The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-02-14
RECKLESS WASTE
BY CONGRESS
Democrats in House Oppose
Republican Extravaganza.
EXPENSE PER CAPITA
MORE THAN DOUBLED
Tax Burden Increased Heavily
in a Decade.

Washington, Feb. 13.-The house de-
voted today, excepting an hour and a
half consumed in counting the electoral
vote and promuIgating the result of the
presidential election, to the sundry
civil appropriation bill. General debate
upon this measure was completed, but
little actual progress was made with
the bill. Fifteen of the 134 pages of
the bill were disposed of.
The measure was taken up when the
session opened, and Mr.. Bell of Colo
RADIO, a member of the appropriations
committee. began a speech on the ex-
travagance of the present congress.
He said the people had become alarm
ed at the rapid growth of expenditure.
So caHOus had congress become to vast
increases IN the apprOpria tons, he
said, that it was considered almost dis
reputable to call attention to the ex-
travagance of The government. He
produced figures to show that in a
single decade the per capita cost of
carrying on the government machinery
had increased from S4.75 to over $40.
Mr. Cochran of Missouri also made
an attack on the recfElessnesS of the
appropriations in this congress. He de-
clared that the total for the next year.
if reCkOned in gold, would exceed the
concentrations of 1854 when the fed
eral government had 1,200 ships on the
sc maintaining a blockade from Gal
weston to the Chesapeake, and 100000
men on land engaged in the most ire
men5ous military enterprise in the his
tory of the age.
Denounces the Policy.
Later, speaking of the United States
policy in the Philippines and China, Mr..
Cochran said:
Talk about progress and Christian
ity; if progress and Christianity mean
marching under many flags Of plumber
ers and the swords Of Christian sol
diers, dripping in the blood of plumber
ed people, it IS time to quit or fling
away the masquerade and say: Prog
ress has turned freebooter; Christianity
slumbers, and God is dead" Demo
cratic aDplause.)
MI Cochran also argued that from
any standpoint the game in the Phil
ipDines was not worth the cost.
I'VE have already said he, spent
money enough there to build the NiCar-
aguan canal, to construct what new
warships we need. and we. are today no
nearer peace than when the first gun
was fired"
Mr.. Richardson CTenn) also COM
mented uDOn the vast total of appro-
Driations at this session, which, he said
would reach $500 0OO, 600. Four years
ago, when President MeKinley's ad-
ministration began, the annual appro-
priations We're about. $40, 600 600. He
conceded that appropriations would in
/ crease. but why. he asked, this pro-
digious increase of over $500 600, 600?
The war had been over two years
and could not be charged with these
increases, tor, the increases were not
confined to the army and navy apprO-
priation bills. There was an increase
in every one Of the appropriation bills,
Challenged by Colleagues.
Did you not vote for the river and
harbor and the appropriation bilis?'' he
was asked.
What if ] did?" replied Mr.. Rich
ardson. I could not stand here and
hold back appropriations, for liabilities
have been created.
Mr. Moody (Mass9 challenged Mr.
Richardson TO point out single APP
Precipitation in the sundry civil bill that
could be omitted
Mr.. Richardson said he would do so
.sWhile the gentleman is talking
about cutting down expenses, Observ-
ed Mr.. Moody, 81 will ask him whether
he did not vote for a soldiers home III
/ Tennessee.
Mr.. Richardson did. 1t passed
unanimously. I believe.
Mr. Moody-It did not. voted against