after August 24 he approved them may never be known, but under his signature he recorded the date of his approval as July 18, 1893, a pe­ riod of about five weeks before they left ex- Treasurer Bunn's possession. But this flagrant contempt of law and truth set the example for wrongdoing which eventually landed Spauiding in the peniten­ tiary after embezzling ?54i»,662.29 of the peo­ ple's money. Money Borrowed Unlawfully. I will give you a list of loans of money Illegally borrowed by the various Institu­ tions between September, 1895, and De­ cember, 1896: Principal. Interest. Blind asylum, Jackson­ ville 9 43,468.96 §1,037.43 Deaf and dumb, Jack­ sonville 86,216.96 2,202.09 Insane hospital,- Jack­ sonville 101,819.39 1.380.39 Soldiers' Home, Qulncy 69,976.93 1,545.03 insane hospital, -Kanka­ kee 98,092.43 2,015.74 Insane hospital, Anna. 237,008.34 4,835.45 Insane asylum. Chester 17,010.39 276.89 Feeble Minded asylum, Lincoln 72.11C.67 1,669.41 Eye and Kar, Chicago. 4,000.00 61.47 Insane hospital, Klgin. 83,977.74 1,729.00 Soldiers'orphans'home 26,250.00 414.2ft Peoria Incurable lns.ine 35,000.00 273.95 Reformatory, Pontiac. 209,750.00 4,847.31 The aggregate amount of money plun­ dered and stolen from the state of Illinois by Governor's Altgeld's employes during his administration, in the following seven Insti­ tutions of t' e state, tooUi up $982,708.34, di­ vided as follows: - University of Illinois ...$549,662.29 West Park Board................ 31^000.00 Chester penitentiary ...... 30,000.00 Industrial Home for the Blind... 5,000.00 Geneva Home for Girls... 8.594.30 Grain Inspection department 10,785.00 ABOUND * BIG STITE. BRIEF COMPILATION OF NOIS NEWS. I£LI. By thievery and lgnoraacq at Peo­ ria .. .. -... .. v. $922,441.80 60,036.75 $982,078.84 Coat of the Stat* ftistitutions. I am not prepared at this time to give figures as to the comparative per capita cost of maintaining the inmates of our In­ stitutions.. for the reason that the reports from the trustees and superinendents of the state Institutions are not ail in- I will say, however, that when the Democrats took charge of the eleven state charitable institu­ tions In 1893 these Institutions had on hand a total cash balance In the ordinary expense fund of $135,745.21, and an outstanding in­ debtedness of $58,575.19. showing a surplus of $77,170.02. When they returned them to their Republican successors In 1897, the in­ stitutes had cash balance on hand of $56,341.15, and an outstanding Indebtedness of $231,370.30, showing a deficit of $175,- 029.15. On June 30, 1898, within the $175,029.15. On June 30, 1898, within the, first fifteen months of the present admin­ istration. the total debt of $231,370.30 had been reduced to $67,116.70, and the total cash balance had been raised from $36,341.15 to $168,073.03.- showing a return practically to the condltiou existing in 1893, when the Democrats came into office. How Republicans Borrow Money. This is a Republican administration, con­ ducted on Republican lines and Republican methods. In contrast with the "business administration" of Governor Altgeld, I have not debauched those appointed to office by me by Instructing them to borrow money in violation of law. Acting upon authority, I went openly and lawfully into the money arkets of the country and borrowed the s»m of $250,000 at the exceedingly low rate of 2.6 per cent, per aanttm. which illustrates the advantages of conducting state affairs according to law. The Democratic party went out of power with a deficit in the state treasury of above $2,000,000 and stealings of nearly $1,000,000 more; with the material and financial condi­ tion of the Institutions and departments ef state at the vanishing point, and their busi­ ness affairs In utter confusion. The conduct of the Democrats indicated the belief on their part that when Governor Altgeld re­ tired from the governor's chair, the munic­ ipality ^f Illinois was going out of hustnesfc. Where they found business order and pros* perlty they left business chaos and Insolv­ ency. Their motto seemed to be, "After «s» Oblivion!" This was the Democracy of 1896; this 1b the Democracy of 1898. A Hiatory of Crime. Now, my fellow citizens, the story I have told you Is long; it Is simply the recital of the history of the crime committed during the four years of Democratic administra­ tion. but it Is a story that should be known to the voters of Illinois. It points to their duty In this canvass, and I believe Illinois voters will do their duty, and their whole duty, when they fully understand It. The rank and file of all political parties are hon­ est and patriotic. They desire good gov­ ernment and an honest administration of their political affairs. They are willing to pay liberally when their country and Its Institutions are In peril, but they are not willing that the funds they provide for pub­ lic use should be squandered in reckless ex­ travagance and pilfered by political rogues. Citizenship In the American republic Is coming to be, year by year, a more precious heritage. It is, I firmly believe, under Re­ publican policies that our country has made Its greatest strides towards its present ex­ alted stations among the nations of the earth. We should profit by these lessons of the past and both In the state and the na­ tion retain In control that party which has done so much to make every one of us proud that we are American clticens. THE NAVAL PROFESSION. It Is the Most Exacting and lnclnsire of Any Occupation. Discussing the work of the navy in the war with Spain tlje American Monthly pertinently observes: The naval profession, if properly fol­ lowed--and our naval men have so fol­ lowed it--may well be said to be the most exacting and inclusive of any. A naval officer must be an expert in half a dozen branches of science, any one of which in civil life is deemed suffi­ cient for one man. His work is never done. In order to pass his examina­ tions at every grade he must keep up with the advance in steam engineer­ ing, in gunnery, electricity, and mod­ ern slllp building, and much else. He must have international law at his fin­ gers' ends, and he must be able to think and decide quickly in the most trying of situations. If he makes a false step he is court-martialed. It Is not all dancing o' nights. There is the ceaseless round of target practice, which has done more than anything else to win this war--for the United States has believed in target practice above any other nation--and of drills afloat and ashore, besides, meaningless rumors of which only reach the ear of the citizen. In time of peace the navy has been preparing, and like a college erew preparing for a race, the eyes of the people have been elsewhere until the reputation of a nation is seen to be at stake, and they turn with a start of apprehension and guilt at their neg­ lect. Had there not been far-seeing and public-spirited men who persistent­ ly hammered at Congress for the ships already granted, the officers who have clent for one man. His work is never sacrificed all mean ambition and money-getting to the service of their country would have had the blame of any defeat which might have fallen on our flag for the lack of ships. State way $1,082,687.81 $20,288.41 frim I- C. ' rail- ' ; 450,000.00 1.638.89 $1,532,667.81 *21.027.30 Bible in Rhyme. A New York bibliophile has been try­ ing to purchase the famous Bible in rhyme of the Glasgow University. The Bible is the work of the eccentric old divine, Zacharay Boy^ He conceived the idea of rendering the Sacred Book in rhyme, a task which had to some extent been undertaken by several writ­ ers, among whom may be mentioned the Sfoxon Caedmou. and. Tate and Brady's rhyming version of the Psalms. Zachary Boyd gave full play to his im­ agination, and produced a work of abid­ ing interest and curiosity, though It has never yet been printed. Caedmon's metrical paraphrase of the Scriptures was very popular, and was largely used by the makers of the mysteries which furnished so much of the amusement of our ancestors. The Bible In rhyme hM been written by a Spanish scholar, Sen- or Carullu. He was engagedUpon the work for a number of years, .It now appears in 260,000 verses. Hot Milk an Excellent Stimulant. When overcome by bodily fatigue or exhausted by brain labor no stimulant, so called, serves so well the purpose of refreshment and rest, both bodily and mentally, as milk. When heated as hot a<s one can readily take It it may be sipped slowly from a tumbler, and as It is easily digested one feels very soon Its beneficial effects. Few persons real­ ize the stimulating qualities of tills simple beverage.--Ladies' Home Jour­ nal. Disinfecting Diphtheria. . A little town in Maine has an original method of disinfecting districts in which diphtheria has appeared. A dog with a camphor bag tied to his neck is allowed to roam through the district. The State Assessments--Two Con Vic ta Pardoned--Accident on a Motor Line --Two Men Roasted to Death--Preach­ er;.Suspended for Bad Conduct. The statement of property assessed for the year 1898 in the State of Illinois, as prepared for the State Board of Equaliza­ tion, shows a total assessment of $693;- 443,706, which is $20,293,193 less than last year. The total assessment on real estate is $691,586.61),• and railroad prop­ erty locally assessed is $1,857,015. The total value of personal property is $114,- 215,007. , Some of the principal items are as follows: Improved lands, 29,030,571 acres, value $297,556,967; unimproved lands, 5,665,368 acres, valued at $21,491,- 031. The average value of improved lands is $10.25 .an acre, and unimproved $3.79 ail acre. There are 665,730 improv­ ed town and city lots, valued at $222,- 959,365, and 836.702 unimproved lots, val­ ued at $35,364,321. The average value of improved lots is $334.91 and of unimprov- is $42,27. The nubiber and value of the principal items of personal property are as follows: 1,039,387 horses, value $10,- 953,474; 1,715,044 cattle, $11,378,754; 91,- 404 mules and asses, $1,068,147; 495,017 sheep, $427,254 ; 2,409.952 hogs, $2,949,- 853; 10,854 steam engines, $1,226,236; 10,341 fire and burglar proof safes, $200,- 047; 1,931 billiard and other similar ta­ bles, $31,732; 444,745 carriages and wag- one, $3,124,099; 313,934 watches and clocks, $541,348; 213,814 sewing ma­ chines, $743,328 ; 47,537 pianos, $1,233,- 931; 69,441 melodeons and organs* $510,- , f h .,'i 1 . .-.A X*; / «€att!e near Clinton aie>«ffiiet#rW*#r pinkeye. "" * Peoria , has spent nearly f1.000,000 oi$ * f h i her public parks. * ' Eleven veterans of the Mexican war va sitl<J in Macon County. - , f An epidemic of• hog cholera north an#f'5^h $ east of Monticello is reported* > After a recent storm iu TTounf Sterling ? * 1,000 dead birds were picked up. 1 At Peru. John Kevilie, a lineman, fell ^ from an electric pole and was killed. * Seven buildings burned on the farm of ";1 , Henry Oldenburg, near Galena. Loss* * • $5,000. • * «. f' Dr. A. G. Bond, ah old physician of ;? Austin, shot himself in his office. „ III I health was the motive. Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Lanhant of*- Corn land celebrated their fiftieth wedding^-: anniversary a few days ago. ; The reunion of the 108th Illinois volan^ tecr infantry, Mayor Warner's regiment^ will be held in Peoria on Oct. 13. > . At Carlinville, David Emmons, aged 58^ 'A , !•. grief-stricken on account of the death o|^ < his daughter, drowned himself. Fire caused by the explosion of a lam*C destroyed the Roman Catholic Church aw* Kinsman. Loss, $20,000; insurance, $5^ 000. Th'e corner stone of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Mount Verne*:,, was laid. This church was organised three years ago. Three broom-corn cutters attempted t«/-. hoid up Logan Cash, son of President, ; Cash of the Oakland National Bank. Caslfcf was badly hurt. 1 f 1 .To Daviess County will vote at the fall" election on the proposition to bond th#, county for $20,000 to improve the court - house-at. Galen*. ' At Oakland, the residence of Henrfl Clemency for Convicts. Got. Tanner has commuted the sentence of Calvin Holden and Albert Duniham, who are now serving life sentence ia the penitentiary at Joliet, to a term of four­ teen years. The men were convicted jointly of the murder 01 Harley Russell, at the September, 1890, term of the Piatt County Circuit Court, and sentenced to be hanged. A respite was granted until March 6, 1891, but prior to that time their sentence was commuted to imprisonment for life. Applications for pardons were denied in the following cases: Levi Gil- lock, convicted of burglary and larceny, Sangamon County: George Stewart, for­ gery. Kane County; Michael Shevlin, for­ gery, Cook County; Ferdinand Horn, for­ gery, Rock Island County; Joseph Hea- ney, burglary, Cook County; Morris B. Pike, forgery, Cook County; John N. Glowozowski, robbery, Cook County; Samuel McCord, burglary and larceny, St. Clair County; Joseph Gordon, robbery, Cook County. In Aid of Railroad Lab^r. At a meeting of the executive bo^Td of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers of Illinois at Decatur, little beyond organ­ ising the board was accomplished, and an adjournment was taken until Oct. 14. The purpose of the boafd is to secure legisla­ tion favorable to locomotive engineers and organized labor generally. A resolution was adopted that the Brotherhood of En­ gineers would affiliate with all organized railroad labor for legislative purposes only. It was further decided to call a union mass meeting of organized railroad labor, to be held in Chicago, Oct. 20. Thrown from a Motor Car. An* Aurora and Geneva electric car struck a sharp curve-while running at*a high rate of speed the other night at 10 o'clock, throwing nine men from the fronjt vestibule to the pavement. The injured were excursionists returning home after having witnessed a ball game between the police forces of Elgin and Aurora. The car was filled with passengers and the platforms were crowded. Motorman Doan supposed the switch was set and did not lower the speed. The car took the curve and the men were thrown o2. They were at once taken back, to Aurora on the car. / ' ' I \ « " ,1 "'V. Insane Over a Suicide. Joseph James of Medora was adjudged insane. His hallucination is a queer one. He believes Miss Grace Marshall, da ugh ter of a retired farmer, is the living em bodiment of Miss Emma Wheeler, who committed suicide two years ago. James was present when Miss Wheeler shot her­ self, but claims her spirit has returned to earth and entered Miss Marshall. His at­ tentions were so persistent and annoying that an inquiry into his mental condition was made! On ail other subjects be is rational. Threshing Machine Accident. By the crashing through a weak bridge of a threshing machine engine, six miles west of Rockford, Hess Long was killed and Joseph Light was so severely injured that he will die. Both men, residents of Egan City, were pinioned for forty-five minutes and terribly scalded with steam. Light, who is a wealthy farmer, had a wooden leg, which caught in the firebox and burned off. His other leg was caught in the machine, and he begged those about him to chop it off. Preacher Is Suspended. The Murphysboro district conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, south, has found Rev. W. It- Brown, pastor of the First Methodist Church of Nashville, guilty of conduct unbecoming a gentle­ man, and he has been suspended for one year. He refused, however, to accept the suspension and surrendered his creden­ tials to the church. Mr. Brown is the third minister to get in trouble there dur­ ing the past six months. Brief State Happenings* Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Kuhles, who reside near Harvard, celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary. At Moline, Mrs, William F. Spohn drowned herself in the Mississippi river. She feared coming insanity. John Montgomery, an old and highly re­ spected merchant and business man of Louisville, died at the age of 53. The new building for consumptives at Dunning will be opened with a public re­ ception Oct. 8. At the sattfe time the new- dining hall for the insane asylum will be opined. , The Secretary of Stateiias licensed the Lemont Limestone Company, Chicago, with a capital stock of $10,000. Its in­ corporators are S. B. Brier, J. G. Boden- schatz and E. H. Brown. At a late meeting of the State Board of Health the resignation of Dr. L. Adels- berger as president of the board was ac­ cepted, and Dr. A. C. Corr of Carlinville was elected to succeed him. Two Aurora boys found a bottle lodged in the weeds along the banks of the Fox river at Aurora, which contained th§ fol­ lowing note? "'St. Charles. 111.--To Whom It May Concern: I am tired of this life and this river is the end. Good-by to the world. J. W. Richardson, 7134 North Clark street, Chicago." Wheatkuuls' annual plowing match and carnival was held on the farm of Ernest Kinley, near the Kane and Kendall coun­ ty lines. Between 5.000 and 6,000 people were present. Conyi'essuian Cannon and his Democratic opponent in the present campaigu. Major Thompson, were on hand. Prizes were given tot the best work la plowing. Ammerson, a fanner, was totally destroy^ ed by fire. Loss, $3,000; insurance, $500t The fire was caused by burglars. ( 4 William Chambers, sentenced to fifty days in the Chicago brilewell, died that institution of delirium tremens four hours after beginning his sentence. The body of David Emmons of Horn#* by, thought to have committed suicide^ >';• J" was found ia a pond on the farm of hiit brother, J. H. Emmons, near Litchfield. The body of an unknown man wapr. found hanging to a tree three miles west of Belvidere. •' A caw! signed "Joseph ' £ Gross, Cleveland, O.," indicated suicide. - f: .z Edward Corrigan and five bookmaker® were arrested in a raid on Hawthortsfc . „ - \ race track by Chief of Police Vallens of the town of Cicero. They were release^ , . In bonds of $300 each by Justice Lit •«: Mena. -.V* Charles Corcoran was shot in the breast ̂ and fate by Thomas Maxwell at the lafr^ ^ ter's home, west of Harvard. Mr. Co#» ' ! coran was one of a party who went t^ v* ) charivari the,Maxweil home, where thei4 ; was a wedding party. Maxwell firedraft „ his assailants, wounding Mr. Corcoran. $. / ^ V"1 Corn-shucking stories are nearly rip&V' Here is one from the Minier News; "Last . „ v" year Otto Graff raised 2,656 bushels 0#-;^ corn. He husked it in twenty-six days, and shelled it the 26th of August, recei*- V? 'i ing 26c a bushel for it. He had thirty*. nine acres, making an average of...sixty* , *v\ eight bushels. His hugkixig averaged 1001 *1,' bushels and 10 pounds a day," - ^ Considerable excitement has been eHR#> ed by the mysterious disappearance of Julius Gieseke, a wealthy and prominent German farmerKof South Fork townships For several weeks prior to his disappear ance Gieske had acted strangely and oft the day. he left he took his revolver, bisfc did not divulge his intentions, simply stat­ ing he was going to look after his cropfp,, Rev. John F. Reynolds, the soldiel preacher who recently married a nurse in Chickamauga while having, it is alleged, two wives, one of whom he married ia Colorado, the other in Sangamon County, had a preliminary examination in Spring field on a charge of bigamy, which result­ ed in his commitment to jail in defautt of $500 bail. The prosecuting witness was his second wife, Mass Of 18?- erton. ^ A bad wreck occurred in the, Chicago Milwaukee and St. Paul yards at Free- port. The second section of a freight trails crashed into the first division, completely demolishing the engine and two cars anjl setting fire to the wreckage. Engineer George W. Mills of Milwaukee, of tint second section,- stuck to his train and was instantly killed, the tank of his engine falling on him. A coroner's jury laid thus ~ b j- blame for the accident upon him. Eggs made from milk may be the possibilities. Manager Bowers of tf •'I? I vi V>;. i > -h\ ' >:• 4 t. \ Union creamery at Elgin says not only this but that the process is now an acconfr> plished fact. He has been experimenting1 for some time, and the women who Hv« in the vicinity of the creamery have been experimenting with his product, whick they call artificial eggs. They have used, it in making cake, and agree that the pro» duct is a success. Mr. Bowers doesnY make egg-shaped eggs. His product i* a powder which looks like an egg's yolk. Milk is treated to a secret proems and is then ground, making the powder. Tw« cakes in which this substitute for egg waA used took the blue ribbon of the Boon* County fair. It is claimed the substitute costs in the ratio of less than V6 cent egg. . V; An anxious father is haVing every iary^- \ ? city in the West thoroughly^searched bgfc'l detectives for his beautiful daughter, '* Georgia Perry man, the acknowledged'- ^ ^ belle of Greenville. She is supposed t<l /„* * | liave been drawn from her happy hom® , by the invisible bonds of a wandering ^ hypnotist and his wife. Joseph Enloe > - J is conducting the search for the father*. ^ Enloe's story is a strange one. A profes* ' * sional hypnotist, accompanied by his wife, 'I /I appeared in Greenville. Miss Perrymaifc; f ' attended every one of four performances*, became melancholy and absent-minded^ secretly visited the couple, and when they left, mysteriously disappeared. Enl traced her to several towns and finally to Sti Louis, where he lost trace of hef and also of the hypnotist. Miss Perryfe^HM?! man is the daughtert>f one of the richest^ c C men in Greenville. " • There are 353 -pupils in the South Chi?. , 4", ^ cago high school and additional school^** room is needed to accommodate thenm. <f This is exceptional, as in South Chleagogp-5 populated largely by laboring men, oaljS' ' ;' ; about half the children in the grades asn*^ ally pass into the high schools. V The New York Condensing Company ; at Elgin contracted for its milk supply': - for the next six months at an average of $1.15 a hundred; October and March, $1.10; November and February, $1.15}' f- 5 December and January. $1.20. It figure# f*»\< « 78.2 cents per can, or 9.77 cents, per gal* ' • *" Ion. * William Shank, a promt neat citizen of> Indianola, was murdered at Westville." His body was found in a livery stable with a small wound just back of the left, ear. The wound is supposed to have been made by a pitchfork. Frank Gilman, a:, saloonkeeper, has been arrested for the - crime. After being arrested in his native land, Guatemala, on a false charge of being implicated in the murder of Pr«--i.ient Barrios and after being compelled to tlee. Francis Schurman was found in Chicago^ by his wife. She had searched for bias# six months and then had appealed for hrtp to find her husband to Lord SalLsboqr, fcg*. Eacland. her native taa& ... (!V' 1 ^ l A