Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-01-01
THE PARTY OF ExTRAvAeANcE

THE PARTY OF ExTRAvAGANcE.
Moves which Have Plunged tho Nation
Into Expense.
The Republican party, true to the
tradition of its ancestor, the Wing
party, has never shown tendency
toward economy and retrenchment
when in power. The party is SO per
meated with that reckless spirit, in
herited from the Wing organization,
and became so calloused to public opin-
| ion during the reconstruction period,
that Republican rule and extravaganza
are to-day almost Synonymous from
| the National Congress down to the most
| insignificant municipal corporation
Republican Congress was never known
to abolish a useless Office or to reduce
the salary of an officer whose duties
had been 1essened by the creation of
new places. In 1874 the tidal
wave which swept the Republicans out
of the popular end of the Capitol was
not caused by the Mckinley bill, but
was popular condemnation of Repub-
lican corruption and reckless expend-
iture of public funds. Since that ''tidal
wave'' the House, which originates all
revenue and appropriation bills, has
been intrusted to the Republican
party buttwice. The Forty-seventh Con-
gress was so notorious for corruption
and extravaganza that ten weeks after
the first session had adjourned Demo
cratic House was returned by seventy
five majority. Two years ago the Re-
publicans carried the House by ten
majority, and three weeks ago the
people again showed their want of con-
fdence in the Republican party so en-
phatically that, had not the party lead
ers taken the precaution to steal the
Montana Senators and create States out
of mining camps, the party OF spoils
would have been annihilated-
The appropriations made by the last
session of Congress are SO enormous
that if levied directly upon the people
eight dollars would be required from
every person enumerated in the last
census to raise the money to carry them
out. Although the service in sew
eral bureaus of the Govern
ment is decreasing instance, in the
general land Office, the bureau of In
dian affairs, the military service and
the internal revenue department-1,16 1
|
appropriated for their support. The
appropriation for old Offices was in
creased S135, 1000. When the surplus had
been exhausted and pension defcien-
CIV of $4,000, 900 saddled on the next
session, the Republicans during the
last days Of the long session author
lied contracts to be made for the
manufacture of heavy ordnance to
the amount Of S3,775, 900 and also
authorized the construction of heavy
war vessels which, with armament,
will cost 1924, 225, 900. OF this amount
only S5,475, 900 was appropriated and
the remainder was saddled on the next
Congress. Public buildings were au
thorized to be erected which will cost
81, 116, $50. 81 when completed, but only
S2,375, 900 was directly appropriated
Besides appropriating S22, 900 fol
river and harbor improvements, the
Secretary of War was authorized to con
tract for other works amounting to
$14, 922, 97O, of which only 50, 600, 900 was
directly appropriated.
The fallacy' OF protection has ha6
much to do with inocufating the Repub
lican party with this mania for extrava
gance. The leaders, having taught the
rank and file that the consumer does
not pay the tariff, naturally regard the
millions stored in the Treasury vaults
derived from taxes on imports and in
ternal revenue, as so much plumber
from importers and foreign manufact
urers, and use them accordingly. A
: high tariff and extravagant appropria
tons go hand in hand.
The Republican party, as at present
composed, has been taught to look
upon the money which finds its way
into the public Treasury as not de-
rived from the pockets of the
). people. Being imbued with such ideas
it is not strange that when it con
trolls a Legislature the State treasury
is treated as if it was a Washington
surplus. The rebukes which the Re
' publicans receive after every trial
!, given them by the people do not seen
to teach them a lesson. A few day:
ago the leaders of the party were as
! of the State to ascertain what wa:
: what remedy should be applied
They resolved after long session to
'tmake more places for the workers"
.. and TO silence free-trade pa
per by buying it out and running
it as a spoils organ. To s'make places
for the workers means the creation o.
new Offices, and it is fortunate for the
taxpayers of Indiana that the Legis
lature is not Republican, for the State
house would not be large enough t.
shelter ali the workers whom the
Legislature would have made place:
.. for. 1t is only necessary to refer to thu
: Republican House of 1887 for an ex
: !. ample of what would have taken place
in the legislative halls Of the State thi
winter had q Republican Legislature
been elected-Indianapo Sentinel.
DOCTORING THE LOCAL VOTE
The System OF Local Self-Government q
Viewed by MI. Harrison.
The people of State elect their Gov