Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1882-05-17
Nv % Ger lsee0s-
North Louisiana. . correspondent Of the


the 18th inst Thi. writer takes the posi-
ton that the cause of our State financial
troubles in that the legislature makes
appropriations which are in excess Of the
revenue Of the State. The expenses Of
the State are in excess of her income. As
long ~ this il the case We only expect
State warrants will bo paid ouly At
heavy discount. We have frequently said
that the excessive appropriations made by
the Legislature was the cause Of our hnan-
cisl embarrassmrnts ami that the easiest
way out Of the diffculty was for the State
To live within her income. As long ~
sppropriations are made to exceed the
revenue Of the State we will be III n tuan-
cial strait. The constitution Of ~ con-
tcmplat,d and required that the State
government should he run on 4 cash basis.
Il forbid the legislature making any aPPFo-
pria,ious without ut the same time max
ing provisions foi the payment of the same.
This plain provision OF the organic law Of
the land has been dsregar,l-d aud ignored
Ivy the State legislature. This body has
gone forward and made appropriations III
excess Of the income Of the State, and n
n consequence, the State is in the very
commencement Of the new government, in
u financial -trait-cRnunt meet her "blIga-
tons. The credit of the State is dishou-
orrd and her constitutional officers and
other public servants are forced to sustain
heavy lQs-cs III consequence Of the depre-
clniion If State warrants. Were this plain
and direct requirement of the constitution
ohrycd BY those who have sworn Ia sup
port il, We w0nld hear nothing Of Eqnall-
cation md other attempts to inciense III.
directly the constitutional limit Of taxa
ton. The spirit of the law has been
violated and to meet the effects OF one
violation. another Is suggested.
when the legislature assembled in De
crmber last we yenturr,i to suggest that
the EXPENSES Of the State he brought
within her income, aud We now repeat
that this il the only way ont Of our tinnn-
clal troubles. Ii our expenses ARE made
ar permitted to exceed our revenue We
will remain IN debt and the credit uf The
government " i'll continue Ia be dishonorrd.
viii our legislators learn this plain, sim
/ pie, easy lcssoni We trust aud hope they
will II has already been too long ignored
I and the disastrous consequences an being
/ felt. mud # persisted in II will finally bring
the State to bankruptcy. Let us live
/ within our income and avoid such n
calamity.
The number of rich men in Congress is
/ Incoming noticeable ~ compared with the
early history of the country. The same
might bc said of every other department.
Wealth has vastly increased within thu
past few years, and meu OF fortune are com
uarativrtN common. A dozen can be found
whore one could not a quarter OF n century
ago. II isno crime to be rich, however
aud the po-scSsion of wealth does not dls
nualify a mat for the discharge of public
trust. 1t is every mans privilege to b'
rich aud every mans duty, provided he
can. do ~ by honest and legitimate means
II a man has Ivy his own energy and indus
try ama.-rd great wealth It is "i itself NJ
rvidenc. that there is something II
him. lie nodrone or -iuggard-not maj
that sits down aud waits for something Il
turn up But there Is one feature connect
ed with wealthy men IN public places tina
docs not argue we'll for the puut! "i on
pnlitics. Many men come into public II f
poor, remain few years and by some
means hud thrn~rlNrs III the possession
of splendid fortunes This was not :" II
tn. purrr dals Of tn" Republic. Puhll
men then retired from official position
ponrrr than when they entered. In thus
, t,mrs there were less questionable" method
of amas>iug wealth, fewer jobs wrr" eng
u,.rrd through congress. and cnngrcssrnr
were content with their salaries III
rmnlumrni~ of office are not sufficient I
maxi the holder rich in a few years, an
! the office holder that becomes rich IN "a i''
= Years with no other income than hls "thc'
r SAT beast of questionable integrity, nt'
! the fact that SOME public men have :" h'
b come wealthy is "A stigma upon the chata
ter of public men.
Wealth does not IN tho least dlsqualiiy
e man for pnhhc position, neither does pu
e crty; but to acquire wealth while III u
y rnbllc srtvlrr i. at least of lucstionah
y honesty.
On "Wednesday evening of last week
heavy wind storm passed over this secti'
L L.. Il u