St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-03-23
"ON EASY STREET"


1t is said that the tariff bill as re-
ported to the senate will produce from
thirteen to fourteen million dollars
more than is needed for the legitimate
expenses of the government This is
commented Oh by many friends of the
measure as gratifying fact, aud the
boast is made that the government will
be living, as the gamblers sly, ION
Easy street."
But Easy street is not so desirable a
residence as some seem to think it, and
especially for tls government of the
United States. There is danger lurking
all along the highway. and temptation
besets every footstep. The man living
on Easy street is reckless and extrava-
CANT. He has plenty of money for all
his needs. and gives himself no care as
to how his servants dispense his bounty.
Ii he sees anything he wants, he buys
1t. no matter what the cost may be.
damn the expense" is his motto. He
thinks he has enough for all the re-
qurementS of life. Economy is thrown
TO the winds; careful management is
laughed at; he prides himself in his
productivity. But year by year inroads
are made upon his reserve, and finally
all is consumed and a deficit has ap-
peared. lie has become confirmed in
his wasteful habits. He has forgotten
how to economic. Habit has made him
a spendthrift, and he plunges deeper
and deeper into debt. Finally disgrace
overtakes him, and the remainder of his
life is ended in the midst of poverty
and want.
A residence on Easy street is good
thing, provided one has the capacity to
enjoy il ratlonally and wisely. No man
Is happier than he whose income is suf-
hcient to supply all his wants, and who
has the discretion to so regulate his de-
sires as to keep them within the bounds
of his income. 1t is rare accomplish
ment, especially in these days when the
temptations to extravaganza and dis
play are so strong.
There is little difference between IN
dividualS and nations. We have had
an experience in this country that ought
TO have taught us wisdom. BUTT didn't
A few years ago the revenues of the
country were far in excess of the re-
quirements. But instead of husband
ing the funds and applying the surplus
to the eXtinguiShment of the national
debt, congress entered upon an orgie of
extravaganza. Money was layished with
an open hand in every direction. The
salaries of public officials were in.
creased and new ones created. Costly
public buildings were erected where
there was no need of them: millions
were spent on the improvement of riv-
erS and harbors that nature never in
tended to be of use to commerce, and
that could not be made useful by the
expenditure of the wealth of the III
dies; commissions were appointed to
attract rains from cloudlesS skies, and
cause rivers to flow through arid des-
ertS; tens of thousands of dollars were
spent III experiments on worthless ord
nance and fragile armor plate, and
finally the surplus Was consumed and a
deficit took its place. 1t is to be feared
that if the new tariff bill shall create
new surplus there will be a repetition
of this experience so full of humiliation
aud warning.
A surplus revenue is not necessary.
1t is dangerous, and should be avoided
if possible. The safest plan is to pro-
vide only for the absolute necessities of
the service. Let the rate of taxation
be so fixed as to provide means for de-
fraylng the necessary expenses of the
government, and no more, and make it
mISdemean0r for any public off Ger to
exceed the income. Then we may hope
for an economical administration of
public affairs. but not sooner. The bust
ness of the government should be con-
Quoted on business principles, and above
all we should avoid acquiring a resi-
dence On Easy street.