Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-02-19
OUR CAPITAL CORRESPONDENCE,
LEGISLATIVE HALLS, Dies MONIES, !
- February Ii, 1864.

% # February IL, 1854.
To be member of tho State Legislature
is big thing, if man sees it in that light.
Many men suppose that when they are called
upon by the "dear people" to sit once in two
years with the assembled wisdom of the
State, that from the hour of that call they
have nothing to do but cater to the meanest
and most sordid passions Of the narrow.
minded among their constituents. Not pos
sessing the wisdom or sagacisy sufficient to
leaders Of public sentiment upon questions
of public policy, they study only to cringe
and fawn around those who never bad soul
enough to dance upon the point of cambria
needle. Instead Of asking what the men Of
liberal ideas, progress, growth and develop
ment desire, they devise means to make their
legislative acts acceptable to the narrow
minded, bigoted and illiberal Many men, SO
soon as they take the oath to well and faith.
fully discharge their duties as legislators, at
once feel as though mountain of care and
responsibility had been transferred to their
individual shoulders. He soliloquizes to
himself after this fashion: "Here I am.-
Perchance may never be again. A record
l must make, which the people must read
and approve. What shall be my capital and
stock in trader" If he be man with no
capital and little stock, he braces himself
with an air Of satisfaction, and replies
"There is no subject about which the people
are so much interested as that of economy in
the administration of public affairs; there
fore my watchword shall be EcoNoMY-upon
this I will make record that shall not per-
ish." The member at once feels that he has
been selected by an overriding Providence
and "sold" constituency to stand upon the
watch-tower at the State House and cry
Economy" when in very fact he is the most
miserable economizer among them ali. For
instance, it is proposed that each member be
furnished with a given number Of newspa-
pers, or an amount of postage stamps. The
champion Of economy springs to the floor
like very Lion from his lair, and upon the
plea of economy desires the number reduced
perhaps one.ha!f. He inaugurates discussion,
and Pro and CON they have it. The time
consumed in debate has cost the State the
sum necessary for the purchase of the larger
amount. But Economy is voted down, and
the larger number Of papers and amount of
stamps are ordered. Does economy content
himself with his proposed lesser number p
He says it is extravsgant and ruinous to take
more-he AYERS that he can't possibly use so
much postags-but when the distribution is
made, economy will allow no discount! If
he be true and conscientious economist he
will take no more than he thinks is right,
even though he have permission to do other
wise.
At the last regular session of the ninth
General Assembly sundry economical mem.
bers took it into their heads to reduce the
salaries of all State and Judicial officers
We, who thought the salaries then paid none
too large to secure honest and capable in
cumbents, protested against the measure.
Economy had got on his high heels and
square toes, and was sure that it was very
popular measure. Salaries went down, and
in the meantime everything but salaries went
up; and to-day the State of Iowa presents
the pitiable spectacle of requiring her Su-
preme and District Judges and attorneys to
sit in judgment upon the highest interests Of
society for less sum of money than second
class clerks can command in the departments
at Washington. 1t is an insult for body of
citizens to ask decent lawyer to become
Judge or District Attorney. "But," says
Economy, II can live very comfortably on
their salaries" I have no doubt of it, and
some Of you could save $500 per annum.-
most men are economizers and like to save
something from their earnings. A Governor,
Auditor or Judge is expected to occupy de,
cent position in society, and probably have
more friends to entertain than Economy, in
his philosophy. ever dreamed of. a bill has
been introduced to permanently locate the
Executive Office in this city, and requiring
the Governor to reside here, and increasing
his salary $500. Should it pass he must
fo:sake his home at Knoxville and move his
house in town suitable and that can be OBJ
tanned for an Executive residence command,
a rem. of $500. And yet Economy says Il
insist that the Office should be located here,
but am opposed to an increase Of pay" That
is what call bogus economy, and not worth
q continental among people who pass postal
currency through their fingers without stop
ping to rub off the gilt. Upon this subjec:
Of an increase of salaries permit me to sug
gest to our members that no subject of State
legislation was more frequently spoken of
among our prominent citizens end business
men, and have never heard ONE dissent from
the opinion that salaries were too low for
the times m which we i've" Your constitu-
en- s are willing to pay Judge as much as a
Justice of the Peace can make In second
class town. If you vote against fair in
crease of salaries you vote against the ex-
pressed wishes of the tax payers at your
backs. I am heartily sick Of this small cry
about economy. ] don't wish to see our Leg
islature expend the funds of the State with
reckless extravaganza. recommend true
spirit Of economy, which is the opposite Of
waste and extravaganza, but do despisc D
small listed, tupenny, penuriousness that
only makes man ridiculous in the eyes of a
just and liberal public. 70 vote for survey.
ing q canal route in another State and
appropriating 1000, and then steadily vote
to reduce the pay of everything in the State
is what call small economy. The day will
come when the people will have done with
men of narrow minds and penurious impulses.
have said my say to the economizers in our
a'f 9e D. i
Dies MONIES, Feb. Is. |
DEAR JOURNAL: Another week has PASS