Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-09-20
The Cost of Government.

IL Z recent editorial the New York
World calls attention 10 the need OF re-
form in the cost of government. 1t
says:
Judge Parker's need Of acceptance
would have been incomplete indeed
without = statement of the fact that
now, as in 1876 and 1892, reform IS
necessary" in the conduct of the gov
eminent. II there are no evils TO be
corrected, no wrongs TO be rIghted, no
rascals 70 be turned ont, the necessity
for a change is not apparent.
Judge Parker approves the st. Louis
platforms demand for "a thorough in
vcstfgation Of those executive depart
meuts already known to TEEN with
corruption, as well as other depart
mcuts suspected OF harboring corrup-
ton, and the punishment of ascertained
corrlIptionists without fear or favor or
regard to persons" He likewise in
dorses the demand for reasonable re
trcuchment and insists that the gov
ernmeut should practice economy in
the expenditure of the moneys of the
people and to that end should return
once more 10 the methods of the found
ers of the republic"
That there is need of a searching in
vcStigatiOn and determined proSecu-
ton Of culprits is evident to every
body who has knowledge Of the CON
ditiOn Of affairs ut Washington and
elsewhere. Although Candidate Roose-
Welt had the hardihoOd TO say in his
speech Of acceptance that never has
the administration of the government
been on a cleaner and higher level
President Roosevelt in his message TO
congress last December did not eX-
aggcratc the truth in saying, while
there may have been as much official
corruption in former years, there has
been more developed ana brought 10
light I'm the immediate past than in the
preceding century Of our country's
history"
For all the corruption that has been
brought to light how few of the real
culprits the men higher up''-have
been punished, y few underlinGs bore
the weight of the presidents wrath ut
the exposure of the poStOtiice scandals.
And the postmaster general under
whose administration those frauds and
robHericS continued and who scoffed
at General BriStOw's revelations as
hot air still sits in the cabinet as
one of this honest presidents "consti-
tutionaI advisers" and campaign man
ayers,
The World said to President ROose-
welt in its open letter no denial
las been made of the statements
that
You have, by your recommendations
to congress and your signature to its
extrayagauces, increased the national
expenditure during your term to more
than $500. 100000. an excess Of $21l.-
900. 600 over the expenditures during
President McKinley'S term (Which in
Guided the expenses of the war with
SPAIN ana exceeding the cost of
President Clevclands second term by
SSSOOOO. 600"
The fact was also mentioned that the
surplus Of $50. 900. 900 in 1900 has been
converted into deficit which no OIL
cial Juggling can conceal. In view of
this surprising record of extravaganza
the World said To the president:
1T IS perhaps not strange. but will
be regarded by the taxpayers rs signiti-
trenchmcnt and reform once the rule
of the nation and the shibbolCth of
statesmen. do not once appear in your
entire speech of acceptance not once
No explanation of this OminOuS ST.
lence has been given. There IS every
reason 10 think that the president be-
lieveS. with the other politicians OF his
party. that this is q two billion dollar
country" and that even reasonable
economy and common prudence are Old
fashioned ideas. ont of place in this
20 ahead age.
Upon what other theory can the fact
be explained. as stated by the Worlds
Washington correspondent. that
president RooSeyclt's administration
for four years has added $4,000. 900 =
month. or 100000 n day. or $500 an
hour, more to the cost Of government
than was paid during the last four
/ years of President CIeveland'S admins
/ tration:"
/ Is it not true that reform is neces-
sarvE''