The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1919-02-28
NATION GOING BANKRUPT DUE
TO EXTRAVAGANCE OF
THOSE IN CONTROL
EVERYBODY RAIDS TREASURY
BURDENS OF PEOPLE BEING IN
CREASED TO POINT WHERE
. THEY WILL REBEL

CREASED TO POINT WHERE
THEY WILL REBEL
Washington, D. Give are head
ed in my judgement, directly for the
rocks of national insolvency, and the
Congress of the United States with
serene difference is entertaining
bills for appropriations that exceed
anything in the past, unmindful of
the enormous burdens Of the war
and apparently Indifferent to anything
and everything except to satisfy local
demands of their constituents"
The Democrats of the United States
Senate were somewhat startled to
hear Senator Thomas, Colorado, one
of their leaders and member of the
Senate Finance Committee, make this
fiat assertion at the conclusion OF a
very vigorous address upon the SUBJ
ject of national extravaganza. This
assertion was no more startling and
emphatic than many others Senator
Thomas made. He warned his COL
leagues and those who are RESPONSE
BILE for the present policies at Wash
ington that revolutions are born and
governments are overthrown because
of the enormus burdens placed upon
the people through public extrava-
gance".
Senator Thomas remarks were
called forth by an item in the post
office appropriation bill calling for a
federal appropriation of $2o0,OO0,0o0
to be used in improving "any public
road which is now used or may be
5mnae suitable (for use IF this be-
comes a law" exclaimed Senator
Thomas ut commits the United
States government to the improve
ment of every cattle trail and every
cow path and every right of way in
the United States" He called atten-
ton to the fact that federal appropria-
tions long had been made for the con-
struction and maintenance Of post
roads but that the new proposal
opened the way to the improvement
of "any old road" at the expense Of
the federal treasury. He showed that
the last provision for federal aid for
post roads called for an appropriation
of only $75,000,OO0. This one calls for
an increase of 266 per cent in this one
item alone. Continuing, Senator
Thomas said:
g. Growth of Extravaganza
The theory upon which the Gov
ernment bf the United States is to in
terest itself In road construction and
the basis of the act of 1916 was that
under the Constitution Congress, be-
ing authorized to establish post offices
and post roads, is justified in making
these appropriations for that purpose.
"That is a doctrine which we all
know historically was successfully
scontroverted in the early days of the
Republic, when State rights really
amounted to something, when the
people are too jealous Of them to
trade them off for Federal money, and
when it was the opinion of a majority
of the people of the United States
that the language of the Constitution
was not sufficiently broad to justify
the use of the public funds in the MAX
ing of public improvements. OF
course, as the Treasury expanded and
the cupidity of the people was en-
larged by an occasional appropriation
here and there they gradually forgot
##the rights of the States and, Of consti'
ztutional liminhtions in the mad race
Z for the portals Of the Treasury, SO
I that now the doctrines. then so ably
asserted and maintained by our fore.
fathers, we at present regard with a
sort Of good nature contempt.
I &s*ti II accept the proposition in Its en-.
tirety that power to establish post
offices and post roads carries with it
the. power to make these appfopria.
stions, but this amendment leaves that
situation entirely behind, and it now
proposed to devote the public money
to the construction of any road that
may be recommended by the local
authorities. ..s,..S a.. =; ID 49,. : III
H. I want to know why the govern
ment of the United States must use
tits treasury for the purpose Of per
s5SSfecting little fragments Of roads in the
counties and communities s Of the
states? Is there not enough local en-
terprises left in the mmunities
through which these roads are to rur