The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1904-10-21
EXPENDITURES FOR THE ARMY.


Ex-senator Davis is still troubled
about the expenditures of tine Govern
nent, and aspeeinlly worried over the
expenditures of the War department
when last year amounted to $4,000.
900. Mr.. Davis, like Judge Parker, &C.
cepts this amount as the cost of the
United States army, and solemnly warns
the people against the militarism of
the Republican administration.
Of course Mr.. Davis knows better or
mis- experience in the United States
Senate counts for nothing The knowl-
edge and experience gained by two
terms in the Senate should have taught
him that the expenditure of the War de-
partment do not even approximately
measure the cost OF the army. All the
river and hnrbor improvements are un-
der the control of the War department
and the expenditures for sucn improve
ments last year amounted to more
than $2O,0OO.OOo
There were other expenditures in no
way due to the army, but under the adj
minstration of the War department..
which amounted to many millions. These
outside tens deducted leave the ex-
penditures for the army about $4,000.
O0O. The Democratic candidate for vice
president should know this if ne has the
ability to preside over tine Senate. Ii
he does know it and uses these figures
only to misraprcsent tine government it
j. an even more Serious reflection on his
candidacy
The Democratic leaders in Congress
did not complain Of the appropriation
bills being too large last winter. They
complained that they were not big
enough They complained bitterly be.
cause there was no general river and
harbor bill 10 carry appropriations
amounting to fifty millions to be spent
in southern and Eastern States where
Democratic constituencies abound. They
had all corts of schemes for improving
Southern rivers and harbors that would
have cost more than the whole military
establishment. They charged the Re
publicans with sins of omission in nor
incorporating their schemes in the APP
preparation bills to swell the expandi.
lures OF the War department.
The Democratic candidates for Presi-
dent and Vice President both see in
these appropriations only rapid ad.
vance toward militarism when if they
would look at the items of expenditure
they would find that in the last forty
years more money lad been expended
by the War department in improving
the rivers and harbors of the South
than have been spent on the army.
The Republican Congress had the
same ideas of economy that govern
business affairs. The appropriations
were made in harmony with the needs
of the country and the ability to pay
them out of the revenues without GO
ing in debt. There mas not been year
without war when the Republican
administration has not been able to
keep the expenditures below the rev,n-
ues. and ther has not been Democratic
administration which did not exp.nd
more money than the revenues of the
government amounted to and borrow
to settle the bills This is the differ
ence between the two paroles ON the
economic issue. The Republican party
cuts the garment according to the cloth
and the Democratic party like NIfcawber.
hopes thae something will turn up TO
help il ont OF the financial hobs it i,
continually falling into. II the voters
want congress to continue doing basi
ness in a business way they VIII elect
a Republican majority to control Ii
they want the government TO again 20
broke tiny shond turn congress over to
the Democrats.