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Show MORTGAGING Til 10 FUTL'RE An Illinois gentleman, hitherto an enthusiastic supporter of all public Improvements voted by tire citizens of his country, says that "from now on I am for rigid economy, both public and private. We have Issued so many bonds and assumed the completion of so many etensive ami expensive improvements that O'Ur own future and that of our children are badly mortgaged. It is time to adopt and resolutely adhere to the sound pi act ice or paying as we go." :n the rosery flush of America's material prosperity for a number of years up to the depression which followed the cessation of the war in Europe, our people spent or pledged privale and public money with the reckless prodigality of the wastrel sons of some millionaires. In the an;iri:,'ate their expenditures were in wr before equaled. More money wu.i made and spent quicker by more people than it is likely to be again in general ions. Personal extrava-gii.'CM extrava-gii.'CM were duplicated, on a greatly enlarged scale, in public affairs,. K pensive habits were formed which are si ill ','orcisiig a considerable control over individuals in their private and public relationships. It is ihcrcToi'e diilicult to introduce and eniorce rational economies in the u,:e of public funds and credit. "I'.eosl ers" and others of their kind, ii i. 1 witli a gvandP.oiinent faith in Hut "future greatness" of their communities, com-munities, are still arguing sections of ilie public into voting for improvements improve-ments w hich a wise community sense in many instances would not sanction. sanc-tion. It is time to check public and eilicial reckieness with the public's money and credit. The boys and f.'rls of today who will be the men and women of tomorrow will have to bear plenty of tax and otlvsr bur-iK;iis bur-iK;iis besides thoso which our wanton v exl ; a ugunre during the past ten ycni-.i has reversed for them. "Pass-ii "Pass-ii ; the L'-uek" or "Let George do it" !;,( ph:a:;e.; for the same thing in principle as incurring public debts for future citizens to pay. Most of tlis world's business is done on credit, but the excessive- use of credit may be and often is more disastrous iha.i its excessive conservation by communities. The present owes the iu tuia something besides debts. |