Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-16
COST OF IMPERIALISM.

Philadelphia Times; Under the general
enthusiasm for expansion congress and the
administration have been laying all kinds OF
gorgeous plans without any serious thought
of where the money is to come from. 1t is
beginning tosbe realized now that even glory
must be paid for.
Chicago Record. with the fact Of per-
manently increased expenditures staring
them in the face, and with the prospect Of
no abatement of the stamp taxes for a long
time to come, It behooves congress and the
country to consider seriously the situation
confronting them, to the end that the burden
of taxation may be kept as light as possible.
Especially Is caution necessary at the pres
ent time, in view of Chairman Cannon's
statement that there was in the treasury
February l only 1924. 600, 600, inclusive Of
the 500, 600, 600 gold reserve, of which sum
5000, 900, 900 was derived from the war loan.
Philadelphia Record: There will be a
heavy bill to pay the piper after Uncle Sans
brief war dance. Up to February 1 the
deficiency for the current fiscal year was
1872, SCI, 9S2-or at the rate of about $160, 000,-
900 a year. The war loan of 5000, 900, 900 will
be nearly all gone by July 1 neXt, according
to the estimates of financial experts in con-
gress and then, with a huge army to main
tain, the government must either increase
the federal taxes or borrow money on bond
issues. The wise and sure policy OF pay as
you CO. seems to have been definitely and
finally abandoned by those in control of the
country's financial affairs.
Chicago Chronicles: The program which
has been indicated fer Porto Rico and the
Philippines is such that W. cannot expect
them to bear any considerable part of the
cost of military administration. 1t is pro-
| posed to do a great deal in the way of sani-
tation and to provide them with a system OF
, public schools. If we tax them for these
purposes and for the general purposes of
civil administrator they will not be able to
contribute much more for some years. II
follows, of course, that the cost of an en-
larged army and navy and all other extra
ordinary expenditures will fall upon the
people at home.
Philadelphia Ledger: The duty before us
with reference to our new responsibilities in
Cuba and the Philippines and the payment of
the liabilities we have already unselfshly
assumed on their behalf are serious obliga-
tions. The existing heavy drafts on the
federal treasury should not be supplemented
by financial responsibility for projects in the
furtherance of which the bonded debt of the
nation and its revenues must be enormously
augmented. Mr.. Cannon has discharged a
patriotic duty in drawing public attention
to what he perceives to be the facts. A
policy of silence would be futile and foolish.
Baltimore Sun; Despite Mr.. Cannon's
statement in the house on Thursday that
there would be a very heavy deficiency in
government revenues by the end of the fiscal
year. the president is none the less willing
to build a cable thousands of miles long to
the Philippines. If his policy did not con-
template the permanent occupation of the
islands it is hardly probable he would rec
ommend so great an undertaking as a Pa
cific cable. Mr.. Hepburn Of Iowa, who has
charge of the Nicaragua canal bill in the
house, gave formal notice that he would offer
his bill, which involves an expenditure OF
$4,000 900 as an amendment to the sundry
civil bill. Neither congressman nor presi.
dent are afraid to make enormous drafts on
the treasury to help the imperial program
along.