The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-04-11
A sPENDTHRIFT NATION.

A writer in some one OF the popular
magazines for the current month DEM
onstrafes by official figures that the
United States OF America has grown TO
be the most gantly governed of
any nation on the earth. Instead OF
the expense decreasing per capita, as Il
should as the country grows il popula-
ton, it is actually increasing per capita,
in fast has trebled in something over
a half century of time. This is not True
only of the general federal government
but of state governments and city anu
other municipal governments. In 1e41
the total let ordinary expenses OF the
government, including interest on the
public debt, was $24.3i4.51S. The pop
ulation of the country ia the census year
1860 at the beginning of the war was
nearly double what it had been i'll 1910,
and the expenditures of the federal gov
eminent had increased TO. $63,200,SI".
Then began the domination Of the par
" which has since that time imposed
IT'S It1ltCleS upon puDliS duAAAAAiSeA avn
The population of the country since
1910 has quadrupled, but the eXpendi-
ture of the federal government has in
creased TO almost eighteen times the
amount expended in 1910. The total
expenditure of the fiscal year ended
June so, 1896, was S434. 67S, 654. The
excuse usually urged for this enormous
" increased cost Of government IS that
ii is q result Of the war. But this Is
only in part true. The war has been
over for thirtytwO years. The eXpend-
itures for pensions and for interest on
the public debt in the last fiscal year
were S174S19.02S, leaving 1858, S59.626
for other purposes. The cost Of the civil
establishment in 1910 was $500, 500;
In 1860 it was $27.977, 97S; in 1896 it
was $S7,216.234 This item shows the
way the cat jumpS-from about b
rents per head in 1910 about 30 cents
In 1860, to about S1.32 in 1896. The
whole cost of the federal establishment
In 1910 was S1.40 per head; in 1850 81;
in 1896 $500
These figures are taken from the
writer in the magazine referred % AMI
are probably correct. They are start
ling. With the geneal government it IS
rivers and harbors and navy vessels
and the like in almost unnumDcred
millions annually. With towns and
oi+iaS II = ir,,,Drorap,apt ouI S-chnol md
public improvement bonds al minimum.
AS a way or means of keeping expendi
lures within the volume of income,
economy and frugalityS are never
thought of. The only question which
bothers congress, the legislature and
the city council alike is how 10 raise
more revenue, or a sufficient revenue
TO meet the enlarged expenses. The idea
of economy as a policy would be con-
sidered little 10 contemptibleness.
Whether by direct or indirect taxation
all monies for public expenditure come
from the people. The days OF spoiIs
and repIisais are no more. 1t is boast
ingly declared by patriots who live off
of politics that this is billion dollar
country and that therefore such sum
appropriated by each congress success
sively is and will be all right. But
some day this proposition is going to be
questioned by the fellows who contrib
ute that vast sum, earnestly and We
hemently questioned, and then will
come the policy of living strictly within
our income