Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1901-05-17
Wa5hin9tuu Standard
OLYMPIA. WASH.
FGIpAi EVENING, NAY Il. 1891.
The Trend OF Passing Events.


The President has certainly set the
pace for junketing expeditions, and
now two Congressional jaunts are an
n0nnced, ostersibly on business, but
IN reality to live like nabobs at others
expense, for nohoiy claims tina, either
the Presidential or the CONGRESSIONAL
Jdnkcts cost the individuals who par
tlclpato in them one cent. Thc mo-
tive which prompts is but the out
growth OF the imperial fungus, having
wealth for its core and the trusts for
support. Members OF the House Com
mittce on Rivers and Harbors. will
make visit to the principal Gulf and
Pacific coast ports. taking their wives
with them, on Summers pleasure
excursion, but 1T Is not claimed that
they will present bills to the L. s.
Treasury, the same as Rogers, the
tate executive, did, for his family's
expenses, while o>tensibly inspecting
public institutions. 1t is we'll known
that Congressman have it in their
power to render quid pro quo, for all
the miles travelled and entertainment
furnished themselves and their fami-
lies. with corporations instead of the
taxpayers apparently in line to foot the
bills. Another Congressional junket
will extend to the Philippines. This
party will include Senators Bacon, of
Georgia, Harris OF Kansas, Turner of
this State and Representatives Smith
OF Illinois, Gaines OF Tennessee, Mer.
Ger of Nebraska, McCleary of Mime
sofa, Dinsmore OF Arkansas, DE Ar
mond of Missouri, and Burleson of
Texas, each accompanied by his pri-
vate secretary, generally boon COM
panions who add to the eclat. These
gentlemen will 60 on a government
transport, at public expense, which
seems to be a more manly and indie.
pendent way of taking a seasonable
outing without it costing them any,
thing.
While the indulgent public seem
now to view these princely excursions
as a matter Of course, we cannot close
our eyes to the fact that such extrava.
gance from any source would, few
years ago, have filled the people with
alarm for the safety of republican IN
situations. The old.time statesmen
seemed to have been endowed with
prophetic vision and to have plainly
seen the danger, for they often en-
joined the people to guard we'll against
the encroachments of wealth upon tn:
rights of the people.
Aside from the debauchery of pub
lie sentiment created by familiarity
with ostentatious display of those in
power, little reflection will show
that the question OF cost finally rests
upon the shoulders of the producer.
In arriving at an accurate estimate of
the costs of traffic by rail, as basis
for adjustment of tariff schedule,
the amount expended for equipments,
labor, motive power, wear, the value
OF money invested. and many other
details are apportioned to the cost of
each ton per mile, varying from SIM
gle ratio on level grade, to double
unit where mountains arc crossed or
tunnels constructed. The Presiden-
tial train, said to be the most gorgeous
in its equipment that ever crossed the
continent, certainly adds to that az
gregate used for fixing the tariff sched-
ule and the Congressional outfits will
doubtless necessarily be as luxurious
and costly, and this is but small
part of the deadheadism which goes to
swell the aggregate of costs that are
the basis for adjustment OF fares of
the common people, who pay all the
bills.
1t is glaring mistake the President
has made, unless he is indeed indulg-
ing day-dreams of kingly succession,
to flaunt the tinsel of wealth in the
faces of men and women who are
obliged to continually keep step on
the treadmill Of life to avoid falling
beneath the feet of the struggling
masses. What can be said in pallia.
ton of a course that widens the gulf
between wealth and poverty, OF one
who is supposed to represent the peo-
pie? What justification may be found
for needlessly deepening the line of
demarkation OF conditions between the
man with the "pull" and he who yields
the hoe? Is it not in execrable taste
to fiaunt the pompons of prosperity in
the face of those who wear the tags of
adversely? Is not the large majority of
our citizenship composed of people who
can only view from q distance the dis.
play, which could not be finer for the
highest potentate on earth? What
then is its objects Is it to ingratiate
the good and great Mckinley into the
hearts OF the people, or, like the dis.
play of bayonets at Inauguration, or of
vast military power at the launching
OF the Ohio, to produce in mind OF the
citizen the vague unbidden impression
OF power greater than can be success
fully resisted: to enforce a reluctant
acquiescence in what the passing pa.
geant teaches will be the inevitable?
1t is surely not the heart that is
appealed to in such a display. 1t
must be to that selfish instinct so