The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1897-03-11
BENTON, LOUISIANA,
Thursday, March u, 1897
National Extravagances.

his last report that there was an op-
portunity for greater economy in the
expenditures of the government he
stated conspicuous truth. There
is no mistake about tue fact that
public expenses are in many cases
enormously extravagant. Men are
sent to Washington protesting all
sorts of good intentions as to re-
trenchments, but when they get
there they seem to lose their enthu-
siasm in that direction and become
themselves willing parties to need
less and lavish appropriations.
This extravaganza should be check
ed. There never was better time
to apply rigid economy in public
disbursements. The country is suf
fering from poverty as it never suf-
fered before. Individuals and indus
tries are struggling for existence.
The burdens of taxation direct and
indirect are grievous to be borne.
The people have right to demand
the utmost economy at the hands of
public servants in all branches of
the government, local, State and
National.
The people want at Washington
honest, earnest men, animated by
steadfast purpose to promote the
public good. They want men who
have the intelligence to see when
protection may lie properly given,
and when economy may be rightly
practiced. If our members of Con-
gress as q whole would devote more
time to the effort to secure greater
economy in public expenditures, and
less to causing taxation and appro-
priations for special and local inter-
ests, the people would be better
pleased. The taxes for the support
of the general government, coming
through the custom house and from
internal revenue from liquor and to-
bacco, may seem not very burden
some, but are actually no less SO
than when paid to the direct tax
gatherer. In all business enterprises,
in all personal expenditures, men are
practicing q stricter economy than
was necessary a few years ago, when
times were good and money plenty
William Mckinley, of Ohio was in
augurated President of the United
States last Thursday. Garret A
Hobart, of New Jersey, took the oatl
of office as Vice President. MIR
Cleveland took part in the Inaugural
ceremonies. The new cabinet is a
follows: Secretary of State--Johl
Sherman, of Ohio; Secretary of th'
Treasury-Lyman ]. Gage, of Hi
nois Secretary of War-Russell A
Alger. of Michigan Attorney Gener
el-Joseph McKenna, of California
Postmaster General-JamesA A. Gary
of Maryland; Secretary of the Navy
John D. Long, of Massachusetts
Secretary of the Interior-Corneliu
N. Bliss, of New York Secretary o
Agriculture-James Wilson, of Iowa
Government in this country is no
possible without party organization
How shall We concentrate the effort
OF the many upon some particula
point unless We have permanen
party organizatione We might a
we'll make up our minds that the nor
partisan dispensation is still far re
moved, and perhaps never to be re
allied. All this talk that we hea
about the "best" men is only for
little while. And when these "best
men are responsible to no organiza
ton their acts are often harum seal
UNI, and their words silly twaddle.
Indications at Washington hint a
the wiping out of nearly all the civi
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