The Washington times., 1894-04-22
The Peoples Forum.
coxEY's EXACT PLAN.

| What His Desired Expenditure Of Money
for Good Roads Would Accomplish.
To the Editor Of THE TINES
In substance Coxey wants Congress to issue
s50O,0O0,O 900 misunderstanding greenbacks re-
ceivsble for all public and private debts This ng-
ure is doubtless based upon the customary ratio
in suits for damage cases) With this money the
government Is Immediately to set about build
ing improved roads and highways, establishing
an eight-hour day, and a minimum OF wages Of
&15O a day. Every one knows our roads are .
source Of wonder and ridicule for all foreigners
who travel through our country; in the matter Of
roads We are a century behind all civilized coun-
tries.
But in this way half million of men might be
at once employed, at wages remunerative
enough to restore to them their power Of as
sumption; then to supply their wants and the
ploy perhaps another half a million, and so one
after another the wheels of trade might be set
In motion. But that is not all Aside from this,
the money thus expended would be the best in
vestment the government has ever made, for
as fast as the roads were improved the land
values adjacent to them would increase from 10
to 100 per cent, especially near the commercial
centers
Then again to interstate commerce and travel
by these improved highways the gain would be
almost incalculable; for as soon as the roadbeds
were improved, they would be occupied by cleo
trio railways and other improved means OF
transit Compare this investment with the mil
LouS iuNcsttu III our fancy Whfsuipo anu ulB
cannons, too fancy and too big and expensive
ever to be used. What returns will the people
ever get from them2
Now whilst there was not shadow Of law or
necessity for issuing that 80 600 interest-bear
ing bonds, there can be no doubt of the perfect
legality, necessity, humanity and entire practi-
bility of issuing the MISUNDERSTANDING green
backs and the method for their expenditure, as
proposed by Mr.. Coxey The only ones who
could and would object TO it will be the interest
takers and their representatives in Congress.
The great mass Of the people when they under
stand 1t will applaud.
But IL the interest takers and their represents
tives in Congress have an eye to their interest.
Intelligent selishness (as Senator Lodge puts it)
will impel them to grant Coxeyis petition at
once in full, for by 80 doing they will postpone
what every one feels to be the inevitable crash
now impending for at least twenty years, and il
we continue our present competitive financial
system, by that time they will have all these
millions and the best part of its earnings in their
own Golfers anyhow, but the country will gain
that much time for further education and
adjustment Of our present social fabric, which
every thoughtful citizen knows is worn out and
rotten from center TO circumference.
But II our police methods obtain, and they in
vito bloodshed and violence, as, If the daily
press can be believed, they are preparing to do,
and Congress refuse even to hear Mr.. Coxey,
they will precipitate the crash and then may
God have mercy On our country and the interest
takers had better take 10 the in pony
cruisers. L. p. WILD