The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-12-02
"wHAT WILL HE DO WITH ITO,

respect.
---- U- o-q-
"WHAT WILL HE DO WITH IT?"
There is considerable discussion now
being INDUCED in by the press of the ceun-
try relative to the big surplus in the Ma
tional Treasury and the course to be
adopted by Mr.. Folger in the disposition OF
the same We are not appraised of the in
tention or policy of the new Secretary, but
the fact is of such character that the in
FAINT in government arithmetic ought to
know how to deal with the matter. We are
informed that there is now in the vaults of
the Government at Washington
over $lOO,0OO,0OO of money
above and beyond the necessary
expenditures of the year, and what to do
with this sum is the question before the
public. 1t needn't take much time to de-
terminc this matter, nor any great amount
of argument, Notwithstanding the i'm
portance of the subject, and we venture to
suggest policy under the circumstances
which we think would meet the require.
ments OF the day, and properly dispose of
this vast amount of money In the first
place, let us say that the experience of all
time is to the effect that these large sur
pluses in National Treasury are exceed
ingly dangerous, from the fact that they
are apt to give rise to reckless legislation
and are often a means of corrupting the
sources of law. When government treas
ury is too full and that government has a
system of taxation and owes debts, it does
seem as if the surplus funds ought to be
used either in the liquidation of the indcbt-
edness of the government, or that lcgisla-
toi Tght to see that reduction in taxa
ton, amatter, too, of common justice to the
citizen, ought to be inaugurated, Why
shall we allow $l0O000,00O of money to lie
idle in the departments at Wash
ington and continue to impose upon the
people an eXorbtant and iniquitous tax
and revenue? A widespread opposition is
now apparent to the tariff and other impo-
sitions of the general government, and n
demand arises from all sections of the
Union that in this particular there should
be be a speedy reformation. What more
opportune period will ever be reached for
lesscning the Governmental burdens than
the present, when this vast amount of
money is lying away unused in the
vaults at Washington? We do not,
as many do, advocate calling in the bonds
with this surplus and thus decrease the
National debt, torwe are certainly doing all
that the present or the future could demand
of us in this particular. We simply contend
that 1t is unjust, and indeed iniquitous to
compel us to pay two prices for everything
and heavy contributions to the Government
when these things are found to be wholly
unnecessary to keep up our political ma
chin2ry. II, as has been shown, we can get
along nationally on $50, OOO, 600 or $75 0o0, 600
less taxation than the people now pay, why
is it that those who represent us, and whose
duty it is to guard jealousy our interests
do not take hold of the subject, and see
that tn tremendous amount is lifted from
the obligations of the general public? What
the present Secretary of the Treasury will
do in this matter cannot yet be determined,
but il he does not do something such as we
have suggested, and tighten, for the first
time in many years, the grievances and
burdens resting upon the taxpayer, an
other panic may ensuc, and Judge
Folgcr 20 down to ..posterity as one
Of the great Incompetent" officials of
the chief department of the
government. The balance ought to be dis
posed of either in the way Of paying oil
some Of our Indebtedness and stopping Il
considerable item of interest, or else in the
way of internal improvement, whcreit will
be of most advantage to the country at
large. lflel( where it is, legislators will be
tooprone TO frtter it away ON the suppo,
sition that as there is plenty in the Treas.
ury, any degree of appropriation or cxpcn.
diture may be safely INDUCED and unnum-
bered opportunities, as before limited be pre-.
sentcd forcorupt determinations by the va.
rious members oftho different departments.
What has been said relative to the General
Government and policy is equally applica.
BILE to our State Administration where an
other extensive surplus conironts us. The
individual or corporation which boards its
wealth and continues to draw upon his or
Its capital Tor support is violating the first
principles of political economy and engage
ing in an inexcusable financial blunder.
We trust that, both State and nationally,
men will be found In Office whe are capable
of properly handling such important mat
: icrs. 10Y. tttfi I|fst