The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-23
CONGRESS SHOULD RETRENCH.

In urging economy and retrenchment of
| expenditures the Journal is by no means
| certain that it has the ear of Congress, but
| it is confident that it represents the inter-
| ests and sentiments of the people. TO make
| a new application of a much overworked
phrase, it would remind congressman that
! government of the people, by the people
and for the people should mean, first of all,
economical government. The mass of the
American people believe in economy. A
large majority of them practice it in their
own affairs, and would like to see it APP
piled in public affairs. They have a right
TO expect that it will be. Under the best
possible management the cost of the vari-
Gus kinds of government in this country is
very great. The aggregate expenses of ma
tional state, county, township and munich
pal government are simply appalling, and
no matter what form of taxation is adopted
it all has 10 come out of the people. Some
thing may be gained by a wise adjustment
of the burden to the backs of the people
so as to cause a minimum of friction, but
no matter how it is adjusted the burden
fest and imperative duty of all public Off
cials, from the highest to the lowest, and
especially of those who appropriate pub
lie moneys to exercise the strictest econ
omy. This is true at all times, but partic-
ularly when, as now, the people are just
emerging from a long period of hard times
and when the receipts of the national gov
eminent have fallen behind it's expenditures
every month for three years, A member
of Congress who does not recognize the
necessity for retrenchment and economy
under such circumstances is not fit to be
called a representative of the people.
Examination of the appropriation bills of
recent years shows an increase in nearly
all the important items of expenditure out
of proportion to the increase of population
or the growth of government business. This
statement holds true for more than twenty
years past, but, going back only ten years
we find that in 1887 the total expenditures
of the government, exclusive of interest
on the public debt, were $26S 093, $50, against
1927 $3.50, O49 in 1897. An increase in the ordi-
nary expenditures of the government of
$50, SS9, 1873 in ten years is altogether too
much. This exceeds the total expenditures
of the government in any year from it's
formation to 1855. 1t is startling to COM
pare the enormous expenditures of the gov
eminent at present with those during any
year of the first half of the century. In 1860
the total expenditures were ST. 1853; in 1910
they were $5,311,O82; in 1920 they were 3d.
1874 $780,; in 1890 they were s1S,229, 533; in 1910
they were $24,139. 800; in 1850 they were $751;,
165,9S0; in 1860 they were $60,056, 754. These
expenditures seem insignificant compared
with those of recent years, 1927 9S9, 049 last
year, and estimated at 1853 227, 076 for 1898.
1t is impossible to explain this steady in
crease in the ordinary expenditures of the
government, in other words In the cost of
government itself, on any other theory ex-
cept a growing spirit of extravaganza and
recklessness in appropriating public money.
The evidence of this is seen In the fact
that the appropriations increase from year
to year. They increased from 1852, 179,446 in
1896 to 1855, TIA 59 in 1897, and the estimated
expenditures for 1898 are $469 227, 976. There
can be no doubt that this steady increase
covers many extravagancies and some
abuses. The river and harbor bill is full
of these and the bills to appropriate money
for new public buildings cover many more.
In the present condition of public finances
it is doubtful if Congress ought to appro-
| pirate dollar for either OF these purposes
! except to carry on or protect works already
begun. But it is not necessary to specify.
There are abundant opportunities to re-
trench ard economic If Congress wants to
do it. 1t is not the way that is lacking, it
is the will and the nerve. The field is ripe
and the harvest is ripe. 1t is only necessary
for the appropriations committee to enter
it with a big pruning hook and cut right
and left.