Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1876-07-01
A WRONG POLICY.

Lie WORK OH our narDOr Is dC Stdnu
still and is likely to remain so tor some
months yet, if indeed there is anything
more done this season. Nor i'm this are
we very much worse off than many other
places upon the lakes, which like us were
blessed with small appropriations. 1t is
only i'm those places where large appro-
priations were made last year, where
work is still in progress. Not only is
this the case upon the river and harbor
improvements, but it is the case in all the
government improvements. We feel the
effects of the cessation of work here, be-
cause it comes home to us, it effects our
prosperity, it turns men out of employ
ment and they are idle. The same thing is
true of hundreds of other places, but we
can not realize it as when we see it i'm our
own town.
The cause of this is plainly traceable to
the efforts Ofthe dominant party in the
lower house of Congress to retrench the
+ expenses of the government. That par
ty has made serious mistake in chasing
all improvements under the head of ex-
penses. We believe i'm reducing the ex-
penses of the government to the lowest
possible point, but at the same time we
contend that improvements should not
be classed with expenses. The govern
ment gets value received for every dollar
expended i'm improvements, while the in
cidental benefits VIII Oh the whole nation
derives from such improvements cannot
be estimated by any ratio to the expense
In the expenses of the government the
case is different. Every dollar which is
expended over and above that which is
absolutely necessary, is so much wasted.
The expenses should be carefully guard
ed, but all necessary improvements
should be fostered at all times.
1t is said that the government is not in
financial condition to afford such lavish |
expenditure for improvements. In one
sense this may be true, but we claim
that the nation is i'm no condition to cease.
or even reduce such Improvements. The
country is just passing through heavy |
financial depression. All business. es-
pecially that OF manufacturing, which
gives employment to the largest number
of workmen, Is at low ebb, and thOus-
ands and tens of thousands OF men are
idle. Is this any time for the govern
ment to cease work on public improve
ments, and thus throw thousands more
men i'm idleness upon the country
Granting that it is loss to the govern
ment to keep :he work going on, WHICH
it is not, the government is able to stand
thi loss much better than the working
men of the country. In many cities
where business depression has thrown
workmen out of employment, the cities
have commenced system OF improve
ments to give these men employment.
This, In our opinion, is the correct plan
fot the government to work upon. The
time of business depression Is the time
for the government to increase, rather
than diminish its public improvements.
The policy upon this subject adopted by
the Democrats i'm Congress, is mistaken
one, and they will be held responsible
for it by the people. The people want
economy i'm the administration of gov
eminent affairs, but they do not want
public improvements to be stopped under
the mistaken notion that it is reduction
of expenses. We see the effects of such
a policy i'm Cheboygan, and it does not
take y far-sighted politician or states
man to see that the effects are injurious.