Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1910-06-15
An Opportunity for Al.lrici

I'd
Some time ago the senior senator
from Rhode Island. Nelson Wilmarth
.Aldrich, told the senate that If he were
given an opportunity to reorganize and
superintend the national system OF gov
eminent he would save the taxpayers
Of the United States $300,000,O00 a
year.
If such small items are not beneath
his notice, there is a little matter right
in his own little state that affords him
an opportunity for economy. says the
Chicago Journal.
The river and harbor bill. commonly
known as the pork barrel" and used
to vote public money without excuse
into doubtful territory, contains this
year among its total S52.000.000 of APP.
preparations an item of $4,000 toward
converting Great Salt pond, Block Is
land, R. l., into u harbor of refuge.
In 1868 government engineers re-
ported. that this project was not FEAST
Bile. In 1893 Capt. Bixby, for the gov
eminent, condemned it not only as i'm
possible, but, because of the nearness
Of three good harbors and the harbor
under construction at Point Judith, as
an unnecessary waste of money. The
division engineer reported likewise.
In 1894 the river and harbor bill or
dered survey. Then harbor work
was begun, To date s199,Ooo Of good
money out of the pockets of the tax
payers has been thrown away on Al
project condemned by every engineer
who has examined 1t.
Has anyone heard protest from
Senator Aldrich? ~
/ The State of Rhode Island put s14.-
900 into the work. and abandoned it
as useless. In December, 1909. the fed
eral engineering department advised
that no further money be expended on
Great Salt pond. Yet politicians in
Congress propose to waste another $780,
900 this year in this sink hole.
VIII Mr.. Aldrich permit this lagrant
diversion of public funds to political
purposes? Is mere matter of 100000
year too small for his scheme Of
economy?
MA tShA IL VIC pVscAUlG lAdI lA1o COuSCP-
ton Of economy would not prevent dig
ging useless harbors when to stop such
criminal waste Of public funds might
cost few votes that 100000 would
make safe for Aldrich and Aldrichism?
Watch and see.
MT. Taft's Amazing Blunder.
One Of the most incomprehensib]a
things about the Dallinger-Pinchot
hearing is the apparcnt determination
OF the administration to clear Secre-
tary Ballingcr a. any cost, declares the
Atlanta Constitution.
| To accomplish this the President has
apparently lent himself to schemes OF
evasion, the suppression OF evidence,
and denials of things charged by APP
parently creditable witnesses. 1t is an
unfortunate exhibition of woefully bad
Judgment.
When documents like the Lawler
brief. which was the basis OF President
| Taft's letter, generating Ballinger. are
finally produced outside of the court
room. they are frst denied and then
dismissed as being of no Importance.
A paper from the highest judicial Off
cor Of the administration is antedated
for effect, and then the date is said to
be immaterial, though 1t was done to
bolster up the Presidents judicial re-
view of the case.
Regardless of political afflliations.
all fair-minded men will regret that
President Taft should have pursued the
course he did An explanation in time,
and frank statement. in the begin.
ming, would have reduced the sensation
which finally exploded like a bomb.
| shell to mere flash in the pan.
4 In this case the chief executive was
acting In judicial capacity, and the
country expected the same careful per.
sonal review of the charges brought by
L. r. Claws that he gave to litigation
when sitting as a judge of the United
States Circuit court.
4 Certainly in an opinion affecting
vitality the interests of the people in
the great coal fields of Alaska, which
the Governments expert investigator
alleged were in danger. the President
should not have committed the blunde,
of having friend of the accused
write the opinion lie was to deliver.
4|