Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-09-26

sum of $J0Ul0.L10 paid for the Panama
Canal rights and To the State of fanana
the expenditures of the last HSCal year
exceeded tn sum of So "a 900, being MOI e
than uouhi, the expenditures OF Inc gov
einmtnt Tor all purposes during the .Irst
gear OF All. CleVGlanu : administration.
Inc EXPENSES of tne first ICul years ste
ceedluS The last Democratic ;IurnIilIstra-
ZION amounted to the enormous average of
S0ll,COU,1U per year. This large cXprlluI-
ture was due to Il cOnSlderapiC extent &c
Che cost Of the Spanisn-AmtrIcdn Mar
which occurred during that pellod; but.
the termination cI that war brought no
IellcI to the Treasury, for the average an
Iudl expenses OF the government. uuril 8
the three subsequent NealS ending Jun-
-, 1904, were about S,l3,uvJ.otU. wnich is the
largest sum hitherto reached. CuIiI45 Il
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 w have
presented the Icteise oI the situation,
which led to the famous observation. 1T
is a condition, and not theory, which
confronts us" for, although the present
incumbent found al the close of the first
fiscal year, during which he assumed con-
tlol Of the administration, surplus OF
receipts over expenditures of more than
81 .H~ro. there was an excess of eXpendi-
lures over receipts at the close of the
last fiscal year of $llG1.GGO, and the Off
cial monthly reports made by the Treas
urN Department show that the eXpendi-
lures are continuously and RAPIDLY in
creasinS, while the receipts are diminish
ing.
In this connection it is interesting to
note the recent administrative orders for
bidding government officers from making
public any statement of estimates Oh
which future appropriations are to be
based.
If a man of ordinary intelligence and
prudence should find in the operating cx-
penSeS OF his business such Il tremendous
percentage of increase, would he not
promptly set on foot an inquiry for he
cause OF the waste. and take immediate
measures to stop it, especially when
trusted employees have been found dis |
honest and convicted. and Widespread |
impression exists that thorough investi- |
CATION may discover other cases or NAL
feasanCe? When the Chief Executive re-
ported to Congress that. Through frauds
forgcrieS and perjurieS. and by shameless
briheries the laws relating to the proper
conduct of the public service in general,
and to the due administration of tn Post
Once Department have been notoriouslyl
viola ted :, there was a general
popular demand for a rigid sweeping in
vcStigation by Congress. in addition to
that undertaken by thr Executive himself.
Such an investigation the Republican ma
irritY III Congress would not permit, al
though the minority insisted that the in
tcre,,ts of good government demanded it.
And the minority was right. The liberal
ity. patriotism and national pride Of the |
people should not lie made an excuse for
waste Of the public funds. Official ex-
travaGancc is official crime.
There is not a Scnt"nc" in the Republic
can platform recommending a reduction In
the expenditures Of the government; not
q linz SHgGr ting that the increase in the
cost of the War Departments from $H.G0b-
90 in 1885 to SI15.01Wrl in 1901. should be
inquired into; ana not a paragraph calling
for a thorough investigation of those, de-
rartmcntS If the government in which
dishonesty has been recently disclosed.
Tho rcon1c. however, can by their votes
n they desire it. order such an inveStiGa-
ton and iraUguratc policy of economy
and r"trcnchment. It is safe to say that
this will not b" ACCOMPLISHED by eudors ng
at the polls tn" Republican majority OF
the lIOus Of Representatives which re-
fused the investigation and made The APP
preparations. noT by continuing in power
tho administration which made the dis
hurSnncntS.
Reform in expenditures must be had in
the Civil. Military and Naval cstab-
lfshments in order that the national ex-
penditures may be brought to a basis of
peace and the government maintained
without recourse to the taxes of war. {
CONCLUSION.
! have put aside congenal work. to
which | had expected to devote my life, 5
in order 20 assume. as best can. the re-
sponsibilities your convention put upon
me.
| solicit the cordial co-opera ton and
assistance of every man who
that change of measures and of I
men at this time would be wise, and urge ,
harmony of endeavor as well as visorousj .
action on the part of all SO minded.
The issues are joined and the people t
must render the verdict. 6
Shall economy of administration he de-
mandcd or shall extravaganza be en-
Shall the wrongdoer he brought to bayI
by the people. or must justice wait upon
political OLGA rchy?
Shall our government stand for equal
opportunity or for special privilege?
Shall it remain government OF law ori "
become one of individual caprice? q
Shall we cling to the rule OF the people. !.
,r shall We embrace benefcent despotism?I
with calmness and confidence, we await f
he peoples verdict. Ii
II called to the office Of President !
hall consider myself the cheif magistrate =
If all the people and not OF any faction, II
md shall ever be mindful OF the fact thatl I
m many questions OF national policy there g
ire honest differences Of opinion. | be- Il
ieve in the patriotism. good sense and
lbsoute sincerity of all the people. II
hall strive to remember that he mavl n
erve his Party best who serves his Coun- p
nv best. IL
If it he the wish of the people that I'M n
Iertake the duties of the Presidency. III n