The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1904-09-27

a like period. since the close of the
Civil war.
This draft upon the revenues Of the
country has had the effect which
might have been anticipated. and now
we have presented the reverse of the
situation, which led to the famous OBJ
servation, 1T is a condition, and
not theory. which confronts us"
for although the present incumbent
found at the close Of the first fiscal
year. during which he assumed con-
troll of the administration, surplus
of receipts over expenditures OF more
than Sol 5000 there was all excess
Of expenditures over receipts at the
close OF the last fiscal year Of S42,
100000. and the official monthly re-
ports made by the treasury department
show that the expenditures are con-
tinuously and rapidly increasing.
while the receipts are diminishing.
In this connection it is interesting
to note the recent administrative Or
ders forbidding government officers
from making public any statement of
estimates on which future appropria-
tons are to be based.
If man of ordinary intelligence
and prudence should find in the oper-
ating expenses OF his business such
a tremendous percentage of increase,
would he not promptly set on foot
an inquiry for the cause Of the waste.
and take immediate measures to stop
it. especially when trusted employees
have been found dishonest and con-
victed, and a widespread impression
exists that thorough investigation
may discover other cases Of malfeas-
ance? When the chief executive re-
ported to congress that through
frauds. forgeries and perjuries, and
by shameless briberies the laws re-
lating to the proper conduct of the
public service in general, and to the
due administration of the post-ofice
department have been notoriously
violated x * X" there was a general
popular demand for rigid, sweeping
investigation by congress in addition
to that undertaken by the executive
himself Such an investigation the
republican majority in congress
would not permit. although the mi
nority insisted that the interests Of
good government demanded it. And
the minority was right. The liber-
ality, patriotism and national prjd de
of the people should not be made an
excuse for waste OF the public funds.
Official extravaganza is official crime.
There is not sentence in the re-
publican platform recommending a
reduction in the expenditures of the
government; not line suggesting
that the increase in the cost of the
war department from S34,ooo,ooo in
1886 to II5,ooo,ooo in 1904, should be
incurred into: and not a paragraph
calling for a thorough investigation
of those departments Of the govern
ment in which dishonesty has been
recently disclosed.
The people, however, can by their
votes, if they desire it, order such an
investigation and inaugurate a policy
of economy and retrenchment. 1t
is safe to say that this will not be
accomplished by endorsing at the
polls the republican majority Of the
house of representatives which refus-
ed the investigation and made the ap-
propriations, nor by continuing in
power the administration which made
the disbursements.
Reform in expenditures must be
had in the civil, military and
naval establishments in order that
the national expenditures may BE-
brought to a basis OF peace and the
government maintained without re-
course to the taxes OF war.
Conclusion.
l have put aside a congenial work,
II. laad o,.nacta.i q da1:0ta