The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-09-11
WHY THERE WILL BE NO EXTRA SESSION.

The statement of the national debt for
August of this year shows an increase of
something over $1,000, 600; in the July pre-
ceding, there was an increase of 81, 317,0O0,
thus showing that since the beginning of
the present administration there has been
a steady but rapid growthin the expansion
of the national burden which now more
plainly than ever pOsterity will have to
bear the greater part of unless there be
sudden change There could be no reason
able objection to those who follow US doing
their share if there were any reasonable
excuse for it, since it was incurred as much
for their benefit as for that of this genera
ton; but there is no valid reason for it, ard
the showing in support of this proposition
is overwhelming.
The figures, official and of record show
that under the CLEVELAND administration
there was steady decline in the public
debt. During the corresponding months of
those mentioned each year, from 1885 to
1899 inclusive, there was an average de-
crease of about so, 100000 What con
trast And, to make the showing worse
for the present conductors of national
affairs, they found the treasury fairly
groaning under a surplus and the revenue
equal to all requirements, with a system
of things in vogue through the operation of
which reduction was sure and continuous.
It is true the excess of revenue over re-
quirements grew up under that administra-
ton, but this was because, through the laws
as they previously stood and the government
economically administered, surplus was
inevitable. 1t was no fault of Mr.. CLEvE-
LAND himself or of his executive staff, be
cause they all labored persistently to have
the laws 80 changed that there would be no
overflow IN the treasury to tempt improper
speculation, corruption and dishonesty. OF
course their clamOrs were UNDECIDED; Re
publican Senate, opposed to the executive
and House of Representatives, effectually
blocked the needed legislation, and the
sequel is before the country-a surplus ac
cum Hated under CLEVELAND swiftly
diminishing under HARRISON.
Undoubtedly the Republicans intended
that there should be no reduction in order
that, in the event of their coming into
power, they would have large sum of
money to squander with their customary
recklessness, and, not being fresh from the
hands of the people, it could be scattered
with slighter immediate consequences than
if they had gathered it as they went along.
When the President told his new commits
sioner of pensions to "be liberal with IN ,
old soldiers" the latter knew perfectly
well what was meant, just as the former
understood that tie means of being liberal
were on hand and in abundance. The fact
that the commissioner during last month
alone, gave away s2O,243,0OO in pensions
for real and artificial causes, shows that
the understanding was not only mutual but
the determination to carry it out decided.
Perhaps this is the reason why President
HARRISON has abandoned the idea of calling
an extra session of Congress in October or at
all. He understands and the country is
gradually coming to the understanding
that one OF the first movements which the
Democratic minority in either house will
make will be a rigid and thorough investi-
cation into the manner by which the sur
plus in the treasury is being dissipated and
the causes for it. If they find that parti-
san reasons and these only are the FONDA
ton of the corrupt squandering of the
peoples money, there will be an awkward
state of affairs to be explained away, and
arising before the regular session in De
cember would have to be met and discussed
by the annual message at that time; but
without the extra convocation, it need not
be referred TO then. 1t can be left for a
year hence, and in the meantime none of
us know what may happen. 1t is stand
ingrule in criminal practice for the defense
to gain all the time it can, and while there
may be nothing criminal in this case so far
as the President is concerned, there is an
ngly and direct connection with unauthor-