The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1874-03-20
ECONOMY.

1
There is wide difference be
tween an economical disposition
and a misery one. True econo
my may he consistent with liber-
atty, but never with extravaganza
1t seeks to stop the leaks and
wastes of public or private ex.
penditures, not to cut down or cut
of these expenses which are nee.
essary to the State or individual
The man who spends the least
money is not the NEST economical
The miser may deny nature heI
actual wants, spend but q few
cents a day to keep soul and body
together, hoard nearly every dol
lar that comes into his hands, yet
he is not practicing economy.
He is purely selfish, and a greater
enemy to society than the spend
thrift who squanders his means in
riotous living. The man who has
the ability to help others and re-
fuses to do it, who in the face of a
panic that has not touched his
wealth or interfered with his
plans, stops contemplated improv-
ments, or griRds down to starya-
ton prices the poor men who are
dependent upon him for their dali
ly bread, may save a few dollars
by thus taking advantage of hard
times, but when he pleads ecOno,
my as the cause Of his close listed
transactions, we must beg to differ
with his Interpretation of the
word. 1t does not consist simply
in saving money, nor always in
getting the most for q certain
amount. 1t does, however, con-
sist in that wise expenditure of
means which, avoiding waste, per-
mits money to go as far as it can
without injury to the one who
pays or to the one who receives.
So long as this equal balance is
maintained between capital and
labor their interests must be mu-
tual, for both obtain through the
medium OF exchange what each
stands in need of-the one money,
the other labor, and this without
. sacrifice on the part of either.
But when capital, taking advan-
tage of hard times, seeks to obtain
more work for a given amount
than labor can afford to give, or
when labor exacts from capital .
like sacrifice on its part, either
through combination or busy
times, the equilibrium is destroy
ed, and the result is distrust, an
tagonism, open opposition, often
times leading to violence.
To maintain this equilibrium,
and to make capital and labor mu-
tually dependent on each other,
without exciting that antagonism
which appears to be on the in
crease daily, require the highest
wisdom on the part of our states
men and the exercise of practical
common sense on the part of the
people themselves. The sooner
capital and labor understand that
both are dependent on each other;
that the closer the relationship
and the firmer the friendship be-
tween the two the greater will be
the prosperity of each; that true
economy does not sanction the
exactions of the one or the dicta-
tions of the other; the sooner
will prosperous times return when
the working man shall find profit
able employment, and through
this employment the capitalists
safe investment.
It becomes serious question
for Congress to pass upon, wheth-
er the stoppage or suspension of
projected public improvements,
for which appropriations have
been made, is either sound policy
or true economy. In the face OF
universal prosperity, with q de-
mand for labor greater than its
supply, the suspension of public
works might be defended on the
grounds that the mechanical skill
set free would be at once absorb
ed by private enterprise, and find
more profitable employment in
building up the general wealth oil
the nation. But the suspension
of public works in dull times is
not ouly demoralizing to those
who have money to spend, and
are willing to spend it, but 1t has
q tendency to widen the breach
already existing between capital
and labor by adding largely to the
number of unemployed. 1t pro
duces an injury which reaches fal
beyond the inconvenience which
it causes to the Government itself
. for it carries with it the suspen-
sion and failure of private enter
prises. Stone qnarries, iron
works, mills, and factories, each
employing hundreds OF men, fee
the suspension at once, and art
forced to suspend operations
Other interests, dependent upoI
these in q greater or less degree
: feel the injury, and transmit thu
: effects to other interests still more
/. remotely connected. Thus posi-
! tive injury and great embarrass
, ment flow of necessity from thu
suspension Of public works, ba(
example is set which tends to par
: alyze capital and withdraw it from
! fields of projected industry. TIL,
: effort to save few millions by tn,
: abandonment of work which wa
3 deemed necessary, either for pub
, lie safety or convenience, ma,
keep money in the Treasury, blu
I may in the end, aside from the di
( rect loss to the working mel
3 thrown out Of employment, entail
: through bad example, the loss o
millions to the industrial interest
: of the country. In dealing wit
4 this subject two questions shout
q be answered before final action i
Il taken:
First. Are the public works fo
q which appropriations have bee
n made necessary?
o Second. Are the appropri,
tions too high or extravagant?
If the works are necessary, d,
: manded by public convenience c
= safety, they should be prosecute
r to completion.
VI If the appropriations are NJ
Y extravagant they should not I
r cut down or interfered with.
10 The people do not demand Il
q. suspension of public improv
N ments or the practice of that fall
m economy which seeks to make Il
he poor poorer, and endeavors to e:
b. tract from labor ali that lab,
through hard necessity is force
&c to give. The people demand q Ii
a. eral policy on the part of Il
of Government, value received f
ID the money expended, and eviden