The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-07-07

| mist or reformer. 1t is considered as
ridiculous to talk of economy here as it
! is to speak of the Constitution. The
rule with many seems to be not what is
actually necessary to run the Govern
n.ent, but how much can we spend. and
every conceivable scheme that can be
| thought of that will require money
is proposed, and many of them, | am
sorry to say, are adopted | have voted
and will vote for every reasonable prop
osltion to amend the bill in the interest
of economy.
| have heard gentlemen assert on this
floor several times that there was 40
danger of bankrupting the Government.
| am aware that with the taxing power
| the Government has there is DO imme-
diate danger of bankrupting it; but, sir,
it is the people Who support the Govern
ment for whom | am concerned. Many
of them have been bankrupted already,
and many more of them will be. unless
we change many of our policies and
practices. And | desire to say to nv
Democratic friends that in the canvass
| made for my seat here, and | expect il
was the case in almost every district
that sent Democrat here, we charged
the Republican party with wasteful ex-
travagance in the administration of the
Government. | believed it, and we all
promised that if the Democratic party
was intrusted with power it would cor
rect these abuses. Shall we keep this
promise or go home and apologize7
La ghter. Mr.. Chairman, now warn
my Democratic friends that the country
will not be satisfied with stump speeches
made on tins floor telling of the mis-
deeds of the Republican party, but they
will demand that we make our showing
in the appropriation bills or stand con,
victed OF having obtained power under
false pretenses.
Mr.. Reed, of Maine. Hear! hear
Good good.
Mr.. Allen. Mr.. Chairman, when !
go home from here to face my constitu-
ents | intend my record shall be clear
on this questiC n, and, sir, as a member
of the Democratic party, believing in its
principles as | do, would like to be
able to point my people to some sub
stantial evidences o. our good faith in
the keeping of promises made to them.
In the remarks made yesterday by the
gentleman from Wisconsin Mr. Price
he gave utterance to some very sound
doctrine. He showed that we were here
in capacity of agents for the people, and
that we should be as scrupulously hon.
est and careful in making our appropri- |
atiOns in pursuance of this trust as if we
were working for a private individual
and drawing cur checks on his bank ac- |
count; and he then proceeded to show |
that, tested by that rule, every man who |
votes all the items of this bill could be |
convicted of larceny or embezzlement, |
and | believe it is nearly true.
Mr.. Chairman, this is beautiful city, |
with its magnificent public buildings, |
its fine streets, its beautiful parks, cir |
Giles, squares, and public grounds, its |
inspiring monuments, its flowers, its
trees and grass, its fountains and gar
dens. Everything is exquisitely beauti-
full and grand, and am proud of it all
but can but think as behold il of the |
sweat and toll it has cost the tax PAYERS
of this country, and while | am willing
to vote what is necessary to keep it up
and support the Government, let us not
waste any more than is necessary. One
other thought that has occurred to me,
sir, on the subject of salaries If there
were not SO much difference in the
salaries paid by the Government for the
work performed and those paid by pri-
vate interests, would not the pressure
for positions under the Government be
very much diminished and the scramble
for Office be somewhat allayed?
Sir, it seems probable that my leader
ship and my policy in the interest of
the toiling masses at home is rot likely
to be accepted and followed by this
House; but, sir, will not give it up or
be discouraged, but, like the "grand old
man." he great statesman and friend of
human rights across the waters, William
E. Gladstone, will appeal to the coun
try. Great laughter.]
Mr.. Chairman, desire to return my
thanks to the gentleman from Pennsyl-
vania Mr.. Bayne] for giving me his
time