Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1873-10-27
The National Grab Bag.
From the Baltimore American.

From the Baltimore American.
We are not able at this moment to
recall the precise number Of '.im-
provement" and other schemes which
will be knocking ut the doors Of Con-
grsss during the approaching session
for money. but there are quite enough
Of them promised to call for CAREFUL
ness and 4 persistent determination to
shut down upon them all. There are
three or four projects for the construc-
ton Of waterways between the Ohio
and Mississippi Rivers and the Atlantic
'seaboard. each OF which has the back
Ing OF conventions Of Governors and
other officials aud men Of prominence
In their particular communities aid
TO note one Of these, has 1t ever oc-
Cured that their ideas should, II fea-
sible, be carried into practice BY any
other meaus than that Of the National
Treasury. Every river-the Ohio, the
Monongahela, the Kanawha, the Ten
nessee. the Kentucky, and q half-dozen
others which do not run according to
the liking Of the o~riginators Of these
various schemes-must DO turned Into
other courses. and Congress must pay
for the work. Because sound prin-
ciples Of political economy have been
violated In the past, by the extension
of public aid to tho building Of rail-
WAYS, 1t 10 argued that the practice
should be continued until every
canal and railroad speculation has
been the subject Of Government
patronage. Having the precedent on
their sides the friends Of these enter
prises rely upon It for creating a pub
lie feeling In their favor, and with that
and such other influence a may be
aroused or purchased. they count upon
getting vast appropriations from Con-
gress. And tho danger OF their sue
ceedlng-in part at least-is sufficient
" great to warrant taking time by
making our Senators and Representa-
tiyes feel that they must not and dare
not vote q dollar to such purposes. As
schemes Of doubtful utility and ques-
tionable profit the wisdom Of entering
into them at all Is not certain, but II
the people Of any State, or any num-
Der OF States, desire to provide canals
for their own commercial needs, It Is
proper that they should pay for them.
The idea that the Treasury 10 q nation
al grab-bag Is entirely too prevalent
already. and It has encouraged every
protector Of some Wild scheme to run
to Washington for aid. Upon this
Congress rests the duty Of declaring
the irrevocable edict that for the pres
emit the Government will attend to It's
own legitimate business. aud leave
public improvements TO be developed
rs the prospect Of their being necessary
and profitable shall induce the invest
ment Of private capital In them.
TIE appropriations which will be
asked this Winter for such purposes
would amount to hundreds Of millions
Of dollars-suficient to add to the ma
tlonal debt half ~ much a has been
taken from 1t BY years Of onerous tax.
alton ; or II the aid were given 10 land
subsidies, to absorb the greater part Of
what Is left OF the public domain.
With such vast interests at stake, and
with the prospect Of such a magnifi-
cent prize held up to them, It may be
anticipated that the applicants to Con-
gress will not easily be denied. They
will be bold. pushing and persistent ;
they will not scruple as to the means
to gain their end, and they will not
leave the field until their defeat 10 Ger.
tain. But they are not the only grab
bers who must DO rebuked and refused.
From the South the modest notion OF
having the Government assume the en-
tire debt Of the Southern States-some
500. 600, 0O0-is advanced and will be
pressed. Then there h also the project
Of giving away an immense slice Of
the public lands for school purposes In
the various States, . snake that was
only scotched. not killed. last Winter.
Verify, . robust virtue 10 called for In
the halls Of Congress this session, and
the country will need to take careful
notice that 1t prevails.