Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-02-28
Remarks Of Hon. B. Holland,
In Support OF the Bill to Discontinue the
Printing Of Railroad Maps.

| my opinion II II weak tNcurt hNoiu'hS Nv
ton for needed reforms on the line Of lavish
| expenditures, as well could he imagined.
Still, as the author of this bill. with IL sense
| of duty which | owe to my constituents, and a
| thorough conviction of the necessity OF bills
| being passed upon this line OF reformation. |
| am rompted 10 meet adverse circumstances.
great ~ they appear.
Daniel Webster. in his notable debate with
Hayne of South Carolina. said; The mari
ner when tossed about on the surging billows
of the ocean for many days in thick weather,
naturally avails himself of the first opportu-
nifty in the break of the storm, and the first
glance of the suns rays, 10 take his longitude,
and ascertain IL possible how far the elements
have driven him from his true course Let
us then for once initiate this prudence, ere we
drift further upon the road of extravagant and
unnecessary state expenditures. that we may
know mt least 10 some degree the extent Of the
drift.
Gentlemen ! think will agree with me in the
statement that several items ought to be dis
pensed with. whereby state expenses would
be curtailed. Allow me TO call your attention
to a few which in my judgment ought 10 re-
ceivc attention at this time: % The state
should do its own printing. ~ Decrease the
pay Of such state officials as receive high sala-
ries with a comparatively small amount Of
work to perform. (3l Reduce the clerical force
in several departments of the state. ~ A re-
ductinn of the police, %ianitor and labor force
about the capitol. g. Last but not least, wipe
out and that forever, expenditures similar in
nature TO that involved in this bill, u long and
unseemly list. n free distribution of the Blue
Book not excepted. Connected with the un-
necessary expense attendant upon n gratuitous
distribution of railroad maps. | find that it
puts the members in u very unenviable situa-
ton, inasmuch as not a sufficient number i.
published to go NIL around. | can state from
actual experience, that | was placed in very
embarrassing position. "A position which wish
my successors In office freed from. because OF
its provoking tendency. Mr.. Henry would say
to me: :" Mr.. Olson. | understand, received "A
map from You, and | wish one too Well |
am sorry to gay that my stock of maps is ex.
hansted." This proved to be Of small ~satisfac-
ton to Henry. who says; rs Olson more en-
titled TO u map than | amt Don't you know
that | worked and helped elect you "a much, il
not more. than Olson! I'll remember you at
our next election Such conditions apply
with equal force In relation to the distribution
of the Blue Book.
notice by the reports of the officers of the
several statedcpartments that an unwarrantcd
increase of state expenditures has taken place
during the last 10 or Is years, at the same time
am not n stranger 10 the fact that our popu-
lntion, our state institutions, etc, have also
porceptibly increased: hut in my Judgment
not in u degree commensurate with the increase
in expense, which a reference 10 published re-
will clearly demonstrate.
II is not necessary at this time to go into
u detailed account of the matter, AZ the reports
are open and available to each and all interest
ed in the subject under consideration
From these facts it must be evident to all
friends of an economical state administration
that II reform on these lines ought TO he brought
about.
II private business should be conducted in
"a similar manner nothing but a disastrous re-
suit would be expected.
The state administration now in control is
that wing of the republican party that stands
Conspicuously for reform, To avert then the
fate that has befallen other great republics,
Greece and Rome and others. it IL time to set
the reform bali IN motion. Judge story said:
at was not the man of MAcedon TINT destroyed
Rome, She fell by the hands of her own peo-
Pile, by her own corruption and discussions
True, the passage Of this bill will cut but q
small figure compared with the possibilities
that can be effected on this line; | simply pre-
sent this bill as Il stepping stone in the right
direction, Large trees from little acorns
grow, and the tiny mustard seed developers
large branches when properly cultivated.
Now If We fail 10 meet oar promises TO the
people; if we shrink from performing the
duties which our platform advocates; if We
are too cowarGly. or show ourselves unequal
TO the emergency, ON oUR heads will fall the
dishonor, aud on our constituents will fall
the punishment; for increased taxation, re-
sulting from a lavish use of the public funds,
is sure 10 follow.
look upon the expenses connected with n
free distribution of maps as wholly unwar-
rented and unnecessary. II carries with il an
expense of nearly 81 100. Can gentlemen AS
sign any good reason for this outlay.
We live in an age and "a country in which
maps are manufactured and published SO
cheaply that instances must be as scarce ~
hens teeth, where Il person in actual need of
u map is ursihe to purchase one with his own
money, Another fact which We must not lose
sight of is that q map Of the state of Wiscon-
sin oSLy. does not fll the want OF that portion
Of the people that has any use for maps. Ii is
only q drop in the ocean, Every business man
must necessarily have u map Of the United
States, hence the absurdity of the existing
law, Under such circumstances | contend,
gentlemen that Il Is ,c'ally wrong for the state
to incur such expense. the amount OF Wirici
| think could be used or appropriated TO a
great dead better purpose in various diroc-
tionS.
In couelutinu l feel constrained 20 say that
il this bill fails OF passage, we will not be true
20 oar promises, We viii not meet The just
expectations ~ our constituents, end yEe
pcoplccanwitb proprjety designate as rs would
be rrtormers. and NSeu MS into ths man that
spits against the wind,-bits his own face.
ann painfully aware Of the fact that a
eoodly part of the press as well "a, many per
sons who boy nature are affected with cold
and sluggish conservatism, rs we'll as those