The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-04-15
ECONOMY In GOVERNMENT.

For the past three years there has
been continuous cry of hard times
throughout the United States, and all
classes of people have been under the
necessity of curtailing expenses. and
getting down ia their affairs 20 a basis
of economy.
Yet while the hard times compel
economy on the part OF the Individual
citizen, the general government seems
impressed with no such necessity in
conducting its affairs; but goes right
on with the work of expending the peo-
Pies money with lavish hand.
When making his hast report the sec
rotary of the treasury took occasion
60 say that lat time when the PEG
pie, upon whom the expense Of sustain
ing the government is imposed, are
compelled TO practice the closest econ
omy in their business and domestic
affairs in order to meet their obliga-
tons and re-estakNsh their trade and
industries, it rs more than ever the
duty Of the public authoSties TO avoid
waste and extravaganza in the appro-
priation and disbursement of the reve
nue. While all the essential
agencies for the official administration
OF the public service should be ade-
quately provided for L am sure that
a careful examination of the subject
viii disclose many sources of expendi-
ture which might be greatly reduced
ol1.1
in this direction, together with a re-
fusal to make appropriation for new
objects Of doubtful necessity or PRO-
priety, would tend very materially to
equadze the public receipts and dis
bunsements.'
However far wrong the secretary of
the treasury may be in the matter of
unlimited and Independent coinage of
silver, there can be no question as to
the wisdom of the above suggestion.
Yet It is evident that congress up to
date in its legislation involving appro-
priations, has not been -actuated by the
considerations suggested by the secre-
Sary.
Speaking of the appropriation legis-
iatton of the present congress so far
as it has gone, the Baltimore Sun re-
Gently said:
The extravaganza Of the present con-
greSs rs evidenced by the recent state
ment of Chairman Cannon, of the house
committee on appropriations. that the
aggregate appropriations of the session
Will be about $500, 100000. For a session
IN which the speaker is trying to make
q record of economy, this may seem
large figure but it is developed that
the real figure for the year provided
for is much larger. AS respects many
items the appropriations are for but
eight months AT the next session pro-
vision will have DO be made for sixteen
months and the total for the two ses-
SONS viii largely exceed a billion dol
lars. Mr.. Cannon admits that the ap-
preparations for rivers and harbors,
PUBIC buildings and all contract work
are to meet only such expenditures as
are incurred up to March of next
year. That this is the year of a pres
idential election is further Indicated by
the insertion in the urgent deficiency
Dill of items aggregating 81, O0O,0 900 that
should have gone into this years sun
dry clvI bill, thus shifting the burden
upon past congress.
1t is lesson that the people of the
United States have got to learn, that
IN the management of the affairs of
their government the same business
principles must be observed as in the
management of private business insti-
buttons; and men whom the people en-
trust with the affairs of government
must be more impressed with the fact
that 1t is the peoples money that they
are expendfng: that it was taken from
the hard and in many instances the
scant earnings of the people, and
Should therefore be expended only for
that which is a necessity.