Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1901-03-14

to wit, Ex-Governor Franklin J. Moses
of South Carolina. | think lie is in the
Massachusetts, penitentiary now If
not, he ought to be. In the Fifty-sixtll
congress the looters of the treasury
had it all their own way, and only two
or three successful stands We're made
against them, and those only where
comparatively small amounts were in
yolved. But am inclined to think
that the day of the peoples wrath
the dies irR-is coming
The newspapers, Democratic and Re-
publican, are beginning to take the
matter up. A constant agitation will
arouse the people at last. In very
carefully considered editorial the Pitts
burg Post says.
The Appropriations by the present congress that
will reach $500 900 900 will not be exceptional and
improved on in the future. On the contrary, they
will set the standard of future appropriations 1t
is rare that congress reduces the amounts APP
propriated by its predecessor. We believe Sfr.
Randall succeeded in doing this when at the head
of the appropriations committee years ago and won
great fame thereby, but such economists as Ran
dali are rare in public life.
We are rapidly approaching billion dollar ses-
sion, and that, when compassed, will be the stand
ard. 1t is much easier to spend than to econo-
mize, and no people in the world are lavish of
public money as the American. The Nation
makes this explanation why one spendthrift con-
gress makes the next one almost inevitably as
prodigal. The reason is that the extravagant leg
islation fixes permanent charge on the treasury.
No step backward is the rule. There was loud
outcry against t'billion dollar congress, but .s
successor was able to save little or nothing Now
we are rapidly approaching billion dollar SIS
sion, and no dam for the rising food is in sight.
Each succeeding congress inherits legacy of ex-
trayagance from its predecessor. It's bands
are partly tied by anterior legislation committing
the government to continuing appropria ions for
this and that scheme, this and that enlargement
of the public service and creation of new offices.
1t is this which makes retrenchment SO difficult.
il not practically impossible.
We will not stop with the billion dollar session.
This congress will send over to the next schemes
of extravaganza it was afraid to venture. The
people are dernoraiized 10 public expenditures,
while log rolling is the vice of our system of ap-
propriations This makes possible extravaganza
that should have no place in spending the money
drained from the people by taxes. No other coun-
try in the world could stand or permits the
profigate expenditures ''whooped through con-
gress by trades and combinations 4 sloy rolling
principle. Our legislative methods ara bad. "Un-
like all other governments in the world, adds
The Nation, sthe American has no man com!
mittee of men to make up yearly budget, to de.
termne income and fix outgoes. Our method is a
happy go lucky plan Of allowing one set of men
to make laws for revenue, another to frame bills
for expenditures. That we have not gone to smash
under such chaotic management is due partly to
cur traditional good fortune, partly to Our ex-
panding wealth--which has operated in the same
way that robust health enables man to order his
life recklessly for time. and partly to the fact
that we have had rough system of financial con-
troll. But this has been badly broken down."
The Nation is eminently correct when
it says that what are called fixed ap-
preparations" render future economies
difficult, if not impossible. For in
stance, the river and harbor bill appro-
PIRATES so much outright and then pro-
yides for certain continuing appropri-
ations" for term of years. These lat
ter do not figure in the totals. but they
bind future congresses in a certain
sense and constitute stumbling blocks
to reform.
GarfleId's Old Stamping Ground.
Recently lectured to the students of
Hiram college, Ohio, of which institu-
tion General James A. Garfield was
president when it was in it's infancy
and he was a mere youth. before he
entered upon the military and political
career which landed him in the White
House. 1t would be a very instructive
thing if we could know what really
were Garfeld's ambitions and plans at
that period of his life, for his is almost
the ideal American career-driver Of
mules on the towpath. common laborer,
teacher, preacher, state legislator, sol
dier, congressman, senator elect. presi-
dent. 1t is generally taken and accept
ed that his entry into politics was ac-
cidental. II so. it was lucky accident
for him. ED passant it may be stated
that he was one of the three presiden-
tial scholars par excellence. Thomas
Jefferson and John Quincy Adams be-
ing the other two.
1t is always pleasant to lecture to
college students. They form at once
the most severely critical and the most
highly appreciatiye audience. That
may seem paradoxical, but it Is true,
and it is good for lecturer to stand be-
fore such an audience. He does his
best, and every point worth appIauding
is applauded
In tho Fashion.
A man in Colorado telegraphed a
man in Missouri: your mother-in-law
is dead. Shall we embalIn, cremate or
bury herr" The Missourian did not
propose to take any chances. so he an
Bwered, Embalm her; cremate her;
bury her." He evidently wanted that
job done most thoroughly The mob at
Terre Haute, Ind, was in the same
frame Of mind touching the colored
gentleman whom they worked off" the