Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-01-25
MEN ANDrHINGs AT WASHINGTON

from ola age ana is now III iediity
an old man. He has lost the erect
position which has heretofore dis
tinguished him and the iron-gray
hair and whiskers have given place
to locks of snowy wilderness, and the
vigor and sprightliness which were
long MI. Blaine's striking peculiarl-
ties are his no more. 1t is said BY
those who claim to be on intimate
terms with him that for years past
he has leaned heavily upon his late
son, Walker, who vas not only bis
trusted friend and adviser but who
relieved him of a large measure OF
the work and responsibility incident
to both private and public life. It's
freely stated here that Mr.. Blaine's
heavy loss in the death of his son
marks the last step in his public ca
reer and predictions are freely made
that he will soon wholly retire from
public life.
1t is proposed that the forthcoming
census shall show to what extent the
farm lands of the west are under
mortgage, and what parties have
furnished the money. This hayheen
brought about by the efforts on the
part of the Democrats to show that
the money has been loaned by the
manufacturers in the east. So far
from this being true, it is stated as
fact that many of the manufactur.
ers are large borrowers of money,
and that these loans have been tax.
en- almost entirely by the wealthy
insurance and trust companies IN
the large cities. 1t is somewhat
strange that the masses of the PEG.
pie who labor under so many and so
grievous burdens fail to perceive the
true source OF their distress. The
insurance company leYies tax upon
pretty much all mankind, out of
which it erects palatial buildingsand
pays princely salaries to its officers.
OF course the insurance of life and
property within certain limits is
wise and prudent, but the fact that
insurance companies can accumulate
millions in the way of surplus shows
that it also intlicts great hardship in
some directions. The trust company
is an institution which receiys monies
from all classes without giving little
or anything therefore, and BY means
of taxing the people in the way o
interest upon the money constantly
increases its power at the expense
of the public. These are only specl
mems of the evils under which thu
people suffer and against which the!
make no complaint. The voter
should demand that all these institu
tons which accumulate wealth with
out producing any of it should b'
made to bear the burdens of govern
ment. AS a step in this direction
Congress should at once pass an in
come tax so graded that men VIII
grow enormously rich should pay il
proportion to their income, and, a
the extent to which this should b
carried, any income reaching tn
sum of one hundred thousand dollar
per aunum should be equally diyid
ed and one.half paid into the fedora
treasury as a tax.
The location of the Worlds Fai
is under discussion in Congress thi
week and naturally excites a grea
deal of interest. The city of New
York seems to have the advantage
inasmuch as they propose to furnish
the money to insure the success o
the Fair, and this fact, combined
with her many advantages as q rail
road center and a sea port town, vii
evidently settle the matte: in be-
behalf. In this connection it is
matter of surprise to see that thu
| member of Congress from the secont
district of West Virginia has intro
duced a bill providing for the appro
priation of 100000 out of tbs
public treasury for the purpose O
holding the Fair. 1t is difficult tt
see upon what ground this can bt
justified, as it would seem to be
piece Of useless extravaganza to
take such large sum out of the
public treasury for this enterprise
when other cities stand ready to
furnish the money by private sub.
scription. fthis is a fair sample of
Democratic economy we hope that it
may be a long time before We are
treated to any more of the same
kind.
The West Virginia contested elec-
ton cases are still under considera
tion and there is strong probability
that the committee will be able to
report at least one of them to the
House by the end of the present
week. This is the ease of Charles
B. Smith, Of Parkersburg, and the
case is considered so strong that
there is little doubt that the House
will promptly seat Mr.. Smith. 1t is
the policy of the Republicans to take
up the strongest cases first, and the
Democrats will scarcely risk a fight
in cases where the evidence clearly
indicates the election of the Repub
lican. Their strongest opposition
will he made in doubtful cases where
y,