Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1886-05-20

accordance with their recommends
tons, to satisfy the clamor of local
interests, is ha zarded on the merest
speculation. A review of the
present river and harbor bill reveals
the fact that the general policy has
been to allow less than one-third of
the engineers estimates. Such 4
course is wastefully extrayaoqnt.
Several cases, samples of dozens Of
others all over the country. were
cited to show that this policy of
dealing out money in driblets, to be
spread all over the country, has en-
abled many works to be begun. and
very few to be finished. Those that
are begun are suspended for want
of funds, and the natural wear and
tear of the elements soon makes If
more expensive to complete the lob
than to do 1t all from the beginning.
For instance, the sum of $50. 900
was asked, two years ago, to com.
plete the work at Stonington Har-
Dor. Ten thousand dollars was
granted to continue the work. Again
this year the engineers urge the
completion, but say that now s53, 600
will be necessary to finish it. The
provisional $4,000 was simply
thrown away.
Not content with dragging along
in this way with works actually be-
gun, congressman are continually
opening additional avenues of ex-
penditures. The present bill pro-
yides for the continuation-not com
pletion-of fifty-eigh Improvements,
for the beginning of twenty-three
new ones, and for the making Of no
less than ninety-eight new surveys.
1t is easy to see that this is all
wrong. No private firm would or
could conduct business in such a
way. If an improvement is neces-
sary, enough money ought to be ap-
propriated to complete it entirely
within a reasonable time. If there
is not enough money, no insufficient
appropriation should be made. The
principle on which congressman
should vote appropriations was thus
admirably set forth by Mr.. LaFol-
lette:
For the most part it is not only right but it is
incumbent on every man to look after the in
terestS OF his constituency. IL Is easy to carry
this habit OF thought and action into questions
OF NATIONAL importance. It costs II moral
struggle to resist the selfish tendency But |
tell you, gentlemen, there is but one right
course. Not one dollar of this money belongs
10 any state, any district any locality IL an
belongs 20 the United states, and whatever is
appropriated with any other view Is q misap-
preparation OF public funds | might use a
severer term. No man can shirz the responsi-
pllty. lie cannot place ii upon the people Of
his district. He cannot say, my constituents
want this money, and viii therefore vote for
~ though do not approve of the measure
Inc money is neither his nor theirs So far rs
ms money IS concerned when by his vote he
takes il from the treasury, he becomes, in
liberal use Of the word, Il trustee of the money
ana he IS bound 70 expend it for the benefit Of
national commerce. His responsibility is as
different from that of his constituency as is
thhL OF the lawyer from the judge.
Ii congressman would act gener-
ally on this principle, there would
be an end of "do-nothiug con
crosses" aud of demagogism among
members. 1t is hardly to be ex-
peeted that they will act thus, bat
1t is none the less refreshing to hear
talk like this on the floor of the
house. The following rapid sketch
of q proper policy concluded the
Wisconsin members speech
Let the committee report bill for the i'm
pTDNPmp NJ Of only such rivers and NQrhlFl
the interests Of national commerce demands
Let them complete improvements already be-
gun before they commence new ones. Let
them break away from this plan of makinIa
hundred new surveys each year. Let them
adopt "A sound business policy. such as any in
divilual or corporation having the same work
in charge would adopt In short, give us a
national measure, regardless OF the votes nee
esslgv to carry II, and invest this subject with
the dignity and importance which belong to IT,
II this house is not loyal aud patriotic enough
toapprovc of It, the people in general are; and
the committee finally adopting this plan viii
achieve a great triumph.
Mr.. LaFollette's constituents have
our hearty congratulations on being
represented in congress by man
who can keep still till he has some
thing to say, and then say it in such
fashion as this.
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