The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1897-06-02
Increased Tenfold Since 1896.
Baltimore Sun.

In q recent issue the Financial
Chronicle compares the increase of
the cost of government in the
United States in the last sixty
years with the increased cost of
government in other countries in
the same period, with the result
of showing that while the increase
in the other countries was forced
chiefly by apprehensions of war,
with us congressional extrava-
gance and recklessress have been
the preponderating causes. In
1886 Our Federal expenditure,
excluding interest on the debt,
was $50, 1868, 1854; III 1896 it was
1916, 794 ,417-a tenfold increase.
Our population and settled area
have no doubt increased greatly
in that period and some part Of
the increased cost of government
was necessary. But considera-
ton of items show that a large
part of it was not necessary. In
the last fifteen years our expendi-
ture, exclusive of the interest on
the public debt, has increased
$129, 100000. There has been in
that time no increase Of our army
and but q small increase of the
navy. The bulk of our waste has
been on things for which we have
nothing to show. Since 1882 our
annual pension expenditure has
been increased by $4,000, 900,
though some years before 1882
Garfield had declared that the
proper maximum had already
been reached. Our annual outlay
on rivers, harbors, bublic build
ings, &C., has risen by $50, 900, 900
in the last fifteen years, though
our needs have not increased in
that proportion. Useless Offices,
salaries, printing and other luxu-
ries cost us other millions Of in.
crease. "Ours," said Mr.. Can
non in his report to the last ses.
sion of Congress, els the only
government in the civilized world
wherein the administrative branch
; assumes no responsibility for it:
demands for expenditure" bu-
goes on piling up such demand.
: without regard to probable in
come.
There have been large increase
= in other countries, but they hav,
been carefully adjusted yearly t
probable income and have beel
3 dictated by supposed military ne
3 cessities. Sixty years ago, say
: the Chronicle, Great Britain was
| as she is now, ''the richest natio,
d of the world" Her revenue wa
: then $26O,O00, GOO; it is now $500
f 0OO,0OO.' Her foreign trade ha
e increased nearly six-fold. Th
: income from England's tariff i
; 1887 was y per cent. of the tots
g revenue, whereas now it is but 4
% per cent, and the laboring ma
- pays in taxes on the principle a
Ie ticles of consumption but ont
1t fourth of what his grandfath'
y did. The area of the empire hi
e grown from eight million squa
lg miles to eleven millions, and i
te population from 100, 900
or 400, 100000. 1t is easily the fir
the English claim, in commerci
enterprise, financial resources al
~ wise administration. Expend
"a lures have grown in the six
y years almost equally with the re
I'd enue, but not in as great propo
u. ton as wealth. The interest
'l- the public debt Of the Unit
ny Kingdom is but p per cent, al
'le the principal, which is now S;
ng 87O,O1O, is $1,OO0,O00,O0O l.
e. than it was sixty years ago. d.
ne ing thepastyear $37 100000 Of t
10 debt was paid off. Year by ye
n taxes are increased or diminish
na on the motion of the Chancel
no of the Exchequer SO as to bala1
les almost exactly the expenditu
no and this official alone can prop
'ut an increase of expenditure.
nd follows that he feels his respor
re- bility, and only necessary app
= priations receive his approx
All items are closely scanned
+ho the man who must find the re
~ nue. to meet them. The system
80 not like ours-one committee
tor "ways and means" and eight
~ nine other committees, each
- to itself, at work on estims
Nr made up by the departmer
"a each eager to get as much a
nee can from Congress. Nor does
Its. House of Lords, like our lord
mn Senate, feels at liberty to swell
II, preparations.
one Policy, not log-rolling,