The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1897-04-22
TIME TO THINK.

This from the Oregonian of April 10th
and ii is we'll worthy of careful consider
alton; 1--WE are running be-
hind. In 1889 our receipts were $i43,-
225,670, and our expenditures 1856, 464,.
$50; but in 1896 the receipts were S409,-
475. 40s, while expenditures had grown to
$43i, 67S,654. For the three years 1894,
1895 and 1896 the excess of expenditures
over receipts was, IN round numbers,
$4,000, 900. This is state of things
sufficient, not only to hurry congress to-
gether, but to give every thoughtful clti.
zen pause.
mo effort is being made to solve this
problem by increasing revenues, and as
revenues can only arise from tributes
levied directly or indirectly upon the
people, the government proposes to adj
just its income to its expenditures, and
at the peoples expense. These are hard
times for the application Of such a rene
dy, and the burdens will be felt. 1t is
justifiable only as last resort, and in
case expenditures cannot be adjusted to
present income. What are the facts?
''In 1860 the republican national con-
vention that nominated Lincoln resolved
that Mr.. Buchannan's term bad been
marked by RECKLESS extravaganza,
which pervades every department OF the
federal government" The total amount
disbursed by President Buchanan's ad-
ministration for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1860, was 500. 200, 900, just about
one-ninth OF the average annual sppro.
priations made by the 54th congress, re-
Gently adjourned. In 1860 we were g
nation of 81 100000 people. Today We
are twice as many, but our national ex-
penditures are nearly ten times as great
If we were "recklessly extravagant' in
1860, what are we now? Congress is now
appropriating as regular thing a larger
sum than was expended in any year OF
the civil war, except its first, and even
its stupendous figure of 1912 100000 is
now almost equaled, il We count the APP
propriations voted by the last congress,
but failing to become laws.
at is idle to particularize as to pen
sions, etc., for the excuses are all along
the line. For pensions we are paying
S6,O00,OO0 year more than in 1886, and
the civil service costs $36, 100000 a year
more than the total expenditures of the
government in 1860. The time has come
when men, regardless of party, begin to
see that public expenditures are too great.
The tariff debates and the popular dread
OF increased taxes now show that the
revenue to sustain them will be burden
some. A tariff is only the instrument by
which the tressurys burden is put upon
the backs of the people. 1t must cores
pond to the moderation or excess of its
requirements, and neither the Dingley
tariff nor any other can meet exhorbitant
and unnecessary expenditures without
infiicting distressing and unnecessary
hardships. Shall we so soon forget that
admonition of President McKinley's in
augursl: Economy ia demanded in
every branch OF the government at all
times, but especially in periods, like the
present, of depression in business and
distress among the people. The severest
economy must be observed in all public
expenditures, and extravaganza stopped
wherever it is found, and prevented
wherever in the future 1t may be deyel-
oped."