Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-05-02

have concluded it needs mending. In fact,
unless something IS done it viii altogether
disappear.
Besides the defuali on the Smi,hson fund
it has refused TO pay the Chickasaw Indian
orphan fund and the ChickAsaw national
fund borrowed from the Government In
1874. and still refuses 10 pay them or dol
lar of interest. and the United States owe
nearly $4,000 in consequence.
Angus; 1. 1884, an Arkansas statesman
persuaded Congress TO pass an act to
authorize the compromise between Arkan-
sas and the United States. Arkansas want
ed 10 offset her fake swamp land claims
against the unpaid Sm.thson bonds. This
act arranged for commission composed
of the Secretary of the Treasury. the Sec
rotary Of the Interior and the Governor OF
Arkansas. They We're to enter into an
agreement of settlement subject TO the APP
prevail Of Congress.
Arkansas pulled herself together. started
out her swamp land sleuths. and in less
than SIX months had gathered enough
"cia.ms" to aggregate within s572 of the
total Southern and Chickasaw funds, in
terest and all. though she cody refused 10
Of the bonds on the plea that it could not
be collected at law. and therefore she
should not be charged with II.
In the case OF the Smithson fund she
attempted 10 chop off a cool million of in
terest. and smiled al the innocence of the
Government I'm charging it.
Thus it IS to-day. Arkansas offsets in
BIN 502 list of fake ard fraudulent swamp
claims against the Smithson bonds, lying
dust-eaten in the Treasury. Ii is a steal,
as the term goes; steal without redeem
ing fiounce or confusing frill. Not
statesman" in Washington can defend 1t,
The bill consummatirg the crime, Senate
bill No SOP. has already passed The musty
body that originated II. mainly because of
Senate ignorance. Ii will pass the House,
sans doubt, mainly through House ignor-
ance. II will then be ignorantly signed at
the White House, and the swindle be COM
plete Great indeed IS legislation.
In the stark days of Jackson, with four
teen million OF people. it cost fewer than
100000 annually to run the Government.
We had an army as large as the army OF
to-day, and a navy that was the terror of
tho seas. To-day. with 100000 people, nor
, five times as many as in Jscksons day.
IL costs over $GC0.O00CoO.
The per cent. OF Increase is easily ar
rived at II is due to waste and pillage--
this increase-part is stolen. part of It
thrown away. AS a matter of fact. this
Government can be run as well as it is to-
day and every debt paid for $150, COO a
year. and any half wise half honest bus,-
ness man could conduct II for that The
other Si50,0o0.0C0, which go 70 make up the
annual 5000 coo. is the merest loot and
waste. The Smithson story and Arkansas
pouching of the Smithson bequest. coupled
with her present proposed settlements"
VIII give a birds-eye view of how the
public money is fanked and conquered by
the brigsnds who assail It. This Smithson
story is but a specimen brick. There are
many of similar sort.
But" one says. there is a smithson-
ian Institution built years ago. and to-day
maintained. How came that If the Smith
son legacy was filched by the State of Ar
Kansas"
Ia reply. it might be said that the gen.
eral Government. in a spirit of shame. after
having allowed Arkansas to carry off the
Smithson gift. reached into its own pocket
and built the Smithsonian Institute. and
now, by yearly appropriation of $50. 600.
keeps 1t up. But the Smthson beauest.
which should have erected the institute.
went every dollar 10 the pocket of Arkan-
sas. is there to-day, and likely to remain.
II I,