The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-26

The latest paramount issue bears the
caption "A BnliOn-DOllar Session" 1t is a
striking phrase. The orator who has no
head for facts but a roomy space for
luxuriant imagination to run riot in can.
ring great many changes on such a
topic. That the statement is wanting in
the element of truth does not trouble those
who find in the charge Of Republican ex-
travagance paramount issue.
Men who will take the pains to examine
the appropriation bill will discover at the
outset that the aggregate is a little over
SSOOOOO.OeO, or nearly s20OOO0.oOO short Of
billion dollars. There is $263, 600 author
lied but not appropriated. That is. money
authorized for the Improvement of rivers
and harbors is the amount necessary to
complete certain proposed improvements.
which is appropriated year by year as
needed. The same is true of public build
ings. This year it is specially true of the
sum designated for the construction OF the
isthrnian canal, the entire amount author
lied being $1SO,0OO,CCO. For public works
100000 was authorized, but not appro-
S223 100000.
The appropriations actually made aggre-
gate a little over 100000. Of this sum
$50.OO0OO0 Is for the Panama canal and
100000 more is for the sinking fund.
Thus is s1o0,0c0OO0 disposed OF which has
nothing whatever to do with current ex-
penses. This reduces the aggregate ap-
propriations tc s7OOoo0,OO0. The appropria-
ton for the Postofice Department is $685.
100000. The earnings of that department
will reach about $780, 10000. so that this
amount may be taken from the 500, 100000,
reducing the expenditures to 500, 100000. The
appropriation Of $3.50 10000 for pensions
represents an expenditure for which the
present Congress IS not responsible. De-
Quoting the pension appropriation the ex-
travagance of Congress is reduced to s431,-
100000, which includes the fixed charges for
interest, ETC.
Now, consider the already oft-repeated
statement of an increase of appropria-
tons this year over last year OF $40, 600, 900.
First, there is the s5O,O0O,OOO appropriated
for the isthnian canal as already init
mated. To this should be added the in
creased appropriation on account of the
postal service. These two items dispose of
SCI 900, OcO of the s7OOOO,OOO. There is a large
saving of 100000 In the army appropra-
ton, while the appropriation for rivers
and harbors is large because none was
made by the last Congress. So, as a mat
ter OF fact. there was no material increase
in appropriations for current expenses.
No one who has any information upon
the subject will deny that appropriations
are made for which no Justification can
be given. 1t has always been thus, and IL
will doubtless always be so as long as there
is a public treasury which can be tapped,
but there were no more Of such appropria-
tions by the last session of Congress than
heretofore. And here it may be asked,
where were the Democrats in Senate and
House when what they denounCe as extrav-
agant or unnecessary appropriations of
money were made? Did any OF them go on
record against the Panama canal appro-
| priation? Who were more jealous for the
| passage of the river and harbor appropria-
ton bill than Democrats in both Senate
and House? So long as they did not de-
| nounce these expenditures while pending
and voted for them on their passage, the
Democrats in Senate and House are equally
| responsible with the Republicans