The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1896-04-08
THIS is A BIG COUNTRY
And Its Expenses Are Enor-
nous.
A FEW APPROPRIATION BILLS.
no Wonder Cncie Sam Feels Poor-some
Things the People Ar" Called Upon tn
Pay Literally For-Not Much Money IL
Wasted Either.

Wasted Either.
wAsHINGToS. April s.-[Special. III
you want 10 get an idea OF the vastness OF
this country. consult some of the appro-
priation bills recently passed by congress
Take, for example. the sundry civil bill.
measure in which appropriations for all
sorts of purposes not otherwise classified
are dumped, as its title would Indicate
Some of the items In this bill will give the
reader an idea of the vastness of the coun-
try, and also of the almost endless respon-
sibilities of the government. For instance
here is an appropriation of $l9. 500 for re-
lief of the native inhabitants of Alaska
the poor children OF nature, who would
starve If Uncle Sam did not help them
out. Besides this we spend $50, 900 year
for educating those natives and 1000 In
the experiment of raising reindeer for their
use. One of the surprising items of the
bill Is S577, 900 for artificial limbs and APP
pliances for disabled soldiers. The appro-
priation for this purpose last year was only
$132 900, but Chairman Cannon of the APP
preparation committee of the house ex
plains that the manned veterans are en-
titled to renewal of their artificial limbs
every third year, and that this Is the year
when most of them get new outfit.
The Janitor Business.
1t must be pretty big country In which
it costs 1910. 900 IA year TO pay the salaries
of the custodians and janitors of public
buildings No wonder Uncle Sam is poor
when he is In the janitor business to that
extent. Why, il costs $50, 900 year To
keep the public parks and grounds in this
-.
is wasted either This is exclusive of the
capitol grounds, which take $l2, 900 more.
To light the capitol one year costs S21, 900
and to keep 1t In repair s25, 000 The
White House is almost as expensive Its
Expenses" are put down at $50, 900
year and lighting at 5000.
Uncle Sam spends a good deal of his
money for printing and engraving. The
appropriation for the coming fiscal year
for engraving and printing which means
for the manufacture Of money, securities,
revenue stamps, etc, Is 81, 100, 600. In adj
dition to this IL costs considerably more
than 81 600 a week for the distinctive
paper used for the printing of government
securities. For public printing and bind
ing. which means the government print
ing Office, the appropriation is SO, 10, 900,
or $40, 900 for every working day.
1t costs the government $l25, 900 year
TO enforce the Chinese exclusion act and
500 900 To enforce the alien contract labor
law
Specimen Items.
The United States has a great many sep
arate establishments of which the people
do not hear much, but all Of which have
to be supported, and the aggregate cost is
a very pretty sum Not few Of these con-
Germs are appropriated for in other bills,
but the following appear in the sundry
civil:
The coast and geodetic survey, which
triangulates the coasts and mountains,
costs $500 600 year.
The fish commission. which introduces
food fishes to the waters of all parts OF the
country. requires s340. zoe year.
The geological survey. which makes sci
eutitc examinations of the country. can
not get along with less than Si47 900
Homes for disabled volunteer soldiers
cost -, 49, 600 year and in addition TO
this appropriation S725. 900 is given in aid
of homes for soldiers and sailors In states
and territories
The interstate commerce commission.
which will amount To something under re.
cent decisions Of the supreme court. re-
1uires S225. 600 a year.
The life saving service. one OF the most
admirable branches ~ the government
system. Is supported on 81, 531. 00o u year,
while the lighthouse establishment. in
Guiding heacons and fog signals. eats up
SIS, OBJ 0o1
The revenue cutter service, which COM
prises fleet Of vessels for the protection
OF the coasts against smuggling costs
1920 GOO ear
The improvements of rivers and harbors
already authorized by law require So, SIS.
600
Among the interesting items TO be found
In this hodge podge budget are the follow
ing
For publication of records Of the rebel
lion $4,000.
For suppressing counterfeiting and other
crimes, 500 o0o
For the Washington monument, $ll 500.
For the Yellowstone National park
$35 900
For headstones etc. In national ceme-
teries. $500. 900
We Are the People.
For fuel lights and water for public
buildings 5000. 600
For furniture for public buildings
$50. 600
For Chickamauga and Chattanooga
park S75. 900
For recoinage of gold coins. s.. 900: for
recoinage of silver coin, 500. 900
For the astrophysical observatory
Smithsonian institution, $40, 600.
For target range at Jefferson barracks,
$4,000
These items give good idea of the mul-
tiplicity Of the demands which are made
upon Uncle Sans purse.
An appropriation which will please
many people is s25 900 to defray the ex-
penses OF "a scientific commission TO report
the best means of preserving the forests or
the United States.
1t is indeed a great country and n great
government WALTER WELLMAN
They Can Cook.
Whom the dau ohtnrs of n -Snnatnr Gauc-