Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-08-10
THEY ARE In GRIEF
The Democratic Leaders Sore
Iy Perplexed
TOexCUse THEIR PRODlGALIN
The Billion Dollar Congress Cannot BE
Compared With Its Exsravagant
Successor.

WASHINGTON, Aug. S.-Democratle
leaders are remaining ia this city with
the eviaent purpose OF enosasoring 10
break the force of the remarkable
statement which Senator Allison made
the closing night of the session As TO
the condition OF the appropriations
Chairman Holman and Messrs. ssyers
and Dockcry have been busy at the
capitol since the adjournment trying 70
devise some statement which will coun-
teract Mr.. AllisoE's speech.
Unfortunately for them, but well for
the sake of truth. they are confronted
at the outset with the statement which
Senator German made in the senate
Immediately after Mr.. Allison finished
his speech. The tribute which Mr..
German, the member OF the national
committee whom Grover Cleveland
greatly desired should conduct the
national campaign. paid to the integ-
rlty, accuracy and truthfulness Of the
republican leader was an ecomium
which is rarely bestowed by one poiiti-
Cal leader upon another. Mr.. German
said: "Full statements OF why these
appropriations have grown and An
enumeration of the laws which nave
made these increases necessary will be
made, and will find their way into the
record. l have no doubt that they will
be as fairly made as the statement OF
the senator from Iowai His figures
cannot be questioned"
German's Prediction.
At the same time Mr.. German added
to his statement that which is Of much
significance IN the campaign. and
which Is more important than any
F! juggle with figures that the "nickle'
economist of the house can present to
break the force of evident facts. Mr..
German predicted that, owing IN part
| to the large democratic appropriations
additional taxation will soon be nee
essary. He said: "Before this congress
adjourns, unless / very much mistake
the figures presented by the secretary
of the treasury, we shall be compelled
| to levy additional taxes to meet the re-
| qnlrements of the treasury under the
laws which are on the statute books.
When the time comes, as believe il
must come before the end OF the fiscal
| year 1898, that an additional amount
| must be levied to meet the require
ments, have no doubt that botn po-
Iitical parties, being brought so
| sharply face to face with the people,
will find some method by which these
immense sums which We appropriate
annually may be reduced. l dare not
ut this time say more."
Democratic Clap Trap.
Nor will the democrats be able 70 de-
rive any comfort from the claim which
| 1t Is understood that Holman, Sayers
and Dockery are about TO make that
the increase of appropriations by the
| present house is due to the acts Of
| republican congress-, and that there
really has been some genuine saving
made by the democrats. Mr.. Allison.
in an interview anticipating these COM
ments of tho democrats, eaid: "The
spvlngs made by this congress, or what
I! they call savings, are found only In re-
duced appropriations for rivers and
harbors, for the construction of the
navy, for Notifications. and. of course.
fewer2deficlencles because of sufficiency
of former appropriations. We made
some extraordinary appropriations two
years ago, which were counted against
us, sucn as five or SIX millions for the
census, the refund of the direct tax,
and large appropriations for the con-
struction Of the navy. Many Of those
| appropriations are not yet expended,
arid 80 the work goes on without siml-
lar appropriations at this session"
Made No Reductions.
"This congress has made no reduc-
tions worth considering in any of the
great departments of the government
or upon any of the great bills other
than have suggested. The legislative
expenses have been provided for; the
same for the agricultural department;
the same for the army and for the
regular conduct of the navy, for West
Point and tho Indian service. There
have been increases in the approprla-
tions for the postal service. Scrutiny
of the democratic party savings clearly
shows that no great reductions can be
made in the general ordinary expenses
of government. They say that these
increases Of appropriations were neces-
sary because of the laws OF congress.
and they quote the pension and sugar
bounty laws. Yet they do not propose
the repeal of the pension laws or of the
sugar bounty act.
Money Used when Needed.
The def1clencles OF this year, senator
| Allison said--the unpaid debts of last
congress-wcre not large; in fact. they
were not 30 large ~ usual. There
Was deficiency in public printing" he
said, "and in the department of justice,
and sundry deficiencies here and there,
but the aggregate Was not large. There
are always unforeseen expenditures
which have TO I've met in this way"
II u evident, therefore, that when
the democrats 90 upon the stump and
begin to prate about the billion dollar
congress il will be quite the proper
thing for any one interested in the
| truth TO ask which billion dollar con-
gress they refer 10. If one wishes TO
go farther than that he might declare
| that the proof of statesDansbIp 10 not
| in the amount Of money spent, but IN
the way that il is spent. An eIamina-
! ton Of the expenditures Of republicans
in the last congress- show that they
were in the direction OF progress and
| Improvement of tne country, aud Did
| not consss. Of vastefui river and bar
Dor Jobs, and southern claims of doubt
| ful justice.