New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-11
OVER 4 BILLION.

Wide circulation is given to the attempts OF
Mr. Holman and others TO explain the appro-
pratjons of this Over-A- Billion Congress. They
assert that part of the appropriations made were
rendered necessary by legislation OF the prcvi-
GUS Congress- and therefore proceed to deduct
it. But they arc careful not to state how great
a part of the appropriations by the last Repnb-
lican Congress was made necessary by leglsa-
ton of the previous Democratic Congress. and
Democrats were prompt to charge the Repub-
licans with all the appropriations made IN oruer
to swell the aggregate to billion. what Is
sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander'
Democrats will havo to stand responsible for
all the money they saw tit to vote away, even
as they held Republicans responsible
This is strictly fair and proper, moreover.
For it was in the power OF Congress, il it found
that large appropriations were required by ex-
isting laws, either % change the laws or to cut
off grants for other purposes. The Democrats
did not venture to repeal any OF the enact
ments which, they say, involved largo eS-
penditurcs, and they thus confessed that the
appropriations for those objects were OF such
character as to be approved by the people 1t
rested with the Democrats to vote away much
OF little for other objects and they chose to
vote away much-espccIally for river and har-
Dor improvements. After swelling their bill
far beyond the worst figure reached by the
most extravag CANT of all previous Congresses
the Democrats c1,t down many regular appfo-
priatons beyond the amount necessary for the
efficient conduct of the public service, and yet
could not get the aggregate down TO the billion
rate. There is no help for it ; they will have
r. stand responsible for their Ovcr-A Billion
Congress.
Other Democrats are pleading that this is
great and growing country, and that its gov
ernmcnt needs a great deal Of money. That
was true two years ago. Then the Democrats
secuted and derded this truth, and now they
will have to fare the consequences Of their own
demagogism Ii is the fact that Government
does need, for all the work it is now doing
more money than it used to require, not merely
because the population has increased, but also
because branches and departments OF the ser
vice have been added which formerly did not
exist. and especially because the Nation, having
paid large part of its debt to those who rlsked
their money for its salvation, is now engaged
in paying large part of its debt TO those who
risked their lives. Nevertheless, the fact re-
mains that a not insignificant proportion OF the
appropriations made by Congress this year Is
unnecessary and wasteful Otherwise the ag-
gregate for the first year Of this Congress would
not have exceeded half a billion.
Whoever kept his ears open at Washington
during the last session of Congress heard this
argument very frequently in private, though
never in public: "You are voting away cnor-
nous sums to the Union veterans Of the North
and We cannot politically afford TO object. But
we can insist that there shall be correspond
ingly large increase in the river and harbor
appropriations, which are distributed mainly to
the South" This plea will not bear publicity
What the Nation owes it ought to pay, whether
its creditors live in one section or another. The
fact that it owes, at the very least, freedom
from pcnury to those who gave the best years
of their lives to preserve its existence, and most
Of whom happen to live in one part of the
country, is 10 excuse whatever for throwing
away money in wasteful grants to people of
another part. Votes for improvements. be they
wise or unwise, can never stand on the same
footing with votes for the payment OF pensions.