The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-02
unxcrous ECONOMY.

Mr.. william $. holman Oh -"
chairman OF the House on
Appropriations. has made a great repu'a-
ion az an economist, which he values
most highly. and which he proposes to
keep He has recently given his views as
20 what the next Congress should do
towards cutting down expenses, and they
Will be received with very great interest
Mr.. Holman is opposed to an extra ses-
sion. because he thinks IL would involve
unnecessary expense, and he suggests an
heroic remedy for the deficit which the
Republicans nave created In the United
States Treasury. This Is that there
should be reductions all along the line,
so that the expenditures shall be brought
NJ once within the limit Of the revenue.
He. therefore. proposes to dissect all the
various departments OF the Government,
and cut out everything not specially de-
manded by the public needs. He opposes
any extension Of the Navy on the ground
that q large Navy is dangerous, because
Il. with the other implements or war
ca conveniently at hand, offers any politi-
cal marty In power too great a tempta-
ton TO run into trouble. He believes In
dinlomacy as the main reliance OF the
Government to avert difficulty, and cites
as proof Of this that a single note 10
Napoleon caused him to abandon Maxi
milan 10 his fate. while a similar mes
sage to England about the Alabama
matter brought her at once to terms.
He also favors an income tax, and doing
away absolutely with the spirit OF LAVISH
expenditure which so many years OF
Radical rule have fastened upon the
country.
In the main. Mr.. Holman Is right Inc
Republicans nave caused a deficit In the
Treasury, which must be met either by
increased taxation or a reduction OF
expenses, and as no party would ever
dare try the former, the latter must be
the main reliance OF the incoming Demo-
| cratic Congress-. But, like all men VINO
study economy and nothing else, he Is
| constantly in danger of saving at the
| spiggot TO waste at the bung. For IN
stance. he. in opposing an increase or the
Navy and trusting entirely to diplomacy
for the prevention Of trouble, is wholly
unmindful Of the fact that any diplomat
whose country is not provided with ample
means TO back up the demands 1t may
make through him. will have no intu-
/ ence. but will be treated with contempt
and in advocating the imposition or an
income tax he proposes a measure when
; has once been tried, and found out to be
! an inquisitorial measure of such obnoXl-
BUSINESS that it had to be abandoned.
Nevertheless. the experience OF the
great director of Indiana in the science
of economy, which is one Of the most
intricate Of all the sciences, will be OF
great benefit to the next Democratic ad-
ministration. A purging of the pension
lists and a judicious reform of the tarli1,
which will encourage imports OF such OF
the necessaries Of life as are required by
the masses Of the country, will add i'm
mensely TO the Government revenues, and
If these are first tried and are still found
wanting. then some Of the more drastic
experiments such as Mr.. Holman favors
might be tried and justified on the ground
of public necessity. In other words,
while the first duty Of the Fffty-third
Congress will be to lop off ali extrava-
CANT expenditures and to exercise the
spirit of lavish recklessness which the
Republicans have called up, II must not
let the passion for economy carry 1t to
the point of rushing headlong into such
a system Of reckless application Of the
knife as will threaten, rather than pro-
mote, the general welfare.