Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1891-04-14

what the last congress was capable Of
viz: Spending nearly ten hundred
millions of the peOple'c money and max
ing no provision for supplying an abso-
lutte necessity to even few OF the
nations destitute, struggling and suf-
fering people. What truth Oxenstierh
spoke when he said: "YOu do not
know. my son, with how little wisdom
men are governed"
The national president, N. F. A. and
I. u, has written letter to the presi-
dents of the various state alliances pro-
posing grand national campaign for
the year 1891. The plan suggested in
wolves the holding of two or more great
alliance mass meetings at different
points in each state to continue two
days or longer according to the judg-
ment of the brotherhood of the COM
munity. These meetings will be held
at the time most convenient for farmers
and will be attended by the strongest
and ablest speakers of the country. 1t
is proposed that speakers from the
west and northwest shall attend the
southern meetings, and speakers from
the south attend the meetings of the
west and northwest. The tie of happy
fraternity is growing stronger and
stronger day by day. By letter and
otherwise the alliance men of the great
west and sunny south are reaching for
ward to grasp each other by the hand,
and make the prosperity and happiness
of each one great common cause. Oh!
let his spirit grow and spread over the
whole land. Let no mans petty selfish
ness interject itself to make spot in
the peaceful banner of his great brother
hood.
Taxed one billion dollars. Sixty-two
millions of people to pay $500 each per
mum to run the machenery and pay the
expenses of the government. And there
are only $4.97 for each man, woman and
child in the country in circulation
This is condensation of the record
made by the fifty-first congress which
adjourned short time since-a con-
gress which has no parallel for reckless
ness and extravaganza, and utter disre-
gard for the prayers and wishes of this
great people. These statements nat
urally seem wild and extravagant, but
they only state the financial condition
of the country as it is to-day. The ag-
gregate of all the appropriations and eX-
penditures made by the fifty-irst con-
gress during its session of two years
has not been officially computed, but a
very conservative estimate makes the
grand total exceed one billion dollars.
Senator Allison, chairman of the SEN
ate appropriations committee, asserts
that the aggregate expenditures and
appropriations will not exceed nine hun
dred and eighty nine millions of dollars.
Mr.. Savers, leader of the democratic
minority on the house appropriations
committee has statement which shows
that the appropriations will amount to
one billion and six million dollars. In
the absence of the official statatement,
it is quite fair and safe so assume a
mean or middle amount, which may be
safely put at one billion of dollars.
This makes the expense of the govern
ment five hundred millions of dollars
annually for the past two years. Now in
round numbers, there are sixty two
millions of people in this country; and
to meet this enormous expense of the
government annually, which is five
hundred millions, each man, woman and
child in the United States must pay an
average annual tax, direct or Indirect
of more than eight dollars per head. Just
think of it. An average of $500 tax on
each man, woman and child in the coun-
try to run the government: and there
is only $4.97 of money in circulation for
each, man woman and child in the coun-
try Was there ever such degraded
slavery of a peopieb. How on earth can
nation of people who have only $497
each to circulate among themselves,
pay a tax of $500 and prosper? And
yet this is what the national legislature
of this great commonwealth has left to
be done. Better, far better, the task of