The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-12-11


creasing constantly. requiring at least
$40, ooo.0 o0i with a ship subsidy scheme
that will draw out from the people over
500, o00, 900; with the Nicaraguan canal
to construct, how can there be a safe
reduction Of the enormous axe now
collected?
He wants the Hanna subsidy job ia
vored and he is mo- particularly force
full or earnest in his reference to the
gigantic trusts.
He Is not altogether satisfactory In
his dealing with Porto Rico and Cuba
In the former there is a civil govern
ment. It belongs to the United States,
and yet there Is a tariff against its pro-
ducts coming into this country. What
would be said If Massachusetts, pro-
ducts could not be introduced into New
York or North Carolina without paying
at the custom houses is per cent?
He favors free delivery for the rural
districts. The Richmond Dispatch con-
sidering this feature Of the message in
Formations:
ct appears hat 2.614 routes are now
in operation IN forty-four states and
territories, serving a population OF L.
sol, 424. How happy these people should
bel o much o blessed than we
are! We wish to heavens we could see
a good I'll postal system in Virginia
The thing the president discusses we
know very little about. but what We do
know is that the present mail service
ia many parts OF the Old Dominion Is
aoTr,1 30 49, TT-.%aI C%-A~-
eminent, and Is a delusion n a snar
to h patrons of the S office depart
ment-"
Last year, We are informed. As, 900 new
pensioners were added to the already
~portionment Of members of the house.
The president much impressed us with
what he said in the way of dignifed
caution against reckless. unseemly ex-
travagance on the part of his folks in
the congress. He said wisely:
In our great prosperity we must
guard against the danger it invites of
extravaganza in government expendi-
lures and appropriations, and the
chosen representatives of the people
will, I doubt not, furnish an example
in their legislation of hat wise econo-
ny - LII " SCloO4 VI plClpIJ uuS-
bands for h future. In his era of
great business activity and opportun-
ity caution is not untimely. 1t will not
abate, but strengthen confidence. 1t
will not retard, but promote legitimate,
industrial and commercial expansion"
But who really expects the present
or h next congress to heed these most
timely and very needed words of eau
finno Whon WA tho rar,,II;oo ~or%x
ever moderate in expenditure? Since
it got into power it has rushed at m
mense speed and the increase Of ex-
penditure has been fearfully swift and
great. The political editor ON the
Washington Post. Mr.. H. S. West, who
visited Wilmington in the time of the
Revolution" and is a very pleasant
and interesting gentleman, New York
state born. in a paper In The Forum for
December says this. and he Is a repub-
lican:
"a thousand new rivulets combine to
swell the broad stream of congressional
appropriations. The republican party is
not a party Of 1t is always
liberal in providing for the government;
n though this liberality sometimes
NaS o<ASS4 Ian "a AL q
gance, there is no doubt that it is a
wiser policy than the cheese-paring of
the democrats. Sustained by the YER
dict of November 6. the republican
leaders in congress will feel justified in
recommending large appropriations; I
look, therefore, for budgets of unequal
led magnitude"
The expectation Will be met with
Astounding gifts and expenditures. The
broad stream" will become a great
bay. He say h "overflowing treasury
will invite expenditures on a mammoth
scale, and thep probability is hat the in
vitation will be accepted" Yea, verify,
and the people will look on in stolid in
difference or in profound anxiety. The
first session Of the present congress-
the Fifty sixth-actually voted away of
the peoples money 1914. 600, 900. Mr..
West says Of this tremendous sum
nearly n quarter or s145, 900, 900, was
distributed in pensions" AS to the in
creasing pension roll. he says that it is
impossible to decrease the present sum
that "the pension list is being swollen
daily as the result Of the war with
Spain and the continuing war in the
Philippines; and 1t will require the
greatest amount of frmness on the part
of the republican leaders to withstand
the appeal Of the pensioners for allow
ances even more liberal than they now
receive"
Well then may our esteemed Rich
mond contemporary. the Dispatch, tell
it's readers that at is ito be expected
that McKinley's second administration
will inaugurate an era of profuse ex-
travagance, from which favored inter-
ests and people will grow rich." Re
member that the pension roll of the
United States costs the taxpayers a
greater sum than any European power
pays for keeping up its ~stupendous
army, with probably the one exception
of Russia. AS to an economic future
it must be admitted that the outlook
is somewhat lowering and tokening a
still greater down-pour.