The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1888-03-10
REACHING FOR THE SURPLUS.

tempting Dalt, ana Is racklng the
brains and taxing the ingenuity of
men to hit it such a lick whereby
the most can be extracted from it.
Instead of it's being applied to ex-
tinguishing the public debt and re-
ducing taxation, one need only
glance over the proceedings of the
5Oth Congress to see how far
reaching the schemes are in divers
ways of squandering and plumber
ing the public treasury. 1t would
seem judicious act if this accu-
mutation in the treasury could be
paid upon the bonded Indebtedness
Of the government. This would be
wise on the part of Congress, and be
the means of ultimately relieving
the people from the burdens under
which they labor. Appropriations
out of this surplus are being de-
manded for the erection of public
buildings in almost every impor-
tant town and hamlet in the Union.
One hundred and twenty-three
members of the present session of
the National Congress have asked
appropriations for the construction
of one hundred and forty-nine pub
lie buildings, at a cost of nearly
twenty-five million dollars. These
requests would seem to indicate
that the large surplus in the treas
ury is demoralizing to legislators,
and that they are more inclined to
spend money than reduce taxation.
The aggregate of this enormous
squander figures up as follows !:
Eastern states, 81 $4,000; Middle
states, $3,315,OOO; Western states,
$11, 183, 500; Southern states, ST.
795, 900, and territories, 81, 100, 900,
making a sum total of $24, 1914 800.
This hundred million dollars sur
plus is very tempting thing, and
this extravagant demand for appro-
priations to be expended on public
buildings is a monstrous draw on
the government in behalf, as con-
gressmen say, of the public good.
Beside the large appropriations
asked for public buildings, a bill
is now pending in the Senate to
grant pensions to ex-soldiers and
sailors incapacitated for the per-
Torrance of manual labor, and
providing pensions TO dependent
relations of deceased soldiers and
sailors. The passage of this meas
ure is believed to be Unanswered
by the Grand Army of the Repub-
lie. The soldiers, their widows and
orphans of the late war have been
wei provided with pensions from
the government. Since 1866 the
vast sum of 1888, 100000 has been
paid out in pensions. 1t is benev.
olent and right for congress to leg
islate in behalf of honest and bona
fide soldiers or their widows and
orphans, but if this bill becomes
law it will make lance at the suf.
fering surplus and bleed it to the
extent of sixty or seventy millions
more, by plunderers and claim
agents under the guise of soldiers
and sailors. The last, though moi
least of the appropriations that
would knock the surplus into
"splithereens." is the historic "Blair
Educational bill" asking the mod
est sum of $4,000, 900 to be divided
among the states and territories
according to the illiterary of each.
to be ascertained by the census 70.
educational purposes. This appro-
priation, il the bill should becom,
Il law, would of course be followed
by others. The bill provides for
subsequent appropriations, and its
purpose evidently is to establish a
federal school system in the states
and territories, and to do tina,
which they are both able and will
ling to do themselves. This sys
tenn would of course involve tn.
interference of the federal govern
ment in the choice of teachers and
books for the districts in all tn,
states. and moreover wherever these
appropriations go agents for its
disbursements are sent who would
control its expenditure and appoint
those who are to receive it in pay
ment for services rendered. The
principle of the proposed law seems
to be foreign to the constitution and
subversive of its motives. 1t makes
the government the tax collector
for the state, and takes money from
one state to pay the proper local
expenses of another. It offers a
premium for ignorance while pro-
Tossing to promote enlightenment;
it taxes the north for the benefit of
the south, and is to all intents and
purposes an utter abomination.
The bill has passed the Senate, but
we may venture to hope that it will
receive its quietus in the House, as
its predecessor did in the last con-
gress. When the bill passed the
Senate Mr.. Blair wept for joy. Per-
haps he will dry his tears after the
House has acted upon his pet. If
not, the President will save him the
necessity Of wiping his weeping
eyes again in public.