The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1914-04-17
For Representative.
Abuses Of Money.


mighty good work along the line {
public aud personal extravaganza. tn
editorial 10 Sundays paper was fre
lance, but it was nevertheless true. A
illustration Of the subject from Life
was published by consent to make th
matter more impressive. A woma
nestled high on a pile OF bandboxes o.
the back OF her husband, who had ais
In bis arms and hands fine house, al
automobile and other expensive articles
and, bending heavily under this burden
was struggling to ascend a very marrow
and dangerous cliff, whose pinnacle
shone with wealth. The woman anc
her husband, John, were both described
as fools by the Commercial Appeal
The mad rush OF socialrivalry is leading
many poor John on his way to bank
ruptcy 1t Is making "a debtor nation
Of the American people, and wreckina
and running the lives OF men and women.
In another article reproduced ir this
paper the Commercial Appeal modestly
refers to public extravaganza. A few
weeks ago Congressman Johnson from
South Carolina moved that the old mile
age graft custom Of Congress be abol-
salknd All tLa tIo..aa I,..1i,a al -, ,,,;4t, =
sarcastic smile. The Memphis paper
also referred to the graft fee system in
Tennessee as a thing needing attention.
These things have been pointed out in
this paper number OF times. The fee
system in the larger counties is out
rageous, and in the smaller counties
needs much revision. The fees 10 the
more populous counties run from ten to
forty thousand dollars for each OF the
clerks We would not suggest change
until the expiration Of the terms OF Of
ficials already elected by the people, but
some steps should be taken for the fu-
ture. for this system will have to be
changed some time soon. or the people
cannot afford the taxation needed to
sustain ii. There lisa continual demand
for more school money, and this fee
system Or the schools one must neces-
sariIy give way. Tennessee now gives
one-third OF her gross revenues to the
public schools aud that is enough. II
more money is needed the State Nor
mails should be consolidated 10 one
school and managed more economically
SO that the county schools can have more
extensions. One good teachers school
Ia the State is imperative, but more
than one Ii purely graft. The county
office fees, much Of them. come from
The people, but the difference between
lees and taxes is merely distinction.
Candidates for the Legislature begin
% tremble when this subject is named,
but they cannot avoid it. The change
must come
Congress must also face the people
With the charge Of extravaganza. The
I'D mileage system is out OF the question,
Tow that Congressman have increased
heir salaries to $500. Twenty cents
, mile will carry distant members back
ind forth to their homes at an expense
OF thousands Of dollars.
There is no excuse for this, neither is
here an excuse for the abuse OF the
ranking privilege nor for the stretching
Il the calendar to thirteen months
rear for the clerks 10 Congress. All
his il graft and ii should not stand
imply because It has stood. The Presi-
lent Of the United States is also in the
anne category. He draws his SIS. 900 |
year salary and money for every part
II his official life amounting TO nearly
'4OO, 900. This is strictly prohibited by
he Constitution Of the United States,
md Mr.. Wilson professions Of honesty
owards the people will be somewhat
centralized il he draws All this money. /
This is also graft and should be correct
"a,
Uncle Sam should be called to ac-
cunt FOR public exlrayagance, not only
d Congress but ii the Executive De-
,artments The United States Army
.osts IS much as the German Army.
ind yetwe could muster very little more u