Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-03-02
The Financial Danger of the Country.

The country was scandaliZed when
the Fifty-first Congress appropriated
in its two sessions as much as a billion
dollars, says the Baltimore Sun. Vari-
GUS items of extravaganza on large !
scale were pointed out, and the country
was hardly satisfied with the explana-
tion OF Speaker Reed that this is
billion dollar country" Because
man, or country, can stand certain
amount, of waste is no reason. 1t was
argued. for entering deliberately upon
a policy of waste and higher taxes
But in comparison with the appropria
tions of the present Congress those of
Speaker Reeds first Congress must
seem moderation and economy itself.
The aggregate of appropriations of the
Congress now about to expire is esti-
mated at 81, COO, 900. GOO. exclusive of the
Sis, eco, 600 proposed to be appropri-
ated for the construction of the
Nicaragua canal. The war with Spain
an unnecessary war-accounts for
several hundred millions of the total,
but all expenditures are on an exag
gerated scale, and the vast extent of
the total outgo is due rather to the
reckless policy OF the party in power
than TO any particular event of the last
IVY YEARS lHo HIOlcCllObiSN lucd VI
spending one mans money for another
mans profit is at the bottom of the war
and the various increases of expendi-
ture that follow it.
1t is, unhappily, the Republican
policy TO use the taxing power to build
up special interests. The enormous APP
preparation for pensions was invented.
We know, to create seeming necessity
for the large revenue and higher tariff
demanded by protected interests.
The principle of economy is rejected.
Ii for any reason expenditure for "a par
ticular class of objects becomes auto
matically less than it was, taxes are not
correspondingly reduced, but new out
lets of waste are sought. Thus the
conditions of life are not improved,
but year by year the masses OF the
| people are placed in a worse position.
Favored individuals and classes are en-
riched by unequal laws, which take
from the many to give to the few. The
Dingley tariff virtually excludes foreign
| competition with our manufacturers,
with the result that trusts and CO n
bines are formed in every protected in
dustry TO restrict production and put
up prices. In the same spirit we are
now soon to be burdened with shipping
subsidies and enlarged naval construc
ton. To take care further of special
interests and keep up taxation the
| Nicaragua canal and Pacific cable are
to be saddled on the federal treasury
and the army is TO be increased four
fold.
At the first session of the present
Congress the appropriations footed up
$3.50, 81 ,615, though at the time the
treasury was confronted with deficit
During the present session the appro-
prlatioDs already made and in fairly
sure prospect, aggregate about 500,
coo. 000, exclusive of the Nicaragua
canal. A large deficit is in sight at
the end of the year in consequence OF
this extravaganza. Yet there is no at
tention given to the protests of the
chairman of the ways and means com
mittee. In the last five years the public
debt has been increased over si62, 900,
000, most Of which borrowed money
has been spent in meeting the govern.
ment's current expenses. Constantly
increased appropriations, increased
public debt, increased interest pay.
ments, ever recurring deficits-this il
the downward road along which such
badly managed governments as Spain,
Portugal, Italy and France have beer
travelling these many years. The pres.
emit condition of these countries should
be warning to our public men. In
all of them the people groan under
UNDESIRABLE taxes, due to lack of virtue
or wisdom on the part of their rulers.
The United States may still possess q
wide margin Of resources, but it i:
rapidly narrowing that margin under
it's present ambitious and wastefu
policy.