St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-01-23
ENJoINlNG The BOND ISSUE
NO tears.
No flowers
Vale.

ENJOINING THE BOND ISSUE.
The threat of Mr.. Sovereign. the gen.
eral master workman of the K nights of
Labor, to prevent the issue of the pro-
posed new government bonds by means
of an injunction served against the secre-
tary of the treasury, is made. doubtless,
for political effect No one. not even
confirmed crank. could hope to succeed
in such an undertaking; but capt. al may
be made out of such device, and that
is what a lot Of cheap demagogues are
seeking.
Legal opinions differ as TO whether
the injunction can be enforced against
the United States government. 1t might
be enforced against any officer of the
government individually, but it is doubt
full if il could be served upon him in his
capacity as a government agent. The
situation would be too anomalous that
of government enJoIning itself fro m
doing an act it had determined upon as
for the public good-and 1t stands to
reason that no power resides in the law
by which the administration can be
forced into such position.
There rea great many sincere and
honest Democrats who regret that this
issue has been forced upon the admins
tration. The secretary of the treasury
himself has shrunk from the duty, but
necessity has compelled its perform
ance. 1t would have been infinitely
better if the affairs OF the govern ment
had been economically administered,
and that the handsome surplus left in
the treasury on the return of the Re-
publican party to power in 1888 had
been judiciOusly cared for. But those
IN authority realized that it would be
their last opportunity, and they made
the most of it. Like the hungry tramp
sitting at an Astounding table, they took
everything within reach. They did not
care in what condition they left the re-
past for those who would come after
them; they were determined to have
their fill, no matter what the conse-
quences might be. When the guests Of
the government arrived on the invita-
ton Of the people they found disorder
prevailing. They were in the plight of
old Mother Hubbard when she went to
the cupboard. They found it was bare.
Attorney General Miller, during tue
previous administration, gave it as his
opinion that the secretary of the treas
ury had the right under the law to issue
bonds to meet an emergency for the
payment of the current expenses OF the
government. Attorney General Olney
has given the same opinion, adding til e
explanation that pay ments for de-
ficiency in the amount of the reserve
fund in the treasury may be construed
as part Of the current expenses. Some
lawyers differ from the attorney gen.
eral. 1t is the business of lawyers gen.
orally to differ from each other. But
the weight Of unbiased opinion III the
profession is that the issue of bonds at
such time as this is clearly within the
scope of existing laws.
Any attempt on the part of Master
Workman Sovereign, Or any one else. to
enjOin the secretary of the treasury
from the performance of his duty in
this matter will prove futile. The gov
eminent could not, if it would. enjoin
itself. And further, there is no cause
for an Injunction, as the act contem-
| plated is clearly legal, while its neces-
sity is universally acknowledged. The
bond issue is not popular. Our people
would much rather see the debt reduced
| than increased. The fault lies not in
the authorization of the bonds, but in
the course of conduct that made the ex-
pedient imperative. 1t is bad job /
best, but no responsibility rests upon
he Democratic party.