The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1895-04-19
PUBLIC PLUNDERERS.
dow the Nation Has Been Despoiled BY
the Democratic Congress.

dow tho Nation Has Been Despoiled BY
the Democratic Congress.
The question of appropriations. as
the New York Sun stated the other
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 to national safety and
productiveness. Even in time OF
great depression an approx ration by
which the productive power of the peo-
pie would be clearly and quickly in
creased might be held excusable by the
most economical. But when the num-
Der and salaries of taxeaters are large
ly increased at time when the re-
sources of taxpayers are at the lowest,
no words of condemnation can be too
sharp.
1t is in this aspect that the wanton
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
FLOR 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 if the aggregate ap-
preparations had been correspondingly
reduced. Economy in expenses for the
nations defense might be excused it
the army of taxeaters had not been en-
larged, and enabled to swallow many
millions more of the public revenue.
But when public defense is neglected,
and loyal veterans are stinted and
scrimped if not robbed, it is simply in
famous that the army of taxeaters in
civil service should be increased and
more lavishly fed.
This is done, moreover, in time of
great national embarrassment. The
treasury is empty, and the future OF
the nation has been mortgaged more
than Sl62 ,OOO, 900 in only about one year
to meet the deficit. The people suffer
from great depression of industries,
and every dollar they now pay takes
larger share of their earnings or prof
its than Sl.5O took four years ago.
The differences in aggregate of appro-
priations. about which democratic
leaders make such a 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. 1t is no exaggeration to 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, $780,
OOO, 600 would have taken in 1891, when
the last republican congress adjourned.
In every true sense, the congress of
lS94-95 has actually increased the ex-
penditures by at least 100000, 900, in
proportion to the ability to 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
1S9O-91, as reckoned by the official esti-
mates of the clerks. In order to swell
the latter, democratic calculation in
cludes the entire amount of money
payable in future years under the APP
preparations of ls9O-9l, but carefully
avoids doing the same thing in esti-
mating the appropriations by the con-
gress of 1s94-95. Ii the same method
were pursued for both years, as repub-
lican leaders have shown, the appro-
priations by the congress of 1s9l-95
than the highest democratic estimate
of appropriations by the congress of
1S9O-91. Or if the amount actually ap-
propriated 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 expendi-
ture that of 1s9O-91. But the difference
is insignificant either way, when it is
remembered that out of an overlooking
treasury republicans appropriated
about $1,000, OOO, 900, while out of a
treasury bankrupt and borrowing the
democrats expended about 81, OOO. OOO.-
600.
One other fact is commonly over
looked. The kind of taxes imposed
makes tremendous difference in the
burdens which the people have to bear.
The democratic congress has just ap-
propriated about $1,000, 200, 900, Of
which about sc0O, 200, COO must be
paid directly by the people in excess of
| former taxes of the same nature, name
ly. about $50, O00. 900 on sugar, sc, 0OO,-
600 or more according to democratic
estimates on incomes, and $40, OOO, 900 or
more additional taxes on whisky. But
the republican congress raised as much
and even more money by taxes on i'm
ports, which were paid to a great ex-
tent by foreign manufacturers and i'm
porters Not only has the taxeating
class been greatly increased, and its
plumber Of the people, but the people
themselves are compelled to pay about