The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-09-26

ms astounding increase is out os all pro-
portion with the increase Of our pcpuIa-
ton and finds no excuse from whatever
aspect we view the situation
The national Democratic platform de-
clares that large reductions can easily
| be made in the annual expenditures OF
the government without impaitIng the
efficiency Of any branch OF the public
service. Can there be any doubt or
the accuracy of this statement Bet ween
the expenditure of the year 1856 amount
ing to S242.0V.O00, and those OF tie last
| fiscal Year-the seventh after Grover
Cleveland ceased to be pfs.sident-aggre-
eating $3.50. 900 coo. there is a difference
50 great as 70 excite alarm in the breasts
OF all thoughtfui men Even excluding
the sum of S50oo0.000 paid FOR me Panama
canal rights and 10 the state OF Panama
the expenditures OF The last fiscal year
exceeded the sum of S55g NOVO being
more than double the expenditures Of the
government for all purposes during the
first year OF Mr.. Clevelands administra-
tion.
The expenses OF the first four years
succeeding The last Democratic admins
tration amounted to the enormous aver
age of S5ll~ $4,000 per year. This large ex-
penditurc was due TO considerable extent
20 the cost OF the Spanish-Ame-ican war.
which occurred during that period: but
the termination Of that war brought no
relief TO the treasury, for the average
annual expenses Of the government during
The three subsequent years ending June
20. 1904 We're about $5l9,0V0O00. which is
the largest sum hitherto reached during
like period since the close Of the civil
war.
Riotous Waste of Money.
This draft upon the revenues of the
country has had the effect which might
have been anticipated. ana now we have
which led 20 the famous observation. 1T
is q condition, and not theory which
eonfronts us" for, although the present
incumbent found at the close OF the first
fiscal year. during which he assumed con-
troll of the administration, a surplus of
receipts over, expenditures of more than
$9l, 700. there was an excess u eNpendi-
lures over receipts at the close of the
last fiscal year of Sal 100000 and the Of
fetal monthly reports made by The treas
.ury department show that the eXpendi-
lures are continuously and rapidly IN
ereasing 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 on
which future appropriations are to be
based.
n a man of ordinary intelligence and
prudence should find in the operating
expenses of his business such trenlen-
dous percentage of increase, would he
not promptly set on foot an inquiry for
the cause of the waste, and take imme-
date steps to stop II, especially when
honest and convicted, and a widespread
impression exists that a thorough inyes-
tfgation may discover other cases of mall
feasance? When the chief executive re-
ported to congress that through frauds,
forgeries and perjuries, and by shameless
brfberies. the laws relating to the proper
corduct of the public service in general,
and TO the due administration or the
postoffice department, have been notori-
ousIy violated F" - there was
general popular demand for a rigid.