Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1873-11-13

require no Kenius to originate and
are not equiAbly entitled to protec-
tiOn. ~
Wanted- -Legtsiative Econo-
my
1t is conce9ed by every rejecting
man that ahrge share of the evils
which we arr wont to ascribe to the
panic and thu hard times are due to
the spirit sof extravaganza which
grew out Of the vast volume of cur
rency put in circulation during the
late "unplea1nntuess." Money easi-
~ obtained snldom remains to bene-
fit or bless it possessor. Everybody
has spent to much money. Our trou-
bles largely Gone from the fact that
this has been kept up while the cir
culating med}nm has been gradually
becOming lesA and less. The prices
Of all we have had to buy have alotI
been in proportion to the constantly
increasing value Of our money
Habits of expenditure have been
formed wheus s.money was plenty
which cling 10 us as n part of our
very being. Few people voluntarily
accomodate themselves to each
changing circumstance Of the times.
1t seems that This lesson Of economy
cal. never be Earned save under the
auspices of thai tlnost relentless teach
er-necessityss The poor are even
now beginning to suffer from the
lack of employment, and this dimin-
ution Of supplies will ere long begin
to be appreciates by people who have
for years felt cat they were really in
very corAforhble circumstances.
Before better Hines return good
deal OF needed INSTRUCTION in this di-
rection will u dispensed among us
with 4 .libern hand. Every step
voluntarily tssi(Sh IN the right tlirec-
tiOn will make the next one all the
easier.
While these thoughts will he con-
ceded to be just, it occurs to US that
opportunities for patriotic eyhibi-
tiOns of economy will soon be pre-
sented at the meeting Of several of
our western legislatures. 1t is fact
that the members, with hardly an
exception, have been elected upon
the strongest professions to properly
serve the people in this direction.
Party platforms have likewise met
the question very squarely. 1t now
remains to be seen whether the rep
resentatives Of the people will WELD
the power temporarily conferred up
on them in anything like the spirit
of their campaign promises. Our
tayes--state, county, municipal-all
except those for schools-are too
high. Many Of the states are engag-
ed in erecting public buildings, upon
the opportunities Of localities, rather
than from the public needs, and
these will ask for appropriations of
hundreds Of thousands Of dollars.
We question very much whether, in
the case of many of these institutions,
it is not time to order halt, at least
until the masses of the people are
better able to pay their taxes. No
public work already rbegun-the me-
cessity for which is apparent should
be allowed to deteriOrate for the
want Of moderate or small appropri-
ations; but these yawning deeps,
which it requires so much of the peo-
ple's money TO fill, should be very
thoroughly explored before they get
single dollar. The tendency in 4
legislative body is to increase every!
expense and appropriation of its pre-
decessors. Members, officers, en-
pIoyes, all clamor for more pay, and
the worst Of all is, they generally
get it. Institutions which are found
ed by log-rolling. primarily to give
ia "a fn "A
lob to some contractor, ask for still
heavier appropriations. The prom
isrs by which men obtained their
seats in the legislatures are no more
remembered than the prayers and
promises of swearing sailors when
they escape the storm which threat
ened their destruction. This is
the style in which legislatures are
for the most part "run," no matter
what the party platform or the in
dividual member has promised the
people.
The very pressing exigencies OF
the times-the difficulties our people
will experience in paying their an
nual taxes, now or soon to become
due-deInand from every legislator
a conscientious discharge of the du-
ties he has assumed. The immedi-
ate future promises to lie q good time
to scrutinize records and votes. The
brand Of severest public reprohation
should he put upon every man who
votes away the peoples money. save
in those cases in which the Justice or
necessity Of the appropriation Is sp-
parent beyond. the shadow Of a doubt.
Inter Oceds4