The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1882-08-31
The River and llarbor Riil.

We 10 not share the animosltv To.
wards Congress In regard Ia tho pas.
sage of the River and Harhos bill
that Is SO generally manifested by
the press OF the country,
One would imagine from the am
cunt OF virtuoas Indignation thu,
has been displayed that such u thing
asa legislative steal was unknown
to the American Congress, Jus,
why such an amount Of wrath should
he expended on a little item OF SIS,
100000 for Rivers and Harhors,
where there have been 50 many
much larger amounts appropriated
to other ten.times- worse causes, we
cannot tell,
Take, for instance. the 81 .0oo, 900
for Il standing army. 1t would be
better for the country II every man
and officer In the army were muster
od out OF service aud the ~. ,nuO, 100
appropriated for Internal imrrave.
ments. And tho item OF SIT .Ooe. 400
FOR the navy had better he spent in
Improving rivers aud harhors. These
two items for tho army and navy
make u sum nearly twice as large ~
the amount appropriated by the riv.
CT and harhor bill. yet there Il not Il
word said against II by the very pa.
rers that are bowling so terriileally
about the River and Harhor bill.
Then again there has been over
aoO. ttOO. 600 acres OF land given away
to railroads that is nothing but down
right rnhhery yet not u wara III
condemnation Is uttered by the
press.
Every year for twenty years these
has been Sl00.OON.0O0 TO $3.50. nNu. uoO
appropriated t. pay tax to a horde III
untaxed, understanding hondholders
every dollar Of which had better
have been put into Internal Improve.
ments. Yet the dominant press oi
the country say not u word OF alssp,
prevail,
There are millions upon millions
Of dollars paid out as salaries to tax
gathercrs evely year that could 10
appropriated to rivers aud harhors
Ii the debt were paid SO tina, there
would be no fMther employment, for
them,
Besides interest on the public deb,
there was $aaa, I'm, 900 Appropriated,
Yet. for some reason, the item for
rivers and harhors l. the only one
condemned.
We believe In liberal nrpropria.
lions Tor meritoriaus and useful i'm.
provements, Every harhar that is
improved and every river that l.
made navigahle adds To tho general
wealth Of the country.
OF course tina, large amount of
the SlS,o,M,o0o that was aprrepria.
ted will he stolen by the old party
thieves there Is no question. W,
eonaemn the stealing. but W. eaano,
condemn the poll y al liberal appro.
rria,ians for improvements.
1t l. shame that the Office. hold.
ers are not honest enough Ia proper
~ eSpend SiS.uuh.n0o without steal
Ing any Of il. The trouble is witt
the thieves, md not With the purpose
Of the bill. II tho people dn not
want men In Office who will st.a
from appropriations, then Let then
elect new men II Office who will hon
esuy administer the affairs of gov
ernment.
Again, we notice that Their. are n,
Efforts % point out particular .ases
where an appropriation was unMise
~ made. The condemnation of th,
bill is in general terms, with II,
specification Of items. No aoub
there are many Instances where al
expenditure OF money was not need
ed, hut that should not condemn tn
whole bill.
In many Instances there was no
tally great merit In the bill. the inn
! proyement Of the Mississippi hein;
one Of them. Nearly one quarter 0