s of the State is but little over a half million
dollars, and that during the two years of Governor Ames' administration
the State debt has been reduced from $821,292.82, on January first,
1874, to $520,138.33, on January first, 1876, or a reduction of more
than three hundred thousand dollars in two years--upwards of one third
of the State debt wiped out in that time. Not only has the debt been
reduced as above, but the rate of taxation for general purposes has
been reduced from seven mills in 1873 to four mills in 1875."

Notwithstanding the fact that the rate of taxation under the
administration of Governor Ames had been reduced as shown above from
seven mills in 1873 to four mills in 1875 the amount paid into the State
Treasury was substantially the same as that paid in prior years. This
was due to the great appreciation in the value of taxable property. Then
again, a material reduction in the rate of taxation was made possible
because the public institutions had all been rebuilt and repaired and a
sufficient number of school buildings had been erected, thus doing away
with the necessity for a special levy for such purposes. From this
showing it would seem as if it were reasonable to assume that if such an
administration as the one then in power could have been retained a few
years longer there would not only have been a still further reduction in
the rate of taxation, but the payable debt of the State would have been
entirely wiped out. Instead of this we find the conditions to be about
as follows:

First. Shortly after the first reform State Treasurer had been in charge
of that office it was developed that he was a defaulter to the amount of
$315,612.19.

Second. Notwithstanding the immense increase in the value of taxable
property from year to year, it appears from the official records that
the rate of ad valorem tax for general purposes has been increased from
four to six mills.

Third. There has been a very heavy increase in what is known as the
specific or privilege taxes,--that is, a specific sum that business and
professional persons must pay for the privilege of doing business or of
practicing their professions in the State.

Fourth. The amounts now collected and paid out for the support of the
State Government are more than double what they were a few years ago,
thus showing extravagance, if not recklessness, in the administration of
the affairs of the State,--the natural result of a condition by which