Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-09-26
Judge Parker's Letter
Accepting the Nomination

lstratlon amounted 70 the enormous
average Of sjll ,o00, 600 per year. This
large expenditure was due to a con
siderable extent TO the cos of the
Spanish'American war, which occur
red during that period; but the ter
mlnation OF that war brought no relief
TO the treasury. for the average annu'
al expenses OF the government, dur
ing the three subsequent years ending,
June 50, 1904, were about S5l9, 000 600
which Is the largest sum hitherto
reached, during 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
observation, 1T is a condition. and not
a theory, which confronts u.s." for,
although the present incumbent found
at the close OF the first
fiscal year, during which he
assumed control OF the adj
ministration. a surplus of receipts ov'
er expenditures Of more thar $9l 600,
600, there was an excess of eXpendi-
lures over receipts at the close OF the
last fiscal year OF Sal, 900 200. and the
official monthly reports made by the
treasury department show that the
expenditures are continually and rap
idly 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 a nan of ordinary intelligence
and prudence should find in the op-
Grating 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 convic-
ted. and a widespread impression ex-
lists that a thorough investigation may
discover other cases of malfeasance?
When the chief executive reported
to congress that, through frauds, for
geries and p~erjuries, and by shameless
briberies. the laws relating TO the
proper conduct of the public service
in general, and to the due administra-
ton of the p~ostoffice department have
been VIGOROUSLY violated = -" there
was a general popular demand for a
rigid, sweeping investigation by con
| gress, in addition to that undertaken
by the chief executive himself. Such
an investigation the republican ma
jority in congress would not permit.
although the minority insisted that
the interests of good government de-
manded it. And the minority was
right. The liberality. patriotism and
/ national pride of the people should not
be made an eXcuSe for the waste of
public funds. Official extravaganza
is official crime.
There is not a sentence in the re-
publican platform recommending a re-
duction in the expenditures of the
government; not a line suggesting
that the increase in the cost of the
war department from $4,000, 900 in
1886 to s1l5,0 900, 900 in 1904, should be
inquired into; and not a paragraph
calling for a thorough investigation
of those departments of the govern
ment in which dishonesty has been re-
Gently 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 &C
complished by endorsing at the polls
the republican majority of the house
of representatives which refused the
investigation and made the appropri
atoms, nor by continuing in power the
administration which made the dis
bursements.
Reform in expenditures must be
had in the civil, military and naval
establishments in order that the ma
tional expenditures may be brought
to a basis of peace and the govern
ment maintained without recourse tc
the taxes of war.
Conclusion. .
! have put aside a %congenlal work
10 which ! had expected to devote my
life. in order TO assume, as best | can
the responsibilities your convention
NM uDon me