Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1888-12-04

| and effectively remedied. There SHOULD be
no cessation of the struggle until plan is
perfected, fair and conservative toward ex-
4 isting industries, but which viii reduce the
1 cost 10 consumers of the necessaries of nfe
I while it provides for our manufacturers the
i advantage of freer raw material and permits
I no injury TO the interests Of American labor
The cause for which the battle is waged is
! comprised within lines clearly and distinctly
defined 1t should never be compromised
/ 1t is the peoples cause.
1t cannot be denied that the selfish and
1 private interests which ara so persistently
heard, when efforts are made 10 deal in a
just and comprehensive manner with our
I tariff laws, are related to. if they are not re-
! sponsibls for, the sentiment largely prevail
| ing among the people, that the general gov
ernment is the fountain OF individual and
private aid; that it may be expected to re-
lieve with paternal care the dist: eSs of citi-
( zens and communities, and that from the
/ fullneSs of its treasury it should, upon the
slightest possible pretext of promoting tho
1 general good, apply public funds to the ben
eft of localities and individuals Nor can it
| be denied that there is growing assumption
that, as against the government and in favor
OF private claims and interests, the usual
rules and limitations of business principles
and just dealing should be waived
These ideas have been uohappily much en-
couraged by legislative acquiescence. Relief
from contracts made with tle government is
! too easily ACCORDED in favor of the citizen; the
/ failure to support claims against the gov.
ernIaent by proof, is often supplied by no
better consideration than the wealth
/ of the government and the poverty
OF .he claimant; gratuities in the form
of pensions are granted upon no other
real ground than the needy condition of the
applicant, or for reasons less valid; and large
sums are expended for public buildings and
other improvements upon representations
scarcely claimed to be related 60 public needs
and necessities.
LEGISLATION IMPEDED.
The extent t. which the consideration of
such matters subordinate AMI postpone ac-
tion upon subjects of great public impor-
tance, but involving no special private or
partisan interest, should arrest attention
and lead to resormation.
A few of the numerous illustrations of
this condition may be stated
The crowded condition of the calendar of
| the supreme court, and the delay 60 suitors
and denial OF justice resulting therefrom, has
been strongly urged upon the attention OF
the congress, with plan for the relief of tho
situation approved by those well able to
judge of its merits. While this subject re-
mains without effective consideration many
laws have been passed providing for the
holding of terms Of inferior courts at places
to suit the convenience of localities, or to lay
the foundation OF an application for the erec'
tion of a new public building.
Repeated recommendations have been sub
mitted for the amendment anu change of the
laws relating to our public lands so that their
spoliation and diversion to other uses than as
homes for honest settlers might be prevented
While a measure to meet this conceded neces-
sity of reform remains awaiting the action ol
the congress, many claims to the public
lands and applications for their donation, in
favor of state aud individuals, have been
allowed.
A plan in aid of Indian management, re.
commended by those wei informed, as con.
tanning valuable features in furtherance OF
the solution of the Indian problem, has thus
far failed of legislative sanction, while grants
of doubtful expediency to railroad corpora
tions, permitting them to piss through In.
dian reservations, have greatly multiplied.
The propriety and nee sssity of the erection
of one or more prisons for the confinement
of United States convicts, AMI postoffice
building in the national capital, are not dis
plted. But these needs yet remain unan.
swered, while scores of public buildings have
been erected where their necessity for public
purposes is not apparent.
A revision of our pension laws could easily
be made, which would rest upon just prin-
ciples and provide for every worthy appli
can't. But while our general pension laws
remain confused and imperfect, hundreds of
private pension laws are annually passed
which are the sources of unjust discrimina-
fion and rlor1,1lar dap1n,.a
Appropriation bills for the support of the
government are defaced by items and pro-
visions to meet private ends, and it is freely
asserted by responsible and experienced par
ties that bill appropriating money 70. pub
lie internal Improvement would fail to meet
with favor, un ess it contained items more
for local and private advantage than for
public benefit
These statements can be much emphasized
by an ascertainmeat of the proportion of
federal legislation, which either BEARS upon
its face its private character or which, upon
examination, develops such motive power.
UNSELFIsH LEGISLATORS NEEDED
And yet the people wait and expect from
their chosen representatives such patriotic ac
tion as will advance the welfare of the entirs
country: and this expectation can only be
answered by the performance OF public duty
with unselfish purpose. Our mission among
the nations of the earth and our success in
accomplishing the work Gol has given the
American people to do require of those in
trusted with the making and execution of
our laws perfect devotion, above. all other
things, to the public good.
This devotion win lead us to strongly re-
sist all impatie1ee of; constitutional limita-
tions of Federal power, and to psrsistently
check the increasing tendency to extend the
scope Of Federal legislation into the domain
of state AMI local jurisdiction, upon the plea
OF suhssrving the public welfare. The pres
ervation Of the partitions between proper
subjects of Federal and local care and regu-
lation, is of such Importance under the con-
stitution, which is the law of our very exist
ence, that no consideration of expediency or
sentiment should tempt us to enter upon