Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1895-03-14
Another Billion Dollar Congress.
Evening Wisconsin.


The democrats did a great deal Of
campaign shouting few years ago,
concerning the enormous eXtrava-
gance Of what they call 'the Billion
Dollar Congress" They used that
phrase to designate the fiffy-first
congress" rom Reeds Congress"--
which was republican by small
majority. But thus applied the name
was a lnisnolner. The only billion
dollar congresses which have ever
afflicted the people Of the United
States have been democratic con-
gresscs, large number Of whose
members have sneaked into power
by virtue Of specious promises Of
economy which they never kept and
mover meant 70 keep. From strictly
democratic source--the Chicago
Times Herald--the Wisconsin copies
the following table, showing the APP
preparation made by each of the five
congresses of the past decade;
Fortyunth ,ougress hrst session sl5l.2s7g5
ForJ.ninth congress. second ses-
sion ,. .,......s.... ..... 365,26s.8ae
TOTAL .................l.. S726 $50. 33l
Fnieih congress FIRST session l22626, 34s
FIFTEEN congress second session 395 337.56
ro,ol. ....#....,. ssi7ees 500
Ffn-trst congress. first session, 4ds.Sas.5l0
ffia first ceugress, second session 5e5,ols052
Total. ...,.s. ....... S9ss, 4lG.5s2
Fifty second congress frst session 5Q5,6Oo 1888
Fins second congress, second SEES
sion. .s....,.5s.,..,.. %. ..a. 5ia,5O4 359
Total ...... .s,.. $l,02b, 10, 5i1
Fifh-thrd congress first and sec
ond sessions ...,..s.,. ...,. 49e. 23o0s5
Fiuy-thirdtongtess third session
(cstlmatedi .s..... .......- ig7,9ai 1904
Total. s..... ........5...... $500 225 $50
The above table may be relied up
on except as to the last item, which
il marked estimated The Herald,
not wishing to cast odium upon the
fame of its democratic friends who
were in the congress which adjourned
yesterday has omitted from its es-
Innate of appropriations those eX-
Ipenditures which are authorized but
which may not be made during the
period covered IN the budget. This
is shown by the fact that the Herald
| figures the naval appropriation as
only S20,lo000. Evidently this omits
| the cost of the additions which the
secretary of the navy has been au-
thorized 10 make 10 the equipment Of
the navy. These included two armor-
"a battleships, which will cost $4,000,
0O0 apiece without armament. With
their armament, the two will no
doubt involve an outlay Of 100000.
The SIX composite guuboats will cost
S23QoO0 each, and three torpedo boats
$4,000 each. Here Is $lLpo00o0 Ia
hc added 70 the naval appropriation,
which swell the aggregation Of the
appropriations hy the ffth-third
congress "a Slu0lWoWo
Thus i appears that the same
democratic inronpctents who eu-
acted tariff legislation which reck-
lcsSly cut down tho income III the
nation to a point which emharlasst
the government aua injured ill., afrd-
/ IT, haNr with equal rocklessnesS, aud
/ With absurd Inconsistency, voted t0g
lavish expenditures. The people art
| not aiggards They admire tile pro.
gre.siye aul liberal policy Which
has characterized the reput Icon
administration Nj national aits fr-
But they hold lii detestatien demo.
Ieratie stupidity which plunges the
Il government into i quagnire Of aebt
tand disaster by committing ii 70 tho
Ifeekless expenditure of money which
| II has NOT rot, aud u hich ii can secure
only by borrowing an the most disad,
1 Nuf4fslWPt4lIg farms