Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 April 1899 — Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 [ADVERTISEMENT]

The three-cornered fight foi the mayoralty of Chicago will end April 4. Wonder how those Keener tp., “patriots” enjoy their gravel road by this time? And now Uncle Sam has some “assimilating” to do at Samoa. Sam is a willin’ cuss, but ain’t the major and Mark imposing on good nature a little ? The paying of that 20,000,000 to Spain is like walking into the Squire’s office and paying a fine for having whipped some fellow you had a grudge against. The Philipino capitol atMalolos has fallen, and Otis and McArthur are “assimilating” the ignorant natives as fast as powder and ball can reach them, is the latest news from the Philippines. The Barnacle “editor” thinks the editor of The Democrat is a mischief maker. No one ever accused the Barnacle “editor” of anything of the kind, and he could easily prove an alibi on that score. It is claimed that the republicans have decided to have a new running mate for McKinley. The objection to Hobart is that he is from a state notorious for the organization of trusts. By the way, this fact should be in his favor, as the republican party is nothing if not very friendly to all such organizations, and if Hobart’s “bar’l” is still in good condition he should trot along with the “man of destiny” in 1900. The term, “cheaper to move than pay rent,” is to be worked on a grand scale, ’tis said, in Kansas. Many of the boom towns there issued municipal bonds right and left for all sorts of municipal improvements, while the “boom” was on, without a thought apparently of the pay day to come later on. Now the booms have boomed themselves out and the bonds must .be paid by the people who are left as residents and taxpayers. The debts in some instances are onehalf the total aseessed valuation of the towns and are a hopeless burden. In self defence the people are thinking seriously of abandoning the towns and moving the business houses and residences to new sites just outside the present city or town limits.

The Democrat has taken occasion several times, to condemn the extravagance of public officials of this county, and the fact that public money has been spent with too lavish a hand is not denied. Then, why not put a stop to it and at once? Why longer allow this wasting at the bung-hole and saving at the spigot? There is but one remedy, cut down public expenditures to the lowest possible limit consistent with a good, economical, public service, and compel every dollar, including franchises of every character, to bear its just share of the public burden. See that public officials do not get one cent from the public treasury for salary or any other purpose that is not allowed them by law. See that all public contracts are let at a reasonable figure. See that every dollar spent for public purchases buys a dollar’s worth. Then, with all property on the tax duplicate, taxes will not be onerous, and private improvements will again become the order of the day.