THE SALARY GRAB

Benjamin Harrison.

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, May 29, 1891.

The Salary Grab.

(From the Albany Argus.)

   Places at the public expense in the Government service have been made for twelve members of the Harrison family since the President's inauguration. But Mr. Harrison has not been selfish. He seems to have adopted the golden rule, and to be willing that other Republican families should be cared for at the Government expense, in proportion to their numbers, as generously as the Harrison family has been protected.

   At its first session, the Republican congress added $2,686,000 to the salary list of the government.

   At its second session, the Republican congress added $2,263,000 more to the salary list of the government.

   Since Harrison's inauguration the Republican party has created 1,700 new offices for its followers, which take nearly $5,000,000 a year from the treasury.

   The entire State taxes to be paid by the people of New York State this year, under the Democratic tax levy, amount to only $5,153,000.

   To pay for the new offices created by the Republican national administration at Washington will take nearly as much money as will be raised by direct tax to pay the entire cost, including schools, canals, etc., of the Democratic State government at Albany.

   In his inaugural address in 1874 Samuel J. Tilden said:

   Another evil of such a system of excessive taxation is that it creates and nourishes a governmental class, with tendencies to lessen services and to enlarge compensation, to multiply retainers, to invite jobs and foster all forms of expenditures. * * * Every useful and necessary governmental service at a proper cost is productive labor. Every excess beyond that, so far as it is saved by the official, merely transfers to him what belongs to other people.

   Merely to pay the salaries of the new officers created under the Harrison administration, every man, woman and child must pay an extra dime in taxes every year, until the Democratic party regains control in national affairs and abolishes these useless and extravagant offices.

James Corbett.

Peter Jackson.

PAGE FOUR/EDITORIALS.

   The prize fight which took place in San Francisco last week between Peter Jackson of Australia, and James J. Corbett of the first named place, lasted over four hours and was finally decided to be a draw. Each man was given $2500. Both were badly bruised. During the first thirty rounds of the fight much science was displayed by both men.

   Prof. Perry has made this truthful assertion: "There has never been a protective tariff tax that was not put there at the instance of men who expected to realize advanced prices on their goods."

   Even if the United States had a navy, it would have no seamen to man the vessels. At least three-fourths of the men on board the few war ships we now have, are foreigners and would be very unreliable in case of war with a foreign power. Officers of the navy say that it is almost an impossibility to obtain native American recruits to man the vessels. The billion dollar Congress ought to have done something to induce native Americans to enlist in the naval service.

   One Captain John T. Davidson, of Elmira, formerly of this place [Cortland], is contributing war articles to the Elmira Telegram. Captain Davidson was undoubtedly a great soldier, but he hasn't yet told where he buried his dead. It will be gratifying to the people who knew him in this place before the war, to be assured that the Captain has decided the merits of nearly all the great Captains on both sides of the war, to his entire satisfaction. The much mooted question may be considered as settled for all time to come. According to Davidson, Lee could only fight on the defensive, McClellan was a good quartermaster and Fitz John Porter failed to reach Pope at a decisive moment, although Gen. Grant, who had some reputation as a warrior, says it was asking an impossibility. If Lincoln had known what a great man Davidson was he would undoubtedly have called him to command the army of the Potomac instead of Grant.

TOWN REPORTS.

BLODGETT'S MILLS.

   We understand that Decoration day is to be observed here as usual.

   Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Stanton of Cortland visited their friends here over Sunday.

   Louise Burt is visiting her cousin, Miss Daisy Odell at South Cortland, this week.

   Miss Flora Copeland of Cortland spent the sabbath with her aunt, Mrs. E. R. Brown.

   Mr. R. J. McElheney of Homer was in this place Monday, looking after the interest of the musical trade.

   Little Mabel Stafford, who has been considered hopelessly ill for a long time, is at present a little better.

   John Hubbard was in Utica last Wednesday and attended the laying of the corner stone of the Masonic Home.

   The Epworth League anniversary exercises were postponed until next Sunday evening at the M. E. church.

   A fine new barn is being built on the Crouse place. Thomas Westcott and D. Utley are doing the carpenter work.

   Mr. A. Skeele was stricken with a slight shock [heart attack] last week, but at present is able to be out of doors, though quite feeble.

   Miss Davis of Lebanon, N. Y., has been visiting her sister, Mrs. Nash at the milk depot, and presided at the organ last Sabbath evening at the M. E. church, to the gratification of all lovers of good music in the congregation.

   Yes, we too, are a firm believer in every old saw, maxim or adage, and especially so after we have unsuccessfully hunted for our young hopeful until 9 P. M., and then find him snugly tucked in bed, we are most emphatically reminded that to "spare the rod we spoil the child." We decided not to "spoil."

   Mr. and Mrs. Verne Skeele of Cortland spent last Saturday and Sunday with their parents here. Saturday Verne superintended the moving of his father's shop off the M. P. U. Co. ground to a place back of the Skeele residence. This removal adds greatly to the appearance and value of the company's ground.

   Ray Stowell, who enlisted in the regular army several weeks ago, but came home a short time since, claiming to have been discharged on account of ill health, was arrested for desertion by officer Reuben Reynolds last Friday night, Reynolds kept him in custody until Monday morning and then took him to Oswego where he was left at the recruiting station.

   Mr. David Utley has been doing a handsome job of carpenter work for Mrs. J. Hubbard in the line of a fine double cupboard finished in natural wood and placed between the dining room and kitchen. Seneca Howard is garnishing the exterior of the residence with a coat of paint, and Burdette Gridley is reshingling the roof. Taken altogether the Hubbard residence is enduring a thorough repairing. Neighboring residences please copy.

   We enjoyed last sabbath a ride in John Hubbard's new surrey, which we firmly believe has all the many good qualities of every known vehicle combined in this one. This together with his roan colt which has been duly christened "Dan" in honor of its former owner, makes as fine a turnout as one could wish. That "Dan " may never grow frisky, the surrey ever ride as easy, and its owner once in a while remember us in the future, is our very modest wish.

Look Out for Them.

[Paid Advertisement.]

   "My kidneys are all right, I have no pain in my back." Mistaken man! People die from kidney disease of so bad a character that the organs are nearly destroyed, and yet they have never had a pain or an ache. Why? Because the disease began in the interior of the kidneys where there are few nerves of feeling to convey the sensation of pain. Dr. Kilmer's "Swamp-Root" is the great specific for "Bright's disease," urinary troubles and kidney difficulties. (7w4) 
   [Cortland Democrat Editor Benton Jones died from complications of Bright's disease in 1896--CC editor.]