The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1895-03-30

How the Nation Has neen Despolied By
the Democratic Congress

day, turns wholly upon the condition
of the treasury and the people at the
time the appropriations were made, and
the character of those appropriations
with reference 10 national safety and
productiveness Even i'm time OF
great depression an appropriation by
which the productive power OF the peo-
pie would be clearly and quickly i'm
creased might be held excusablc by the
most economical. But when the num-
Der and salaries of tazeaters are large
ly increased AT n time when the re-
sources of taxpayers are at the lowest,
no words of condemnation can be too
sharp.
IL Is in this aspect that the wantcn
wastefulness OF the last democratic
congress is most conspicuous and of
fensive. Appropriations were no larger,
but on the whole smaller, for the pro-
lection OF American citizens at home
by the army, for their protection on
the coasts and the seas by the navy,
for their protection in foreign coun-
tries by the diplomatic and consular
service, and for their protection by the
courts. But the salaries embraced in
the sundry civil bill were enormously
increased, while the payment OF PEN
sions TO loyal veterans was greatly re-
duced. Poverty might serve as an ex-
cuse for putting of or pairing down
pensions payments IL the aggregate APP
preparations had been correspondingly
reduced. Economy in expenses for the
nations defense might be excused II
the army a taxeaters had not been en-
! larged, and enabled TO swallow many
millions more of the public revenue.
j But when public defense Is neglected,
and loyal veterans are stinted and
scrimped IL not robbed, IL is simply in
famous that the army Of taxeaters in
/ civil service should be increased and
moro lavishly fed.
This is done, moreover, In time OF
great national embarrassment. The
I treasury Is empty. and the future OF
the nation has been mortgaged more
than Sl62, 900, 900 in only about one year
10 meet the deficit. The people suffer
from great depression of industries,
and every dollar they now pay takes
n larger share of their earnings or prof
its than Sl.50 took four years ago.
/ The differences in aggregate OF appro-
i priations, about which democratic
I leaders make such clatter, are too
contemplate for consideration in view
of the enormous differences In the con-
dition OF the treasury, the people and
the industry and business Of the coun-
try II is no exaggeration 20 say that
appropriations of $1,000 100000 this
year will take from the people a
greater share OF their earnings and
/ profits than appropriations OF 81 ,500,-
o00,0 900 would have taken in 1891, when
the last republican congress adjourned.
In every true sense, the congress OF
ls0i-95 has actually increased the ex.
pendisires by at least $500, 600, in
proportion 20 the ability 70 pay, over
those required by the last republican
congress.
The official statements disagree, as
usual. but even the democratic calcu-
lation admits an aggregate OF appro-
priations slightly larger than that Of
lS90-0i, as rcckoned by the official esti-
mates of the clerks. In order 20 swell
the latter, democratic calculation in
cludes the entire amount Of money
payable in future years under the APP
y
avoids doing the same thing in esti-
mating the appropriations by the con-
rress Of 1s94-05. III the same method
were pursued for both years, as repub-
lean leaders have shown, the appro-
priations by the congress Of ls04-95
would be greater by many millions
than the highest democratic estimate
OF appropriations by the congress Of
lsQO-9i. Or il the amount actually APP
propriatcd for payment within the
fiscal year be taken in both cases,
which is the more accurate mode Of
reckoning, the congress which has just
adjourned, even on the democratic
estimates, has surpassed in cxpendi-
ture that Of ls00-0i. But the difference
Is insignificant either way, when il Is
remembered that out Of an OVERLOOKING
treasury republicans appropriated
about 81, 900, 100000, while out Of a
treasury bankrupt and borrowing the
democrats expended about $1,000, 000,-
600.
One other fact Is commonly over
looked. The kind OF taxes imposed
makes a tremendous difference In tho
burdens which the people have 60 bear.
The democratic congress has just APP
propriatcd about $1,000, 100000, of
which about 500, 900, 600 must be
paid directly by the people in excess OF
former taxes OF the same nature, name
! ly, about So, 100000 on sugar, soc, 600.
600 or more according 20 democratic
estimates on incomes, and $4,000, 600 or
more additional taxes on whisky. But
the republican congress raised as much
and even more money by taxes on inn
\ ports, which were paid 20 a great ex-
tent by foreign manufacturers and inn
porters. Not only has the taxeating
class been greatly increased, and its
plumber OF the people, but the people
themselves are compelled 70 pay about
20 per cent of the aggregate expenses
which were paid under republican ad-
ministrntions by duties on goods
/ brought hither for sale.-N. Y. Re-