St. Paul daily globe., 1889-02-26
RICH PLUMBER.
The Octopus Of State Institu-
tions Fastened Upon the
Public Treasury.
Representative Hoyt, With a
Sword of Steel, Aims a
Deadly Blow
At the Real Extravagances OF
the Legislature and Fine
ly Ridicules
The Gnat-Like Economy OF
Bouncing a Few Petty
Clerks.
Over Two Million Dollars
Asked for by State lnsti-
tutions Now,
Of Which Nearly a Million Is
for an Increase OF
Buildings.
The Tax 1t Imposes Upon
an Over-Eurdened
People.
That Suppressed Faribault
Report Trying to Find the
Light.
That Suppressed Faribault
Report Trying to Find the
Light.
A state robbed by its own.-Horace.

Representative H0yt has rare sense
of humore-nay, he is satirist-but
like the man who went down to Jericho,
he appears to have fallen among those
of questionable character. Were the
house, of which he is member,
honestly bent upon reform in the
state finances, Mr.. Hoyt might fare
better, but since it is the app rent in
ention of that body to squelch all at
tempts at retrenchment but those
aimed at picayunish trtleS, his fate Is
likely to be that of every honest econo-
mist who for the last tllteen years has
dared te protest ogainst the great eX-
trayagances of the legislature. Mr..
Hoyt introduced the following resolu-
ton yesterday:
Whereas. Members of this house have
instituted proceedings to reduce eX-
penses by attempting TO discharge a
few clerks employed by their sanction
and consent, and
Whereas, The demands pouring in on
this legislature fer appropriations to en-
large anu support state Institutions. as
well as for O thousand eXtravaganceS in
other directions, are enough to startle
the taxpayers of the state, especially
our farmers, already struggling under
the misfortunes of poor crops, low
prices and general depression in farm
Ing interests, and
Whereas, The people, groaning under
a burden of taxation already too heavy.
are demanding that retrenchment shall
not be considered as accomplished by
bouncing few clerks while the bur-
dens in other directions are unjustly in
creased, or in other words, that 1--WE
shall not strain at a gnat and then SWal-
low camel;" therefore,
Resolved, AS the sense of this house,
that this retrenchment and reform so
auspiciously begun shall be carried into
all departments of the state govern
ment, and all unnecessary expenses cut
off. so far as the Legislature may he
able TO do it. That no appropriation
shall be made to enlarge state institu-
tions or for the support of the same save
such as are absolutely demanded to sup
ply pressing needs. That this house
take no more long adJournments while
the expenses run on at thousands of
dollars per day. That the important
public business be taken uD and dis
adjournment be had without unneceS-
sary delay.
Under the rules the resolution went
over until to-day.
Mr.. Hoyt aims directly at one of the
greatest extravagances of the state-the
state institutions. But the very fact
that he does SO gives notice to the most
powerful legislative lobby in this state
(that of state institutions that it is in
danger. st. Peter, Rochester. Owatonna,
Faribault, the soldiers home and state
prison. st. Cloud and the normal schools
will now descend upon the house finance
committee and the representatives like
vultures, and unless-unless there are
men strong and courageous enough to
meet them the state treasury will be
picked clean and bare by them. as it has
been for the last ten years. Between
the years 1861 and 1883 inclusive, the
state has appropriated for the support
of its correctional and charitable insti-