Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-02-25
More Investigation and Less Doodle.

Charles Lamb divided society into
two classes, borrowers and lenders -.
Were he alive to-day he would discover
that he was entirely mistaken in his
classification. That society, as now
constituted, consists of tax payers and
tax-eaters, with the tax-eating class
daily increasing in voracity. and the
tax paying class, daily becoming less
capa bic of offering effectual resistance.
Evils of this nature grow by what they
feed upon. The public purs" has
come to be looked upon as a common
fund upon which it is proper to draw
for almost any purpose.
Each recurring session of the legisla-
ture finds every United Metropolitan
Improved Hot Muffin and Crumpet and
Punctual Delivery Company" through
out the land, either at a state, or the
National capital, with reasons the most
cogent, why the interests of its stock
holders should be cared for directly or
Indirectly at the public e Expense. The
body polite is becoming as badly in
tested with parasites as rotten cheese.
Each one who burrows in the public
carcass gets black in the face with
rage If it is suggested that his power
of suction be curtailed in any degree.
The result is that tax payers OF great
wealth are enabled to protect them
selves, and escape, in one way or an
other, the increased burdens that are
piled upon the diminishing middle
classes. This is matter that is not
receiving the attention it deserves, but
If it is continued the fate of Miss
Havesham's bridal cake is reserved
for US. Nothing better illustrates this
than the present raid of the State Uni
versity and the Normal schools upon
the State treasury. A raid that re-
ceives assistance from unexpected
quarters.
The present agitation to endow the
State University is tax-eating scheme,
pure and simple, and one which the
REGISTER is opposed to and will con-
tinue to protest against. AT the outset
we desire to state that we are not OPP
posed to higher education; that we be-
lieve school teachers a necessity, but
we do not see any reason for the State
TO furnish instruction in Latin and
Greek or to run preparatory schools
for teachers. The gentlemen who
are endeavoring to keep the hands OF
the State University and the State Nor
mails in the public's pocket do not at
tempt to argue either of these PROPOSE
tons. They will dilate for hours to-
gether upon the blessings of education, !
the necessity for competent instructors, |
the progress Of civilization the position |
that the grand old State of Missouri |
should occupy, the disgrace of parsi-
mony, until the head of the unseasoned |
legislator goes round like top Yet,
when the power is shut of, and he be-
comes once more adjusted to his sur
roundings, he cannot fail to reflect that
all this effort to enlighten him is cost
ing some one very pretty sum of
money. II he be of an inquiring turn
of mind he will want to know how
these people are to be reimbursed for
the money they are putting out. If he
pursues these inquiries the University
and Normal school lobby win become
n very interesting study to him. The
men and women who constitute it are
not at the State capital for their health.
He will become inquisitiVe as to who