The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1901-04-25

should divest himself Of partisan
feeling In the matter. It Ii useless
TO blame either party, as Q party,
for their representatives are human,
and in that respect are all alike. The
people should give their senators and
Representatives to understand that
appropriations for exploiting the in
terests of favorite localities are un-
constitutional; and that appropria-
tions for rivers and harbors must be
made on the plane Of craftsmanship,
and not on the plane of the partisan
or politician.
Senator Allison, of Iowa (rep.),
| chairman Of the senate committee
on appropriations, and Senator Cock
rell, of Missouri (dem.), former
chairman of the committee on appro-
priations; the two men of different
parties who know most about ma
tional appropriations, frequently
spoke with carnestncss, with words
of warning. and with pleading. that
the expenditures might he cut down;
but those honest and pninstaliing
leaders were powcrless against the
mob of self-scckcrs who were deter
mined to secure their portion of the
loot of the treasury.
The regular subscribers and read
crs of this paper must have noticed
that the correspondent has dealt in
kindly manner with public men, and
they will understand that IL Is with
Il very keen regret that these truths
are told concerning them. Every
man. including the politicians. de-
Sircs TO better his condition. Repre-
scntatiycs desire to become senator's.
and senator's desire TO become prcsi-
dents. Like merchants and mechan-
les who seek their individual better
mcnt these public servants some
times subordinate public interest to
self-intcrcst. and they are going too
far in that direction.
Although there are many politi.
clans who believe that ne did not
| fulfill the requisites G. his own dec
laration in all respects, Grover Clcve-
land certainly penned an axiom which
all public men ought TO know and un-
derstond when he said: "Public Office
tives OF the people and the senators
of the sovereign states ought to real
ize that fact better than they have re-
Gently done.
In the house of representatives the
speaker has absolute power over the
appointment of chnirmcn and mem
bcrs OF committees; and every speak
er selects the best men for those po-
sitions because II Is TO his own in.
tcrcst. as well rs to the public inter
est. To do so. But during the session
which .as recently closed the speaker
was powcrless to prevent the univer-
sal demand for appropriation of al
most every description. lie could
shut of special bills; but the repre-
sentatives who failed to have their
way In the house would 20 to their
senators and induce them TO place
amendments upon house bills where
by their results were TO be accom-
plished.
So, you see, you cannot blame in
dividual leaders nor political parties,
but the individuals themselves, who
are seeking to accomplish their own
ambitions. The sooner the people
understand these conditions, and
bring their moral suasion and infiu-
encc TO bear upon the men whom
they choose to represent them in the
! federal government, the better IL will
be for all the people in every way;
and the better it will be for our sys-
tenn OF government, which is not, ~
II ought TO be, a government "of tho
people, by the people and for the
people" SMITH d. FRY.