Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1872-04-19
The 8nl1etin.
FRIDAY. APRIL 10. 1879.
Fast and Loose Legislataola.

A bill was lnCFouuccu !"
House last week, by Mr.. Ainsworth,
of Fayette, and passed that body
with an unsecmly precipitation
which denoted a trick, or else mex
cusable neglect to examine its mer-
its or bearings. which it seems to
us is in the highest degree unwise
and uncallcd for. Its purport was
to provide that if the appropriations
made for State buildings at the
present session shall exceed the
present levy of taxation, then the
present appropriation shall DC re-
duced pro rata to correspond 10
such lack Of funds in the treasury;
in other words, that the levy OF
State taxes shall not be increased
to meet the demands upon the treas
ury already allowed by the Legls-
lature.
The appropriations for these
buildings were voted by the Legls-
laturc, after due deliberation, with
full knowledge Of the resources OF
the State to meet them, and with,
in some cases, an approach to una
nimlty which was remarkable. IN
the case of the appropriation for
the Insane Hospital at this point,
it's friends had right to infer that
the Legislature intended to appro-
pirate the full sum, 100000, neces-
sary to put the buildings in shape
for occupancy, no more, no less
And yet we find the same body
which almost unanimously voted
for that appropriation afterward
passing with nearly equal acquies-
cencc. a bill the direct effect OF
which is to reduce the approprla-
ton from $4,000 to 100000. The
unwisdom and injustice OF thus de-
laying for another term OF two
wears the completion Of this and
other State institutions imperative
" demanded for the comfort and
cure of the unfortunate, need not be
pointed out. It's inconsistency and
bad faith are equally apparent,
while the utter disregard of true
economy is palmer than all other
characteristics of this measure.
The motives which induced this
trihing and inconsistent action are
very easily found. About one In
four of the members Of the Leglsla-
ture are candidates for Congress, or
something of the sort, and just now
are extremely solicitous regarding
their "record'' and the opinions OF
their constituents. They especially
wish to avoid the imputation OF
having voted for increased taxation,
but they undcrrate the intelligence
of the people, who are more likely
70 criticise them for this sort OF
shilly shally, slip-shod legislation
than for their votes on approprla'
tons so easily justified as those for
necessary public buildings:
We would like to see the BULLETIN come
out square for the Liberal move. why
not, Judge, it is bound to HiH,--Conssr0-
atioe.
The inducement above presented
to "comc out for the Liberal move"
may be weighty one with the Con-
seycatice, but we have never suffer
ed it to influence our action in pollt-
ical matters, and do not propose
that it shall in the present instance,
even if the assumption on which 1t
is based were true, which it is not.
We do not know where we may be
found when the Republican party is
dissolved, but our position will be
easily defined so long as that party
holds to it's present principles and
action. We are among those who
are opposed to the denomination OF
President Grant, but that opposition
is based almost entirely upon the
impolicy Of such denomination as
calculated to divide and dismember
the Republican party, and not upon
any lack of confidence in General
Grants perfect integrity or con-
yiction that his administration has
not been one cminentiy just, honest
and successful. We have no words
of denunciation for Republicans
who honestly differ with us on this
point, but we propose for ourselves
to use every honorable means to
promote the success of the nominees
OF the Philadelphia convention II,
as seems inevitable, the name of
the President shall head the ticket,
the fact will not detract from our
enthusiasm one whit. There is
nothing in his character or record
which need to damper the ardor OF
any honest Republican; nothing GER
tainly which will drive us out OF the
organization which has done SO
much for the country, and justified
the confidence of patriotic men dur
ing the darkest period in its his
tory.
The latest instance of unselfish
and disinterestcd patriotism is fur
nished by Ben Butler. He is re-
ported to have written to friend