The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-04-28
NO REMEDY rnERE.

Not only are individuals suffering
from stagnation in business and lack OF
revenue, but municipalities, states and
the federal government as we'll This
fact should be borne in mind by those
who are demanding that cities, states
and the general government shall under
take public works which will impose
further burdens upon the taxpayers for
the benefit Of industrial armies or other
persons IN quest Of employment In
the Forum for May Mr.. Means, in an
article on the idea that state aid should
be given 10 the unemployed, says that
within an hours ride from New York
several towns can be reached that were
bankrupted by undertaking public
works uIon a magnificent scale The
number Of western communities that
have been ruined from the same cause
is countless, A very great number OF
people in the eastern states, both poor
and Of the middle class, have been inn
poverished by the sudden check to the
prosperity Of these communities Nor
is any sevc-er tax imposed upon any
class than that which is paid by those
who have only their wages TO live upon,
when they are deprived Of these by the
collapse Of municipal credit and the con
sequent sudden stop TO extrava
CANT expenditure. The average cost
of the pensions paid by the United
States is slO to SD a year TO every
family in the country, and the total bur
den OF taxation is probably $50 to $40.
In many cases the pension charge alone
is equal 10 half months or even 10
months wages. Not a few OF the gov
ernments Of the earth are now insolvent
because Of excessive expenditures upon
public works. In South America and
Australia extravaganza undertakings OF
this kind have caused widespread ruin
and distress They have had much TO
do with bringing their present misery
upon the people Of Italy, and the poor
Of several other nations are likely to /
find out, eventually, that the alienation /
Of temporary distress by governmental /
expenditure Of capital is like keeping of 1
the cold by burning down the house."
Nothing could be crazier than the
Coxsy idea that the government should
employ an army Of men in improving
the roadways Of the country, issuing In
payment therefor greenbacks galore
This would simply increase the national
debt to enormous proportions, compel
the further taxation Of the people in
order 10 make good the outlay. and in
the end make the tolling masses Of the
country poorer than ever
Every humane man must feel keen
sympathy with the unemployed men
whose needs press them sorsly, but that
man is not a true friend o: labor who
encourages such demonstration as that
Of the Coxeyites. No relief can be
gained by the march 10 Washington. 1t
is insane folly and the poor victims Of II
will only bring upon themselves further
priyation and suffering by going to the
over-crowded east, where tens Of thous- 4
ands Of their fellow men are already in /
whut. The men who are marching 10 /
Washington are agreed upon no pro- /
gramme, they have TO solution 10 oGer /
for the evils that aill.ct them, they are /
rs much at sea as congress itself as 10 /
what ought 10 DO done. Already az the
national capital there 10 olamor and con-
fusion Of tongues. Why add to themg