Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 August 1895 — How the Bridge Companies Are Working. [ARTICLE]

How the Bridge Companies Are Working.

President Cleveland lately wrote a letter to a friend in Georgia, in which he turned loose the flood of gush over his married life, stating, among other things, that it had been “one grand sweet song,” No doubt the President’s married life has been reasonably happy, aud everybody is glad of it, but that kind of gushing in public about it is simply “playing to the galleries” and about as unbecoming to a man in the position of a President as anything can well be. The Nicholson law has produced many odd things in the State. Many saloon keepers are inclined to look upon its enforcement somewhat facetiously, and use it as a means for amusement, although it is a serious enough matter with them. A sign that is on the mirror in a Martinsville saloon is probably true, but it is also an admission of previous violations of the law, which most men are loath to make. It is done in soap on the large bar mirror and reads: : ‘owing to' : WE DO NOT SELL ANY LIQUOR : ON SUNDAY— : : AND DAMN LITTLE ANY OTHER : : TIME. : Duringdeven months of the fiscal year articles were brougnt to this country free of duty to the value of $332,486,117 and the increase in value of imports amounted to $70,000,000. Among the articles the importation of which was stimulated by the new tariff are manufactured cotton from $2,655,087 to $4,529,766, manufactures of cot ton from $21,244,491 to $31,443,561; ;breadstuffs from $2,069;644 to $2,777,478; - animals from $1,262,680 to $1,890; barely from 779,069 bushels to 2,111,670 bushels. All the articles are produced in America. While the imports have largely increased the experts under the new tariff law decreased $74,000,000 during eleven months.

Indianapolis Journal, There is reason to believe that the people of Indiana are being systematically robbed by a ring composed of bridge companies, of which there are several operating in the State. The plan of operation involves the division of the State into sections, one of which is apportioned to each company, with the understanding that it is to have all the contracts for bridge building in the county within that section. An appearance of competition is made by the other companies filing bids which are purposely and knowingly higher than those of the favored company, which are still high enough to afford a big profit. By thus dividing the field and practically stifling competition each company gets a good slice of business at its own prices. No doubt in some cases County Commissioners are in the deal, but it can be made successful even without their cooperation. It is really a trust to prevent competition, to keep up the cost of bridge building and to fleece the people. If a farmer spends more money than he makes year after year the sheriff gets him. If a nation buys more than it sells year after year it gets poor just like an individual. And in the end bankrnntcv comes. During the twenty-eight years from 1866 tn 1893 i. inclusive, the totalamount of government revenue received in excess of the government expenditures was $1,815,683,219. This was an average surplus of $64,815,830 during each and every year of protection. During the following two years of threat of free trade the aggregate deficiency of the democratic administration, or the excess of

exxenditure over revenue, was $112,628,310, or at the rate of $56,314,155 a year. Protection gave an average surplus of revenue of nearly $65,000,000 during each one of the twentyeight years in succession. Free trade gave a deficiency of $56,314,155 a year. Such are the historic facts of the treasury department. As the New York Times says, “this is unquestionably a good showing”—for protection.