The sun., 1901-08-17

tain here. are excused and defended by
the, perpetrators of them upon the plea
of ..busiaess." If this diagnosis of tho
case be true. the curative processes must
90 deeper than can be expected of mere |
ly political reform measures. The fact |
IS, there is generally accepted idea ex-
tant that the public should pay moro
literally for service, and for things for
llubIic use and consumption. than private
| Individuals should pay. and also. on tho
| ,ther side an idea that il should he paid
less than is paid elsewhere for the same
thing. An instance illustrating this idea
was noted few days ago in the recori
If the sale of two vessels which the gov
.rnment had bought during the war with
Spain. and sold recently for want "r
Use. The pric. paid for these vessels
was something like 100000. The pre-"
Cceiy,d for them was something ilk"
10000 Does any one suppose that II
hose vessels were worth anything IKE
h, p..icc paid for them by the govern
m,nt, that they really decreased in value
ID the degree apparent i'll the price re-
cived for them when the government
Old thcni? The plain suggestion Of this
Incident is that great deal more tiiap
he value was paid. and Il great deal less
II han the value WAS received: and that the
government was the loser in both trans
,ctions. But what this incident Illus
rates is not IN isolated transaction. bu'
is one incident in Il general con,liti"n
:, What is the remedy?
, Does anyone imagine that spasmodi'
: ,ritations-indrpenlc political agita'
! iom-can cure such dccp-seatcd evli
rhe truth is that politicians ont of cities
,ccomc rcfoilners, until they are re
.le"tcL. And without amy attempt u
, Mitigate the offences which are nov
challenging attention. it is trne f"hi'!
hat the present local agitation sav"r
cry much Of that Kind Of reform. III
vii that is now apparent has been Ion
, nae growing. Its presence aEd sr"wt
' ,rr not the subjects Of recent discovery
y" ,or of recent discovery 10y those VIII
! now challenge public attention III con
i,lnnts about and condemnation of tn
: wills. The legislative power of this stat
Z anS for Il long term Of years been I'll
" medium for the promotion of just I'll
= .ollscs to produce such effects. The g!
(" travaganceS and peculations covered y
y n fees and allowances to public servant
: nd the excuses for these things on Il
:" grounds Of political necessities. have n
y ,ran made in the dark. hercabout. III
Y loing Of these things has grown to
'. recognized custom, and official hal
y" sanctioned 10y the laws: il not sanction'
!" hen permitted. And now, the makers
I'll hrSp conditions are turned rcformcrs.
" The remedy lies in legislation. In lr
ny Station by general assemblies in Whit
Nv craftsmanship is suhordinntcd To the publ
~ welfare. ANA by men who recognize tn
l' Obligations ia ,he law, and who reali
ha, they are not members of the St''
w Assembly simply as partisan and fnctio
fl i representatives: but being there Il
W olhgatrd To sci W. the pubic i'll don
ne and hot III refusing IA do things I'll
'm are plainly within the scope Of tn
~ duty. The evils that are now sorrlv y
III" plrNng the people are the effect of '
m" ,latng for II panty, and not for the wi,
rem people