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Editorial
January 8, 1920
The Daily Gate City And Constitution Democrat
Keokuk, Lee County, Iowa
What is this article about?
Satirical Los Angeles Times editorial arguing that public gatherings, committees, and legislative sessions inevitably drive up costs and government spending, suggesting isolation to curb extravagance.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Los Angeles Times: Wherever two or three people are gathered together up goes the price. Citizens' committees, investigating committees, house wife leagues and fair-price committees meet for research or counsel and usually all that results is some new information that warrants a fresh advance in the cost of some commodity.
Every gathering of men or women means more money spent or to be expended. Sugar investigators called to force down the price of sweets justify an advance to 15 cents. The state board of control calls a meeting for the purpose of forcing a retrenchment and the only result is the issuing of a demand for an increase of $185,000 in the salaries of employees. Every time a club or society meets it passes resolutions for regulations or reforms that call for the spending of fresh thousands. If the police could break up all gatherings the people might be able to save some money, but otherwise not.
Every time the legislature meets it talks in terms of millions. The state is furnishing the most expensive government in the world, and, at that, is about $4,000,000 behind. If the assembly only met once in ten years it would be millions to the good, but as it is whenever two or three legislators are gathered together it is for the purpose of devising fresh ways of dissipating other people's money.
Companionship and association make spendthrifts of us all. Numbers beget a rivalry in throwing the dough away. If the government is ever to learn to save it will be through turning it over to the hermits and misers and putting a muffler on assemblies.
The world is afflicted with spendthrifts' itch and it is contagious.
'Ware of crowds.
Every gathering of men or women means more money spent or to be expended. Sugar investigators called to force down the price of sweets justify an advance to 15 cents. The state board of control calls a meeting for the purpose of forcing a retrenchment and the only result is the issuing of a demand for an increase of $185,000 in the salaries of employees. Every time a club or society meets it passes resolutions for regulations or reforms that call for the spending of fresh thousands. If the police could break up all gatherings the people might be able to save some money, but otherwise not.
Every time the legislature meets it talks in terms of millions. The state is furnishing the most expensive government in the world, and, at that, is about $4,000,000 behind. If the assembly only met once in ten years it would be millions to the good, but as it is whenever two or three legislators are gathered together it is for the purpose of devising fresh ways of dissipating other people's money.
Companionship and association make spendthrifts of us all. Numbers beget a rivalry in throwing the dough away. If the government is ever to learn to save it will be through turning it over to the hermits and misers and putting a muffler on assemblies.
The world is afflicted with spendthrifts' itch and it is contagious.
'Ware of crowds.
What sub-type of article is it?
Satire
Economic Policy
What keywords are associated?
Government Spending
Public Meetings
Economic Waste
Satirical Commentary
Spendthrifts
What entities or persons were involved?
Los Angeles Times
Citizens' Committees
State Board Of Control
Legislature
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Critique Of Excessive Spending From Public Gatherings And Government Meetings
Stance / Tone
Satirical Mockery Of Spendthrift Tendencies
Key Figures
Los Angeles Times
Citizens' Committees
State Board Of Control
Legislature
Key Arguments
Gatherings Of People Lead To Price Increases In Commodities
Investigative Committees Justify Advances In Costs
Legislative Meetings Result In Demands For More Spending
Associations Foster Rivalry In Wasteful Expenditure