The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1849-02-22
sQuANDERrNG THE PUBLIC FUNDS.

Gle relative to the public printing, which
affords another vivid illustration Of the Ut.
ter disregard shown the public interest,
when, governed by the narrow boundaries
Of party, we elect men to ennct laws for
tho State who are entirely incompetent to
discharge tho trust rcposed in them.
A a new State, having but jus. arrived
1t manhood and taken our station in the
union Of thirty sclfsupporting, Independent,
States, il is incumbcn. upon US tina, sys-
TEN Of the s,rictest economy be pursued in
every branch Of government, organization.
Il matters not what be the political pred-
lections Of the candidate for Legislative
donors, there should be enjoincd upon him,
% the governing principle Of his actions,
system Of rigid economy.
II we examine the history Of many Of
those States that IRE now, or have been re.
Gently, involved, we will find their indebt.
sdness to be less the result OF extended in.
ternal improvements, than Of political ex-
travagance-a squandering Of the public
funds in the disposition Of Offices to poli,-
cal favori,es.
But We need not turn IN the archives of
other States, the records of our own, newly
formed Ne il is, nbundan,ly supper, us in
the position assumed. Nor need we refer
TO the first session Of our own Legislature,
the las. will faithfully illustrate the spiri,
@ extravogancs which swnycd ito mem.
bsrs.
IN imitation Of older States our recon,
Legislative body elected n public printer to
serve for two years, and Cor shor Of econ.
cmy, reduced the price formerly paid for
printing from one dollar to 75 cents per
thousand ems. This may seem like ccono.
my TO the uaini,ia,cd, bu, when we state
tha. in Ohio bu, fhirtyfre cents per thou
sand ems arc paid and printers arc eager
for the profitable j,b, the extravaganza o.
tho price allowed By The Legislature will
DO observed. The difference between the
respective prices would have saved the
State several thousand dollars. That this
extravaganza sum was conferred for a polit.
ical purpose is evident from the fact, tia,
the editors Of the Valley Wing previously
made proposition to do the same printing
Tor SO cents per thousand ems.
BY reference to last weeks Gazette, il |
will be seen that the members donated
themselves from the pockets OF tho people
constituting themselves, in common pnr.
lance, pickpockets-,he nice little sum Of
Sa6i. This sum they applied to the pur-
chase Of gold pens, min, iulcps, and such
like Ct ce,eras.
In tho Gazette previous, il was shown
that they had created fifth Judicial Dis.
trics, and by communicating Po,,awata-
mic county SO Gerrymandcrcd i, that indu-
bi,ably one Of their own party would he
elected Judge. Thus iilchng the State GU,
Of another $1,000 for his salary.
Above we hnvc another illustration OF
the same partisan system, but upon larg-
or scale; in this instance iull twn ,housa nd
dollars are donated from the peoples peck
e,s Tor the purpose Of sustaining the organ
Of I.ocofocoism at Iowa City.
Now what say the tax payers Of Town
TO this system Of wholesale pillering, this
squanderng Of the peoples money 10 re.
ward par,izln iavori,es? Shall no voice
be lifted in condemnation Of such unwar-
Sanied extravagance, such . was.elul up.
preparation Of the public funds? Il was
subject Of animadversion that a. the for
mer session the members consumed their
PER dism allowance in defrayiug their grog
bills, shall! tho people then be voiceless
vhsn at this session those bills IRE delrny-
ID from the public treasury, under the head
Of appropriations for Morris Reports, gold
pens. sic.l II 10 full time that public sen.
timsai upon this subject be ascertaired md
- gross . violation Of the trust reposcd in
the members Of our General Assembly be
reproved, and 10 manner 40 eiIectusl tina,
III pssesdsas b not established. !