Evening journal., 1916-05-27


whose acts may seriously affect his
life. liberty and property.
"One Of the regrettable things in this
age. is that so little interest is taken
in State, county and city affairs by
many successful business men. They
are not awakened until the mischief is
done. that is until their own rights
and interests are adversely affected
by some unjust law ar arbitrary act
Il Is too late then TO prevent the in
jury or repair the wrong The time
to act was before the law was passed.
or better still. before the candidates
were chosen who committed the
wrong
1T is one Of the problems Of the
times 10 know how to secure greater
interest and cooperation Of business
men in public affairs. Until il Is
secured conditions are not likely to be
much improved. Certain II is that
nothing desirable will be accomplish
ed by criticism and abuse after the
act.
THE character of government for
city, county and State will not be ma
terially raised until more men COM
petent and successful in private life
are willing TO give something Of their
interest. efficiency and strength to the
conduct of public affairs.
Investigate Congress.
1T seems to me that one Of the most
alarming things in this day nation
ally as well as locally. is the great
increase in the expense of govern
ment; and you cannot make the peo-
/ pie believe there is any good cause
| for such increase. They sometimes
/ say our public servants are incom-
petent or worse but they never in
vestigate the facts. or furnish the
evidence to prove the charge.
"I have often wondered what
would he the disclosure and the re-
suit. II a committee composed Of the
best business men of the country
could investigate the expenditure of
the public moneys by the Congress of
the United States. I have no par
ticular Congress IN mind. and am
speaking Of that branch of our gov
ernment in general way.
The Congress seems to have a
fondness. almost habit Of investi-
eating every other business Of any
magnitude. and the investigators are
not always competent for the task
Polticis is the only business some OF
them ever know. and il is sometimes
true that success in politics does not
moan success in business. Would il
not be a fine thing to have Congress
investigated by real business men,
We would then perhaps be able to
know how manv hundreds OF millions
NJ dollars could be saved to the ma
tion hv an efficient tld economical
administration Of national affairs
Every other business may ne investi.
gated IN some way. at some time and
why should Congress alone be ex,
empt? But the searchlight will never
he turned on. however desirable II
might no.
mo legislative body. any more thar
an individual, Is likely to invite al
expert examination of its acts. But /
is nevertheless true that such public
isy Of facts, accompanied by the sue
gestions that business men Nigh
make. would be Of great value Il
the people. All that I have said II
this connection about Congress an
plies equally in principle II not II
degrees to every other Legislative
body however local it may be.
Dedicate TO Public Good.
Some OF this audience may wor
A der how the foregoing remarks ca
! be appropriate to the present occs
sion. What bearing can they pOssibl
/, have on this magnificent structure W
dedicate today? Let me say that thi
building is dedicated to the publ
good. and il is pertinent, therefore, I
ask what shall be the character O
the service rendered here I'm tn
years to come? Shall it be as muc'
superior to the service rendered IN tn
past as the new building is superio
TO the old9 That is hardly possibl
you say. True. but il should inspir
those who inhabit here i'm official life
TO better thoughts. and better deeds
; II il has no apprecisble effect upol
! the thoughts and acts Of such mel