The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-13
A BAD PRECEDENT.

The G 0 b e is an earnest admirer
of the University of Minnesota and a
believer in all that it represents under
the splendid management that has built
it up to its present place and efficiency.
1t believes, further, that this institu-
ton, created by the state, and therefore
resting upon the directly expressed
pledge Of the people to maintain it,
should be provided for with generous
care. We do think, however, and as
sert most emphatically that such pro.
vision should not be made in the shape
Of permanent tax levy, and that no
increase in such levy as is already made
should be authorized. Everywhere that
the policy Of fixed and permanent ap-
preparations can be introduced it is be-
ing done, to the detriment of popular
government and the subversion of pop
ular rights. After ALL we have not get
very far away from the infancy Of gov
eminent, in which the whole struggle
was for control of the purse strings.
through several bloody centuries, and,
while we have a nominal allegiance,
sworn by all parties. to the principles
of liberty, those principles will prove
barren and notifications as soon as any
system Of taxation can be made auto
matte and at all independent Of the
peoples will.
Look at the appropriations in con-
gress. When q demand is made for
economy, and the people cry out, as
they have right to do against these
billion-dollar congresses, the reply
comes that the bulk of the expenditures
are beyond public or congressional con-
troll This because they are not made
session by session, but are virtually
payments under contracts that cannot
be amended or repealed. There is no
way, for instance, Of decreasing pen
sion appropriations if any congress
should desire to. The subsidies grant
ed to steamship companies are made
In the shape Of contracts covering a
period of years, which the courts would
uphold against attack The vicious
river and harbor bill passed at the last
session tied the hands of subsequent
congresses by authorizing the expendf,
ture Of total Of nearly $50 900, 900 on
contracts which, once entered into, can
not be abrogated
And SO it goes in all departments.
The spendthrifts are pertinacious and
far-sighted They are always trying to
get around the people and away from
them. Their scheme is to make re-
trenchment impossible and expenditure
permanent. The only safeguard that
the people have is to keep the purse
resolutely in their own hands, and to
make each legislative body in it's place
and succession responsible for the ap-
preparations for the term of it's office 1t
is for this reason, as part Of the only
safe general rule, that we say that no
increase of any permanent tax levy
should be made and no other should
be authorized. To the people alone be-
longs the control Of their revenue and
expenditure. 1t can be kept in their
hands and safely managed only by ad-
justing one to the other with each
legislative session, and by abolishine
all imposts upon the citizen that are
continuous and Independent Of the ac-
ton Of his representatives. For this
reason, because 1t is the worst kind
of precedent, we hope that no increase
Of a fixed tax will be authorized for
any purpose. Give the university as
liberal support as it may need, but
do not allow its excellence and the
justice of its demand to bolster up a
bad system. Keep complete control of
their finances in the hands of the peo-
pie.