Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1912-10-31

i
ton to certain salary and expense ac-
counts, increases aggregating $500.
Counting the salary and expense &C
count increases which the bills car
ried at $50 $40, it will be seen that the
widows pension appropriation of $780,
600, the monument to Southern wom-
anhood of $4,000, the Blind School
\ appropriation and the appropriation
for the insane could all have been
saved had not these increases in sala-
ries, expense accounts, ETC., been made.
But, alas, this is not the worst fea-
ture. In his annual message the Gov
lernor said: GAS now constituted the
Agricultural Department of Tennes-
see is manned by twenty officials draw
ing aggregate salaries of SIS, 800. The
current public opinion is that many of
these positions are sinecures from
which the people derive little or no ben
eft" One would suppose from the Gov
ernor's utterances that he was a re-
former of "pureSt ray serene;" that
he would have retrenchment in this
! Department or have a first-class fuss.
Imagine my surprise when | find
that although the appropriation
bill, when it reached the Confer
ence Committee, carried increases in
salaries and expense account for the
Agricultural Department alone of
! $31 800, and not one dollar of this did
Gov. Hooper require to be taken out
and he allowed to go through and APP
prove the increases of 5000 per annum
in the salary of the Clerk of Mine
Inspector, and a stenographer to do
the clerks work at $1,000 per an
mum.
This reform Governor, at the same
time that he cat off the aUidoaOs' mite
and the orphans bread, approved IN
credses IN the salaries of has subdltern
officials after the 1Vork had been done
and paid for at the salaries fGed
By laeU, thereby passing for their
| benefit retroactive legislation. But
hear one more chapter concerning the
Governor This bill that he scruti-
nized with such care as to get taken
from it before he would sign it the
widows pension, woman's monument
fund, and appropriations for the lame,
halt, blind, deaf-mutes and the in
sane, contained another increase-IT
WAS A THOUSAND DOLLARS
FOR USE AT THE GOVERNORS
MANSION, and yet he did not pro-
test!
"Oh, where was Roderick then?
One blast on his bugle horn
We're worth a thousand men,"
After all his criticisms of the Agri-
cultural Department and what he was
pleased to call it's sinecures and ex-
travagances the appropriations for it
were vastly greater than those made
under any Democratic administration
in the history of the State.
All of which causes me to remark
that there are two kinds of watch dogs
of the Treasures. One kind banks at
every disturbance and will let moth
ing 60 wrong, the other is of the lazy
cold Towser" kind that sleeps on and
never banks when the family are
around.
And who are these noble impover-
ished women who have asked bread |
and by the Governor given a stane?
These are the widows of the grand |
est generation of men the Southland
has ever produced. Raised in luxury, |
they went from the parlor to the
kitchen with smiles; they went from
affiuence to poverty without sigh.
When the tocsin of war was sounded |
and the braying horn and the scream
ing fife sent the stirring strains of
Dixie to every home, calling husband
and son to the bloodiest fields of mod
ern times, she unhesitatingly said,
"Go." Then her own silent but glo-
rious battle began. She had no bright
flag to urge her to stay on Glory's
field. She heard no rattle of musketry
and roar of cannon to inspire her.
Hers was a long, monotonous bat
tie for bread and clothes and protec-
ton for little loved ones. 1t never
ended 1t could not end with "father
away" Alas! in many instances,
father was doomed never to return.
Again, she had girls just budding into
womanhood, sweet young flowers,
whose only protector was she. / see
her now, with no husband or son to
protect, often no lock on the door,
sitting through the long night while
the dear ones slept, not knowing when
the foot of the intruder will desecrate
the threshold or the hand of the rapine
seize the door latch. And praying,
every praying, for the sleeping in
nocents by her and the brave husband
far away. Joan of Arc was no BRAY
err; Mary at the Savior's tomb was no
more faithful. And the husband who
was prayed for never returned, but
sleeps in an unknown grave. And
her hair that was gold is gray; the
step that was firm falters; the silent
battle she fought is nearly ended; she
can no longer support herself And
what will you and l do? Help her, or,
like Hooper, turn from her? The tt
tanic of her ocean is sinking. The
"Save, o Save" signal has been sent
across the waste of waters. l have
heard it, and let others do as they
may, intend to heed it.
HooPER's MACHINE; FAT FRYING.
The Governor has taken occasion
during his administration, if memory
serves me correctly, to laud civil ser
vice reform and to advocate the plac-
ing of officials under civil service
rules. Let US see how sincere are his
professions by examining the conduct
1