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


You see how freely the money flows.
is included as it has become somewhat
objectionable to call that by its proper
name in these bills. These are only a
few items, picked out to illustrate the
abuses that this practice toierates. The
big funerals have not been looked to.
| now ask the members of this House
if you will go on making these appro-
priations, and of money wrung by taxa
ton from the toiling Masses of this
country, and will not say that 1t shall
not be squandered in this way? How
can such course be defended? What
warrant have we in the Constitution to
tax the people for any such purposes?
| was elected to my seat here on the
promise that SO far as was in my power,
would see that the people were only
taxed to raise revenue to support and
carry on tn Government economically
administered.
Sir, others may do as they will, but so
far as am concerned | intend to carry
out this pledge. Under it where do We
find our authority for the expenditure
of $4,000 for a funeral and burial?
Sir, dead Congressman has become =
very expensive luxury to the American
people. II we die paupers, we ought
not to do so. We get salary $4,000
per year, with four times as much for
mileage as it actually costs us and five
times as much for stationary as we use
Any member here could save enough
from his mileage and stationery account
to give him decent funeral and burial,
but the people who contribute largely
to nav these bills are those who toll
from twelve to fifteen hours per day in
all sorts of weather and can not possibly
earn on an aversge 81 per day. just
think of itl We take sum of money
which represents the full gross earnings
OF sixty workingmen for whole year to
make great show and bury Congress
man. What would or what should my
constituents, who are composed largely
of people who get their living by their
sweat and labor, think of me if | sit
here and fail to do what | can by my
vote and voice against such measures?
| know | am rather fresh here yet
but when / get old enough in the bar
ness to come, as some of you seem to do,
to think such things right and to fail to
protest against them, / trust my people
will retire me, and / will be we'll salts
fed if they do not do so before.
Laughter.
Mr.. Chairman, there is another reason
why would stop these funeral excur.
sions. They may amount 10 a formal
show OF respect; but, sir, to take as il
often the case, strangers to the deceased
and send them off on a palace car excur
sion, with all the luxuries that money
will purchase, to have jolly time
and frolic, does not, sir, evidence re-
spect.
These sad and solemn duties are SC
trying on the solemn sympathies of thu
members, fear that some who go or
these excursions with fine cigars
lunches, dinners, kid gloves, hats
carriages, telegranls, Grape and othei
luxuries, having a good time generally
will never recover their wonted spirits
Tsee some of them about me now whom
[ fear have had their spirits subjected
to such severe test that ssthey viii
never smile again. Laughter. Yol
loften hear the question asked here of /,
member if he is acquainted with anothe
member and he will say, aOh, yes,
went with him on funeral excursion
and found him a real jolly fellow.
| Laughter.
/ arr not finding fault with the gen
tIemen who go, because the Hous
orders it, but / submit it is wrong b
impose these duties on members of th
House and require them to be absen
and Deglect the duties for which the,
were sent here, to 60 on these pleasuf
lexcursions at Government expense.
, d melnber dies / would not object t