The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-02-19
WASHINGTON NEWS AND VIEWS

pubcans will lie held accountable for the de-
mands which are being made The and that un-
less stop IS put 10 the riotous dissipation OF public funds
contemplated by the many appropriation measures now
pending the official representatives the republican party
in Other words the republican members cougrcsswi he
called to an accounting which will he pleasant to them
personally advantageous IN any way the party itself
Ever since the beginning OF the present session anpro
pration bills have been framed and planned with apparently
only ono object III viewhe reduction OF the unusually
large surplus IN the treasury On sundy occasions atten
ton has been called certain which might well be
dispensed with but far little nothing has been done IN
the way of striking out useless expenditure Of diminish
ing those for matters which must be looked after An item
carrying an appropriation of 100000 the partial enter
tanment Of Prince Henry has been allowed remain in the
bill covering the appropriations the department.
and now comes the diplomatic and consular appropriations
bill in which there is innocent looking item carrying
$4,000 AN emergency fund for diplomatic and consular
purposes which is generally admitted be for the purpose
o deayng the expenses Of the special embassy headed by
Whtelaw Reid, which is he England summer
to attend the coronation Of Edward VII This dlpo
matte and consular bill includes item of 100000 for
new building for the American legation Peku The 5aa
ry Of the consul Pretoria is increased from $4,000 to
$1,000 and that Of the consul Dawson City Alaska from
$4,000 $500 Several bills which seek the pay
OF the president and other officials pending and ono
which provides for substantial increase the salaries Of
all Federal judges has passed the Practically every
appropriation bill that has far reported carries
total which considerably in excess OF the amounts appro
pated in past for the purposes The bill in
spcd by Secretary Root which seeks appropriate large
sums OF money for permanent military Improvements in the
Philippines, is another in point There dozens of
such instances which might be mentioned went to the
trouble of looking them up general spirit of reckless
travagarce be abroad
Of there is plenty of money the treasury just
now said republican member from Western State
day ago. but the United States hasn't money
to burn and should speedily be convinced that
fact Legislative laxity in this direction breeds axity
every direction Department heads and department officials
take their cues from and spend money if the
only thing to be considered the fact that there
plenty where that from Many of the appro.
prstions directly recommended 10y executive departments
arc ilconsidered express mildly aud OF them
quite out Of the question
The Spanish to have whetted the public APP
petite for reckless expenditure After the civil the
people began to retrench in every possible way but the
short struggle with Spain have had an exactly
opposite effect There is expansion all quarters More
money being asked for the army the navy the executive
department the civil service. for official salaries public
buildings which being planned a scale grander
ever before In fact there is increase going
way, not only in the number OF expenditures but in .he
amounts of specific items There doubt in my mind
that all this extravaganza points but thngthe
ton OF majority of democrats in the congress Mark
my prediction. That is exactly what going happen
am good a republican the man, but | can not
by any counenance course which the party is
pursuing with respect public expenditures regard the
bills to increase the salaries of congressman themselves as
among the most detrimental TO the republican party all
the -consdered which have been introduced If
OF these bills the congress will be so largely
democratc that the republican party will know what
struck it. The country will not stand any such nonsense
y
81 do charge that the republican party is
entirely responsible for all this extravaganza do not
believe that such is the But do say that VIC arc
largely responsible and that will be held wholly re-
ponsibe by the public, although the public sel is arrev
at fault in that it is making heavier demands than ever
before for public buildings improvements of various kinds
and in fact for everything connected with the expenditure
OF public funds, But this feature really has little to do
with the matter far being held accountable is
concerned We not that could help it, for
VIC have been in charge of the for years
and the whole thing has been in hands Aside from
all OF the smaller appropriations there something like
$rSo,oooooo for iShmian canal $6ooooooo for the
rivers and harbors nj tho country and ship subsidy meas
ure which will cost the country nobody knows how much
These FIRST two items OF and arc as
popular as they necessary. simply mention them for
thc purpose of showing since we arc 10 he called upor
to appropriate such things which arc
really needed and which the people should cut
down expenses IN other There is plan before
congress which concmpates the expenditure OF over
$7oooo,ooo merely to tho hcauufyine of this
capital There things of this sort which are moi
necessary and which could BY being omitted Tor at least
few terms OF congress lessen the tremendous pressure
which is being brought bear the treasury Bur
doubt that there will he many OF this character
The reckless distribution OF public money will continue
and every congressional district which has been anything
like close in the past Will send democrat Washington
election"
The gentleman who made these remarks is man of
considerable prominence and influence his party well
as his State The he makes would OF course
be greatly strengthened If his could be given but
the circumstances under which the was obtained
make this quite impossible 1t is known that repub
can congressman with him in the main, although
with the possible exception of Senator Spooner OF Wis
eonsn none of them has given anything like public OK
preston to their views
4
The people of the First Texas district and of for that
matter the whole of Texas could give Thomas H. Ball
any reward which would be fully deserved BY him in
view Of the splendid work he is doing in interests of
his constituency and Of the State large Without at
tempting TO beitte the work of any other member and
without any intention whatever OF doing So it may be said