The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-09

The spendthrift Congress-.

When Mr.. Mckinley was elected Pres
jdent of the United States in 1896, every
body knew as a matter of course that
in the way of wasteful legislation and
loot for individual or corporate contrib
utors the country would be made to
pay dearly for the result. All that was
lost sight of soon after in the excitement
OF the Spanish war, and the paralysis
which seized the country when it saw the
man in the Ebbitt House in his monthly
act of adjusting the interests of princi-
pals and agents in the army and navy
contracts. including ships, camps, rotten
beef, timed carbon, shoes, and collins.
The strenuous days of war are behind
us, the time and some new arts OF peace
are with us. One of those arts is ex-
emplified in the ability of a single ses
sion of Congress to get away with nearly
if not quite a billion dollars. Only
little time ago the nation was almost
Mortified at the spectacle of Congress
which appropriated billion, half of
which represented the unusual expendi-
lures due to war. But now the people are
called upon to view an appropriation ap-
proximating the same amount in single
session
Aside from the unnecessary or corrupt
purposes for which this enormous burden
is loaded upon the necks of the ma sses,
the record shows that We are rapidly Gre
ating military tax which already ex-
eeeds that of any other power, and for
which we have to show only a small,
pool ly-paid. and unscientifc establish
ment. In the Senate Thursday Mr.. Hale
OF Maine was obliged 70 admit that our
military budget for this year-incluiing
army, navy, and pensions-would amount
10 four hundred million dollars, or twice
the same budget in any European State.
Politics and corruption combined serve to
swell the pension list of the civil war
great deal faster than its heroes die on
They were a noble army, and forty years
ago they did the Republic honorable and
distinguished service. Many were killed,
and, because it was a great army, many
survived; but hardly enough. one would
think. to account for the numbers who,
at every session of Congress, are en-
listed in the legion OF new pensioners.
AT the present rate of progress the year
1870 will dawn before the ranks of the
&c. A. R." will be much reduced. The
American people should not grudge help
TO their old soldiers, but while provid-
ing for them necessarily some consIdera-
ton should be given to the economy in
other directions that such colossal fixed
charges ought to impose upon our legisla-
tors.
Are they minded to saving by these
claims upon the nations hounty7 Well, not
that We can see Already Mr.. McKinley's
urgent recommendation, in his fin de
steele message. has been disregarded COM
pletely, or regarded as the joke some IN
kind persons thought II when transmitted;
and the waste of public funds has been
more rampant in the present than in any
preceding Congress.
Senator Allison has conceded that the /
regular appropriations OF the year will be !
more than seven hundred million dollars,
and may reach eight hundred millions.
This alarming total includes the River
and Harbor Job. sixty per cent Of which is
fraudulent. but does not cover the annual
Treasury loot which would result from the
contamination OF the Transportation
Trusts subsidy steal.
The citizens OF this Union have had
fair example of what government by the
Republican party involves. in the Con-
gross which is Just expiring They have
alec decreed another like it. and one which
promises to be even more extravagant, |
proAigate, and contemptuous OF law and
the Constitution-if that be possible. But
the question, nevertheless, arises: VIII
the country always stand this sort Of
thing? Will the voters forever keep in
power combination OF n1onopolIsts and
robbers? 1t is grave question which can
find its answer only in the future, an6 at
best not until the expiration of four more
years, practically, of Hanna.