The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-09
Bureaucracy.

Bureaucracy.
Whenever member Of Congress wants
information on a given subject, instead OF
searching for II in the proper way, and
availing himself of existing facilities, he
proposes to start new bureau, which
always begins with modest prctcnce aud
soon expands into the proportions of a
small department, with its head at three or
four thousand year, chief clerk, under
clerks messengers. contingent fund, and
the like, until another huge leech fastens its
fangs on the Treasury.
In this way the centralizlng tendency is
strengthened, and we drift more and more
into the form of paternal government, by
educating the people with the idea that
they must look to Washington for aid and
comfort. instead OF depending on them
selves and the local authorities whore they
live, move, and have their being. 1t takes
the interest on many millions OF capital to
maintain this bureaucratic system, which
is constantly growing, and augmenting the
public burdens as II grows
The departments are subdivided into
bureaus. the chiefs of which are little more
than sinecursts, who sit in their Offices six
hours a day, when not away on leave OF
absence, and draw large salaries for merely
signing their names TO official papers. The
real business is done by subordinates, and
the others are literally fgureheads. We
have Bureau OF Agriculture, which is
positive discredit to the Government, and
has not been able to make an additional
blade Of grass grow. The reports, such as
they are, never get published until year
after they are sent to Congress, and are
utterly useless when printed. But MEM
bers Of Congress vote hundreds Of thou
sands Of dollars annually TO publish them,
and these books, with variety OF valueless
seeds, make capital for them with thought
less farmers who do not stop to think how
dearly they pay in taxes for this imposture
There are a number OF agricultural papers
In different parts OF the Union that keep
pace with progressive improvements, and
at a cost OF two or three dollars a year fur
nish more practical information on their
speciality in a week than this bureau does
in any year.
So 1t may be said OF the Bureau OF
Education, which is another barnacle that
has fastened on to the Treasury. Popu-
lar education is n matter OF State con-
cefn, in which every one Of the thirty
eight members OF the Union feels local
pride, and for the support OF which it
makes provision by law. The national au-
thorty has no proper connection with the
subject, and never pretended TO have until
the centralizers voted this bureau into ex-
istenoe contemporaneously with reconstruc-
tion and kindred measures, as part OF the
programme for strong central government.
Mr.. MURCH Of Maine, who is an intelligent
and respectable mechanic, and the only
representative OF his craft IN Congress, pro-
poses to establish bureau of labor statis-
tics. His intention is doubtless good; but
this move only plays into the hands Of the
class TO which he and others like him are
Justly opposed. There Is bureau OF statis-
tics now attached to the Treasury, which,
like all the others, issues a mass OF printed
stuff that usually, finds its way into the
junk shops, and is hardly read by one per-
son in fifty thousand Of the population II
Mr. MURcH must have bureau for his
work, let him take this and utilize It.
The public expenditures, and consequently
the taxes on labor, are constantly increased
by these insidious methods, and often by
men who, like Mr.. MURcH, mean well, but
who do not reflect upon the results that in
evitably follow the creation OF bureaus, by
the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of the central power
which under our Institutions and recent
experience especially, is the most dangerous
foe 10 the rights and interests OF the great
body OF the people. This Government TO-
day is in the hands OF great corporations
consolidated capital, and Rings backed ar
by large standing army and atroclous
laws intended TO perpetuate the existing
ascendancy.
The whole power and patronage and
offices of the Fraudulent Administration arc
directed against labor, and in the interest o.
pet banks, syndicates, and moneyed combi
nations Every bureau and every new
olllce created strengthens their grip on tn,
purse and the sword. The worst enemy %
the man OF toll who gets his bread by tn,
sweat Of his brow, is he who votes or pro
poses in any way TO increase the eXpendi
lures and to swell the army OF ollceholders