The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-02-03

austrial crises are omnipresent. and nat
urally. much preoccupied by them. the
governments of the world, like individu-
ais. are looking into their resources as
well as their expenses. The end sought
Is the reduction of the latter to some
measure of moderation. Whether we
consider the case of France. or Germany,
or even that land of boundless wealth,
the United States OF America, the same
financial questions are paramount. al
though they present themselves under
widely varying aspects.
Thus does final analysis demonstrate
the increase in the cost of maintaining
government to be special 10 no one coun-
try. No matter what the form of govern
ment Is. be 1t further observed, 1t is the
constant increase of the expense account
that occasions perturbation. Govern
ments being in not faw respects sub
ject TO the came influences as private
individuals. the situation might be rep
resented as analogous to that OF a man
who draws more and more upon his re-
sources as time goes on. Nay, govern
ments are TO a great degree worse of :
than the private individuals They lack
earning power in the sense that we speak
Of the earning power OF an individual.
Now, the causes of this general in
crease in the cost of maintaining any and
every form OF government are innexible.
They operate Independently OF the gov
ernment. This feature OF the problem
renders it trebly difficult to deal with.
Yet there are causes that operatt IN a
purely relative way. They operate only
through temporary conditions.
One of the inflexlble causes of the IN
crease is the rise in the prices of those
commodities which are manufactured
solely for governments. Munitions Of
war. battleships. tarbors. Internal i'm
provements seem 10 be constructed and
conducted necessarily on scale of In
creasing costliness. Again, there is the
extension of the functions of the modern
state in directions unheard OF even as
late as the commencement OF the present
century. Finally. the increase in popu-
iation occasions expense through mere
arithmetical preponderance.
Where Is this TO end? Must govern
ments already embarrassed by the bur-
dehs of budgets at present sweIled to the
amplest proportions look forward 10 the
budget that is TO corle as a source Of
greater embarrassment than Ats preaeces-
sor2 IL Is hardly TO the point to call at
tention to the Increase OF prosperity that
IS observable here and there in the world
what shah be SAID regarding those indus
trial crises that Periodically retard thu
development of the peopie7 The point is
that the increase OF governmental exren-
diture Is out OF all proportion to the in
CREASE N governmental resources.
mans fortune may increase at the rate
or 10 per cent. a year. bu. If his expenses
increase at the rate of 20 per cent, a year
he IS a loser. Very similar Is the r.ox,.
tion OF the governments OF the world.
Who Is bearing these additional bur
dens? The money comes out of Same
body's pocket II would be worth while
to ascertain precisely who foots these
o'lis. Any effort TO establish the exact
distribution OF the burden Is nscessari iv
hanrered by the indirect nature OF pres.
ent taxation. II Is also surprising that
special interests are permitted as they
are. 20 take advantages OF the ,axgng
power to further individual ends ,rha
power 10 tax Is ordinarily connected N
the general mind with the power ~ ra,sa
money. But taxation viii accomplish :
great deal more than the raising as
money. II is q weaifh-dls;rlbutin tneu-
ence. In truth, St may be doubted
whether the power TO tax is not the whole
OF the power to govern.
Viewing. now. the intimacy CT TSs co.
neetson between the power to tax ard
certain special Interests. and following
logical method OF seeking for the canaa
IN the eaecf, We may conclude that for
some reason or other benefit accrues ~
somebody through this general increase
IN the expenditures OF the worlds gov-
errnen;s. But who ara these bensasi-
arsssa
Tae NEST practicable method ~ es.sh
Ashias thaF would be 10 effect a re5ue,so,
in the sldget regardless OF 4he rerrss.s,,-
sa'ions OF special interests. i, usual,v
happens that those interests which -
naoss active In the lobby have rrea,as,
inasenas N the preparation Of the h,,s-
get How comes II shat the existence !.
Sh.s lobby Is possible, That is. sso,x -,
the special Interests which u.al,.ssi,, 49,,
Afford the expense.
Obviously. because their profits ur.Ier