The Washington herald., 1907-05-31
TAWNEY RAPSSTATES
DeplOreS Tendencies to Sur
render Their Powers.
ANXIOUS TO SAVE EXPENSE
In Speech on Gettysburg Battlefield
He Discusses New Phase of state
Rights and OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Against Unloading Cost of Legis-
IatiOn on the Federal Government.
sDse.lal % The Washington Hsrald.

Gettysburg. Pa, May 30.-D0uble inter-
est attached to the speech delivered at
the Gettysburg battlefield to-day by Hon.
James A. Tawney. OF Minnesota. chair
man Of the House Committee on ApprO-
priations.
Representative Tawney lived on this
battlefield. "Yonder." said the speaker.
Stands the house where I was born.
From its attic window. with my brother.
on the afternoon Of the third day Of this
memorable battle, witnessed the gallant
Custer and Gregg repulse and drive back
the cavalry Of Stuart and Fitzhugh Lee
The other feature of Representative
Tawney's speech was his arraignment Of
the tendency on the part Of the States
to look TO the Federal government for
Supervision of their domestic affairs
One AII-embracing Federal Power.
To-day there is more reason to fear.
said Mr.. Tawney. that the several States
and the local self-goyernment which they
represent in our dual form Of government
will. for all practical purposes, disappear
from our politics as distinct entities IN
our system Of government and be swdl-
lowed up in one all-embracing Federal
power. The States to-day not only seem
inclined 10 allow. but in many instances
are anxious voluntarily 10 surrender 10
the Federal government the discharge Of
duties and the exercise Of powers and
privileges reserved by the Constitution 90
them. especially when the exercise Of
those powers and privileges involves the
expenditure Of money. They are also to-
day either soliciting or acquiescing in a
Federal supervision over their domestic
affairs to an extent that less than half
century ago would have led 10 revolution
had the Federal government attempted
to force upon them such supervision.
Much Of the Federal legislation now
being enacted, especially that creating
new services in respect 20 the local affairs
OF the people. would not twenty-five years
ago have been tolerated by the States
al whose instance. through their repre-
santatlves in both Houses OF Congress
such legislation is now demanded and
being enacted Even private interests,
interests entirely outside Of State and
Federal governmental functions, are,
through the activities Of the Federal bu-
reau chiefs. aided by the people OF the
states. seeking Federal legislative author
ity and Federal appropriations with which
to develop industries for the benefit Of
private enterprises.
states Weaken own Efficiency.
The States seem more and more In
clined to let the Federal government ex-
ercise the rights reserved TO them. and
/ this is greatly weakening the powers Of
the States: and, what Is infinitely worse
/ is also weakening the respect of the peo-
pie for the States authority. Il is also
causing the people to ignore and forget
an those wise considerations which led
/ the founders Of our government 10 pro-
vide for local self-government by eX-
/ pressly rsserving 20 the States all gov
|ernmental powers not expressly conferred
I by the Constitution upon the Federal gov
eminent. II has been suggested that the
reason for this practical change in our
system cf government is 10 be sought In
the imparialistiC agEressivenesS OF the
party al present in control of the ma
ti1nal government. but. my friends let rs
not deceive ourselves with shallow refiec-
I tons.
/ The true reason for this dangerous
tendency. or why the people are willing
/ to let the national government perform
and pay for so many things which prop
erlv faI within the obligations OF the
States and private citizens, lies In the
/ fact that they do not realize that they
/ are themselves paving for the things
which the national government pays for.
II Question of Revenue.
The Federal revenue is secured by IN
direct taxation. while the money IN the
/ treasures Of the several States is Sc
cured by direct taxation upon the prop
erty Of the people When any State in
/ creases its appropriations for any pur-
pose, every legislator knows that that
means an Increase IN the direct taxation
upon the people. Moreover he knows that
the people know this. and that they
watch with jealous care the tax rate
which they must pay in cash from their
own pockets.
/ 4 do not plead for state rights.
/ plead for the right Of the Federal gov
/ ernment to protect itself and its treasury
against the encroachments Of the States
and private interests upon its powers,
it's duties, and its revenues. Where will
this tendency end. TO what result think
you, does il naturally and inevitably lead;
whittier are wS going in this centraliza-
ton Of power and mutilation Of local self
government? l lay no claim TO prophetic
powers, but I bring TO you the thought Of
many Of the ablest men in the public
service to-day when I say that we are
/ uuCOnsciously drifting toward a highly
organized. bureaucratic form of Federal
/ government such rs has become the bIne
! of most of the Old World governments of
Europe. We are, either consciously or
unconsciously. being drawn away from
the simple and sublime ideals of local
eIf-gOvernment. which not only gave
shape to but enabled us to adopt the
Constitution. and have given unique sig