The evening times., 1900-09-26

The cost of government in the United
States has increased from 81 cents per
capita in 1880 TO 50 per capita in 1900. The
per capita cost Of Government in 1850 was
$2,45. Imperialism means taxation.
In 1890 the United States had popula-
ton of 3,929. 214, and the entire expenses
of the National Government amounted to
S3,797 .436. This was just 81 cents per
capita for the entire national expenses.
In 1902, when Jefferson was President,
the country had a population of 5,30S, ,4SS
people, and the entire expenses Of the
Government amounted to S1S. .2T0, 4S7. The
calculation properly made showed that
the per capita expenses of the Govern
ment at that period did not exceed S2.49.
In 1880 Andrew Jackson was President OF
the United States and the population had
grown 10 u, ,866, ,620 and the teal national
expenditures amounted to pass, ,2Sl.
At this period OF American history the
per capita tax for the purpose Of meeting
the expenses of the Government was only
81 80; that in reality, instead of expenses
increasing per capita under Jackson's Ad-
ministration. the per capita expenses had
decreased 80 cents. The general average
up 30 this period will compare fayor2bly
with these instances. In 1866. at the close
of Buchanan's Administration, there had
been no material increase in the per cap
ita expenses Of the Government.
At that time the population of the Uni
ted States was 81, ,443, ,221 and the entire
expenses of the Government amounted TO
only $77. 600. .125 Considering the popula-
tion in comparison to the expenditures,
the per capita tax Of the United States for
the entire expenses Of the Government
was only $40. There had really been
decrease in our per capita expenses IN
MIR. Buchanan S Administration of cents
per capita over the Administration OF MI
Jefferson.
Up to the commencement OF the civil
war the United States had continued the
rigid economy which had characterized
the early history of our Government
While we grew in wealth and population.
the general expenses of the Government
did not outgrow our increased population,
but expenditures and increased popula-
tion kept pace with each othef- The per
capita expenses of the Government at no
time exceeded $3.50 per capita. In 1900
the cost had grown 10 So per capita.
Senator Clay of Georgia in preparing an
exhibit of the expenses OF the Government
under various Administrations, says in
part:
IN 1875 we had a population OF 4S. 951.-
000 The expenses Of the Government at
that time was $6.2J per capita. This was
ten years after the close of the civil war
and the expenditures were denounced as
extravagant and unnecessary
In 1873 We had a population of 41.596,-
600 and the expenses of the Government
had been reduced from S6.25 per capita to
S49S, a decrease Of S1.27 per capita IN
1884 had population of 54-911.00e ana
the total expenditures of the Government
was S4.39 per capita In 1888 the popula-
tion had grown to 80 974, eco people; the
expenditures of the Government cost the
people OF the United States S4.33 per capi-
ta In 1891 our population had grown to
64Co2. GOO and our expenditures were $5.55
per capita. In 1885, the close of Mr..
CIeveland's Administration, our population
was II 263 900 and the entire expenses OF
the Government cost the people OF the
United States S4-94 per capita
The Peace Treaty with Spain was Tati-
fed February s. 1899 and the war with
Spain was ended and the Government OF
the United States was thought once more
to be at peace. a careful examination.
however, Of our expenditures for the year
1899 shows a cost to the people of the
United States Of $7.98 per capita It will
thus be seen that the taxpayers OF the
United States, to meet the expenditures
Of our Government for the year 1899, pay
into the Treasury of the United States
$7.97 per capita. The head OF a family.
with wife and five children, at this rate
would pay to support the National Gov
crnment S48 per year It must be remem-
bered that national taxation is not based
upon property. but largely upon what We
eat and wear.
THE increased expenditures of our Gov
ernment at the close OF the fiscal year 1899
exceed the expenditures during Mr. Cleve-
lands Administration $3,03 per capita. At
no period in our history since 1871 will the
expenditures of this Government per capita
equal the expenditures in 1893. Take the
expenditures for 1860 and 1871. The esti-
mates made are as follows: