Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1886-10-21
Public Expenditures.

For years the leaders and managers of
tho Democratic party have been loud
and constant with charges against the
Republican party in the matter Of tho
expenditure Of the public money. Graat
reforms were promised In this regard IL
the people would but place tho Demo.
cratic party In power. When IL was an
swered that tho Democrats had for
long term Of years held, with the excep-
ton Of one Congress, a majority In tho
House of Representatives. where the APP
preparation bills originate, it was replied
that the party Of reform could not affect
its purpose unless 1t could have the aid
OF the Executive Department of the gov.
ernmont; that ii must have the President
and the heads OF the several departments;
that with these to back up the efforts of
Democratic majority in the House Of
Representatives great reforms and most
economical results in respect to appropri-
atoms of the public money would be re-
allied. This had no slight effect on the
public mind. The people listened to
these representations, put trust In them
and were SO far mislcd as to commit tho
great blunder of 1884, when they elected
Grover Cleveland, President Of the
United States. He had been profuse in
promises of reforms as man well
could be. He was elected and thereby
his party secured all of tho means IL had
alleged to be necessary to the adoption
and enforcement Of its promised reforms.
How has this turned out2 The Demo
cratic party now has the Executive DE.
partments which make up the estimates
upon which appropriations Of the public
money are based. 1t has the House Of
Representatives In which the bills for
giving effect to those estimates originate.
What result has IL given to the peoplo2
Let few facts and figures answer this
question.
The appropriations for the tho fiscal
year 1ss4-s5 were $l95, no, $500; for
1866 were $219, 500, 1888 10, for 1ss8.S7
they are 1898, 914, 813.35. SO the
appropriations for the present year, based
upon the estimates Of Democratic ad-
ministration, are $24, 1921, 330.07 greater
than they were for the fiscal year 1866,
and $68, 204, 025. 10 in excess of those for
the fiscal year 1ss4-s5. Does this look
like redemption Of the pledges made
in respect Of a reduction Of the expcndi-
lures of the public money? II 1t does
not then what must be your opinion of
the Democratic case when you como to
know that with the great increase in the
appropriations for this year over former
years they are less than the administra-
ton Of Grover Cleveland, the great re-
former, asked Congress to give it. Tho
estimates sent to Congress by the admin
istration, and which il said were nccessa
ry to enable it to execute its trust and
carry on the Government, amounted to
1898, $40, 1895. The amount approprl.
priated as already stated was $263, 914,-
613.25. And thus 1t appears that this re-
form Administration which was alleged
to be the only thing necessary to enable
the Democratic party to reduce the ex-
peDditures of public money. actually
asked Congress to give 1t 500, 761, 21611
more than 1t got. IL Congress had given
the amount asked for by the Admins
tration then the appropriations for this
year would have been $24, 0S2, $40. 10
greater than for the year 1856 and S97,-
965, PAL 81 more than were those for the
year 18S4-5.
Do not these fgnres line out q fine
financial picture for the people to look
upon2 Do we not here get a splendid
photograph of Democratic reform2
What does 1t all meanP How is it that
when the people were promised great
reductions in the expenses of Govern
ment il they would only elect Demo
cratic National administration they find
its first effort to redeem the promise
resulting in request for an enormous
increase Of appropriations of the public
money! The facts now given to you
are just as they appear in the public
records. There is no guess work about
them. Did the Democratic managers lie
to you in 1884 when they were feeding
you with their profuse promises of re-
form, or did they fail to understand the
great questions they undertook to dis
cuss? Were they willfully bad or ignor-
antly stupid? Let it be one or the other
what do you think of them nowG How
do you like the picture of financial re-
form they have painted for you Do
you think they are the men to success.
fully conduct the affairs of great ma
ton? Have they done any better in any |
other regard Let us look at some other |
questions and ascertain at the conclus'
ion what our answer must be.