The times., 1899-01-10
A GoDKIN WARNING.
The BilIion-Dollnr Congress to He
Left in the Shade.

Lett IN fhe Shnde.
New York. Jan. 9-The Evening Post
today prints a mournful prognosis of
Congressional extravaganza. and expresses
the belief that the Administration will en-
courage lavish outlay for the purpose of
making things lively all around. pre-
sumably with a view to political events
next year. 1t says: Unless conserva-
tive Republicans elsewhere call a ha I
upon the more enthusiastic of their pa, ty
brethren in Washington before it is tCo
late. an era of extravaganza will soon he
witnessed which will startle the country
and the Democrats Will have an issue
ready made for them. \ few years ago
the phrase, "A billion-dollar Congress"
was hurled at the party in power as an
eDithet OF reproach. 1t was far from ac-
curate. Though the expenditures were
heavy and roughly approximated at a bill
lion dollars. there had been included to
make up that sum many items which were
not real expenditures, like the postofiice
appropriation of $40 900, 900 or so, most OF
which comes back in postal receipts, and
the sinking fund appropriation. which it
was not expected would BE- fully carried
cut. The billion" phrase simply typiiied
the popular estimate that Congress had
been lavish, and TO that extent the charge
had good foundation. But if the present
movement remains unchecked. "a billion
dollar Congress will come TO be looked
upon as actually parsimonious by COM
parison with one which spends its billion
in single year instead of a whole term.
1t should not be supposed that the
threatened tide of extravaganza is wholly,
or even in large part. due TO the newly
proclaimed policy of territorial expansion.
That may be made an excuse for large
Inf ha
cause lies back of any administrative
policy. The country is feeling good to-
day: the commercial reports indicate re-
markable prosperity in many lines of in
dustry: and the gold holdings of the
United State5-an illogical test-are deeply
influencing public opinion. General Gros-
yenors speech in the House on Saturday
shows that it is not only the prevailing
belief IN Congressional and Administrative
circlss that prosperity has come, but that
ii is good politics" formally and en-
phatically to announce that belief, as the
fuiiillment of prophecy. Plans for the car
rying on of the Government are undertaken
in this view. and it is remarkable how
great an effect such a prevailing opinion
can have upon Congressional action
Moreover. a belief is entertained and
openly advocated by not few public
men, that large public expenditure is a
good thing They say it is popular" 1t
makes work and places" II keeps a
lot of money i'll circulation In the com
which feel the direct effect of
the Governments outlay, the people are
jubilant and grateful. while the rest of
the voters, who are paying for these
things. do not miss the two pence ut
time which, by our system of very indi-
rect taxation. is taken from them.
Substantially all the measures now prom
inently before Congress are really plans for
spending a great deal of money. The Mica
ragua Canal is a notable illustration. The
expenditures of the Government on Pacific
Of a generation ago are now like
ly to be repeated in forcing a passageway
through the Isthmus. The Hanna Payne
bill for the revival of American shipping
would obviously entail large outlay upon
the Treasury. The increase of army and
navy. and OF the pension roll are along the
same line. And the popularity about Gov
expenditures is that nothing ever
decreases. When the Government estab-
fishes something new, no matter if it costs
only sl0O.001 a year, that thing will go on
forever. The accumulation. year after
year, of these individual items results in
the enormous expenditure which we have
now reached Once in great while the
Government cuts OFF one expense. but this
is an exception so infrequent rs only 10
emphasize the rule.
Somebody ought to compile book con-
ainng a list of all the ways in which it is
seriously proposed that the Government
shall spend money. An interesting sugges-
ion. for instance. was made at the recent
convention. held in this city, in the interest
If a national university One of the speak
RS. woman, was quoted as arguing that
he weakness of our privately endowed ed
Icational institutions is due 10 the fact
hat the constantly lowering rate of inter
ast gives them a steadily decreasing in
'ome, and to remedy this, she proposed to
layc the National Government take in
rust the funds which might be left for the
benefit of educational research, and allow
/ permanent rate of interest-say per
them in perpetuity, 1t would !
lot be difficult, she thought. to prove that |
uch an arrangement would be OF enormous
,dyantage to the cause of education. and !
supplement the good work of |
If a national university
RUSsIA'S WHEAT cRop |