Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 September 1904 — RIOTOUS EXTRAVAGANCE. [ARTICLE]

RIOTOUS EXTRAVAGANCE.

Cincinnati Enquirer. “Extravagence is running riot,” said Judge Parker in his address to the editors at Rosemont last week, “in Federal, state and municipal governments in spite of the well-directed efforts of some excellent officials. The indebtedness of the municipal governments is steadily piling up, bond issues are increasingly frequent, and the people have not the satisfaction in many instances of a full equivalent in improvements for the money expended. And the Federal Government is leading in the race of great expenditures. Ere long the people will demand a reform in administrative expenses. And they will do it now if they are made to appreciate the whole truth. The Baltimore Sun, comment- . 7 fv ing in an approving manner on Judge Barker’s speech, has this to say in further elucidation: “The people have been comparatively indifferent to the extent of Federal expenditure, while complaining bitterly oft state and local taxation. The reason of this is plain. The bill for state and local taxes is presented to the citizen and he is compelled to put his hand in his pocket and pay out a lump sum to the tax collector. Every increase in expenditure increases the size of that bill. But the Federal tax collector collects his bill from the importer, and it is added to the price the citizen pays for the article, and he does not stop to think that he is paying it. If he buys for his use articles of domestic manufacture, such as tin made in this country, or sugar, or leather, or lumber, he pays the tax all the same, but it goes to make up the big dividends on some trust stock.” Extravagance and high taxation in municipalities are indeed towering evils. The local Offices, in many cities, appear to be regarded strictly as spoils', to be distributed among men who devote themselves to politics. The man elected to profitable office regards himself not ns a servant of the people, but as a person who has been picked out to be honored and made rich. Some of the local officials of various communities seem to regard themselves as children of destiny whom the people ought to delight to honor, though in fact they depend rather upon party organization for their elevation. The “politicians” celebrate the induction of one of their number into office as a personal vindication and his consequence is gauged by the number of arms he can get into the public treasury. And then more bonds are issued and a lot more fellows put on the pay roll. And it is all paid for out of the taxes. It is common to hear men of observation say that the Federal taxation is a bagatelle, and not worth making so much fuss about; that it is inconsequential when compared with local expenses. The Federal extortion, however, is on the increase. The expenses of our National Government are growing almost as rapidly as Japanese civilization and war power. The evil has got to counting seriously in dollars and cents; but the greater evil is in the perversion of the purposes of the Government. The Federal establishment is intended to be a simple institution. The further the departure from the simplicity of the early days the greater is the danger to our system. Extrava-

gauce at Washington begets a dangerous spirit of centralization. The idea at the capital is to spend a great deal of money and make the Federal Government a “big thing.” There is constant allusion to the growth of the Government and the need of more men to run it and more buildings to house them in. New offices are created at every stage of the proceedings, and the Government is constantly assuming new lines in paternalism. Buildings are ereetat enormous expense, and as soon as they are done they are stuffed with office holders and clerks, and hundreds or thousands more are located on rented premises, waiting impatiently for more new structures. What Congress has done, and is doing, for its own convenience and accommodation is startling. An elaborate building is now in course of construction for offices for members of the House of Representatives. It is to cost a great deal of money. It is to be an “ornament to the capital.” There is no real use for it. Seven eighths of the members of the House of Representatives, under the present methods of conducting business, are mere “chair warmers” at their best. This office building, and a good many other buildings in Washington, is an extravagant impertinence.