The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-05-27
CONGRESSIONAL EXTRA Va
CANOE.

Baltimore sam.
In a recent issue the Financial
Chronicle compares the increase OF the
cost of government in the United States
in the last sixty years with the increas
ed cost of government in other coun
tries in the same period, with the re-
suit of showing that while the increase
in these other countries was forced
chiefly by apprehenslons of war, with
us congressional extravaganza and reck'
lessness have been the preponderatine
causes. In 1886 our federal expendi.
ture, excluding interest on the debt
was $50, 1868, 1854 in 1896 it was 1916,
794, Ala tenfold increase. Our pop
ulation and settled area have no doubt
increased greatly in that period and
some part of the increased cost of COY
eminent was necessary. But consider
alton of items shows that large part
OF it was not necessary. In the last
fifteen years our expenditure, exclusive
OF interest on the public debt, has in
creased 1928, $4,000. There has been
in that time no increase of our army
and but 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 increase by $78,
100000, though some years before 1882
Garfield had declared that the proper
maximum had already been reached.
Our annual outlay on rivers, harbors,
public buildings, etc., has risen by $50,
OO0,OOOin the last fifteen years, though
our needs have not increased in that
proportion. Useless Offices, salaries,
printing and luxuries cost us other
millions of increase. "Ours" said
MI. Cannon, in his report at the last
session of Congress, "is the only govern
ment in the civilized world wherein
the administrative branch assumes no
for its demands for expen-
dlture," but goes on plling up such de-
mands without regard to probable in
come.
There have been large increases in
other countries, but they have been
adjusted yearly, to probable
income and have been dictated by sup
posed military necessities. Sixty years
ago, says the Chronicle, Great Britain
was, as she is now, "the richest nation
of the world" Her revenue was then
$3.50, 100000; it is now $4,000, GOO.
Her foreign trade has increased nearly
The income from England's
Tariff in 1887 was u per cent. of the
total revenue, whereas it Is but A per
cent. and the laboring man pays in tax
es, on the principle articles OF con-
but one-fourth of what his
grandfather paid. The area of the en-
pire has grown from eight million
Square miles to eleven millions, and its
population from 16O,OOO,OOO to 4OO, 600,
600. It Is easily the first, the English
claim, in commercial enterprise, finan-
,ial resources and wise administration.
Expenditures haVe grown in the sixty
years almost equally with the revenue,
put not in as crest proportion as wealth.
The interest on the public debt of the
United Kingdom is but p per cent,
md the principle, which Is now 3d.
sc, 100000, is ST ,O0O, 600, 900 less than
t was sixty years ago. During the
'ast year $37 ,O00,0OO OF the debt was
vas paid off. Year by year taxes are
increased or diminished on the motion
i the Chancellor OF the Exchequer SO
S to balance almost exactly the ex-
ected expenditure. and this official
lone can propose an increase of ex-
enditure. It follows that he feels his
esponsibility, and only necessary ap-
receive bis approval All
TENS are closely scanned by the man
Tho must find the revenue to meet |
hem. The system is not like ours
ne committee for "ways and means"
nd eight or nine other committees,
ach a law to itself, at work on esti-
aates made up by the departments,
ach eager to get as much as it can from |
congress. Nor does the House OF |
.ords, like our lordlier Senate, feel at |
berty to swell appropriations.
Policy, not log-rolling, has caused the
lrge increase of the budgets of most
European countries since 1871. The
rming of France after that year caused
to increase enormously her
rmy expenditures. and the two coun-
les have reacted on each other.
1hen Germany armed, Russia had to
0 the same, and when Russia armed |
-ustrla had to follow her example. It
'y, confronted with France on one
de and Austria on the other, exhaust
! herself In ornaments. In this gen.
raj increase of armies, the navies OF
rance, Russia, Germany and Italy
ere also increased pari passue, so that,