The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-05
TIMELY WARNING.
Money of the People. Should Not BE
Voted for Questionable Schemes.

To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
The necessity of reducing the war taxes
is made doubly apparent by the number
and character of measures to be urged
upon Congress as a result Of a full treas
ury. If the burden of the war taxes should
be taken off the shoulders of the people, as
far as can safely be done and meet the
necessary expenses of the government,
there would be no money left to pay ship
subsidies with. and there should be none
for such purposes. The building of the
isthmian canal and the heavy expenses of
an increased army and navy will be all the
extra emands the people will care to
honor. 1t has not been so very long since
the government was compelled to borrow
money to meet ordinary expenses, as we'll
as those of an unexpected war a little later
on. The time is now at hand when the
government should again practice economy,
reduce its bonded debt and relieve the peo-
pie of war taxes to the greatest degree
consistent with other interests. Some few
of the new revenue taxes should be made
permanent; for example, the additional
beer tax and the stamp tax on patent medi-
cines, for the reason that the less of such
stuff consumed the better for the public.
and for the further reason that the cost of
the same has not been increased to the
consumer to any appreciable extent.
If this Republican administration at
Washington plunges into the execution of a
lot of questionable schemes, not consistent
with the well-established policy of the gov
eminent 20 limit its operations to its neces-
sary and legitimate functions, resting upon
war taxes for financial support, the next
congressional elections will sweep the
party from power in the legislative branch
OF the government, as sure as fate. The
recent great Republican victory-it must
not be for~gotten-was not altogether the
result of full approval of all the acts of the
more particularly a diSapproval of the plat
form and candidate of the Democratic
party, hence only careful and conservative
action on the part Of the Republican ma
jcrity in Congress can hold the power now
delegated to the party. The Cabinet needs
the infusion OF blood from the middle
West-that portion of the country nearest
the center of population. All the important
portfolios in the present Cabinet are held
by Eastern men, except the Secretaryship
OF the treasury, and that is held by a man
Of Eastern origin and ideas. Some of these
Cabinet officials do not understand the
sentiment of the Republican party in the
great middle West on trusts and subsidies,
and. therefore, cannot comprehend why an
Indiana or Illinois farmer or business man
should be opposed TO the granting of a ship
subsidy of So, 000, 900 per year and kindred
measures. In the anguage of the late
Senate Davis, washington is very far re-
moved from the heart Of the United States,
and il is q mistake many men make. who
go there, that they fall into the habit of
thinking that the United States are made
and held together by Washington. They
get away from the individual"
j.. II. CLAYPOOL.
indianapolis, Dec. 5.