Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1904-10-05

this? If so, we accept the issue
This suggests the suspicion, at least,
that the order was made to create an
tssue-that it was supposed to present
a strong strategic position in the bat
tie of the ballots. But as the making
of that order was, in my Judgment. an
attempted, though perhaps unwilling,
encroachment upon the legislative power,
and. therefore. unwarranted by the
constitution, the challenge is accepted.
If elected. will revoke that order But
| go further and say that that being
done, 1 will contribute my effort toward
the. enactment of a law to be passed by
both houses of congress and approved by
sion without reference to disability 10 the
surviving heroes of the civil war: and
under the provisions of which pension
may be accepted with dignity because OF
the consciousness that it comes a just
due from the people through their chosen
representatives, and not as largess dis
tributed by the chief executive.
Reform in Governmental Expend1-
lures.
''Twenty-ei years have passed since
the democratic party of the state OF
New York in convention assembled, recom-
mended to the national democracy the
nomination of Samuel ]. Tilden as its cam
didate for the presidency, and declared it
to be their settled conviction that a re-
turn to the constitutional principles, fru-
gal expenses and administrative purity
of the founders Of the republic is the first
and most imperious duty of the times-the
of the union This strong expression was
called forth by the national expenditures
for the year 1875, which amounted to $274,-
100000 situation which, in the opinion
of majority of our people, justified an
imperative demand for reform in the adj
ministration of public affairs. As the eX-
penditures of the last fiscal year amount
ed to the enormous total Of S5S2,OOOO 600, 1t
is evident that a thorough investigation
of the public service and the immediate
abandonment of useless and extravagant
expenditures are more necessary now than
they were then. This astounding in
crease is out of all proportion to the in
crease of our population, and finds no
excuse from whatever aspect we view the
situation. The national democratic plat
form declares that large reductions can
easily be made in the annual expenditures
of the government without impairing the
efficiency of any branch of the public serv-
ice Can there be any doubt of TIE accu-
racy of this statement? Between the eX-
penditures of the year 1856. amounting to
the seventh after Grover Cleveland
ceased to be president-aggrega $685.
to excite alarm in the breasts of all
thoughtful men. Even excluding the sum
of $50, 100000 paid for the Panama canal
rights and TO the state Of Panama, the
ed the sum of $685., 900 900, being more than
double the expenditures of the government
for all purposes during the first year of
Mr. Cleveland's administration
The expenses of the first four years sue
ceeding the last democratic administra-
ton amounted to the enormous average
of $511 900 900 per year. This large ex-
penditure was due to a considerable ex-
tent to the cost of the Spanish-American
war, which occurred during that period;
but the termination of that war brought
no relief to the treasury, for the average
ing the three subsequent years ending June
80, 1904. were about $519, ,000 which is
the largest sum hitherto reached during
a like period, since the close of the civil
This draft upon the revenues of the
country has had the effect which might
| how iOir Tod
presented the reverse of the situation.
which led to the famous observations: 1T
Is fan and not fheq b walGh
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,O0OOOO, there was an excess of expend-
itures over receipts at the close of the last
fiscal year of $4,000, 600, and the Official
monthly reports made by the treasury de.
partment show that the expenditures are
continuously and rapidly increasing. while
the receipts are diminishing
In this connection it is interesting to
note the recent administrative orders
forbidding government officers from
mates on which future appropriations
are to be based.
prudence should find in the operating ex-
! penses of his business such a tremendous
percentage of increase. would he not
promptly set on foot inquiry for the
| cause of the waste. and take immediate
measures to stop il, especially when
! trusted employees have been found dis
| honest and convicted, and widespread
| impression exists that thorough inves-
| tigation may discover other cases of
reported to congress that through
| frauds. forgeries and periures, and by
! shameless briberies the laws relating to
the proper conduct of the public service
! in general and to the due administration
! of the post office department have been
VIGOROUSLY violated there was
/ nrn1 t1nr n 800 .,.r Il
sweeping investigation by congress, in
addition to that undertaken by the execu-
tive himself. Such an Investigation the
republican majority in congress would
not permit. although the minority in
sisted that the interests of good govern
ment demanded it. And the minority
ism and national pride of the people
should not be made an excuse for waste
of the public funds. Official extravaganza
There is not a sentence in the repub-
lican platform recommending, a reduc-
| ment; not a line suggesting that the in
crease in the cost of the war department
from S34,000O00 in 1886 to $1l5.0 900 in 1904
! graph calling for a thorough investiga-
ton of those departments of the govern
ment in which dishonesty has been re-
| Reform in expenditures must be had
in both the civil, military and naval es-
Establishments in order that the national
of peace and the government maintained
without recourse to the taxes OF war"
Conclusion
Among other things which are touched
upon in the letter is the democratic pledge
: to secure to al citizens equal protection
| abroad. The need of careful diploma y
in the management of the foreign relations
, of the government, and the democratic
! pledge to administer this department of
! the government in conformity with the
principles laid down by Washington The
need of legislation in aid Of American ship
E, ping. SO that ii may again be commensu-
rate with American commercial interests.
He pledges the democratic party to a
wise and careful administration of the ma :
tional statutes concerning the irrigation
of the arid lands OF the west and in con-
cluSion says:
The issues are joined and the people
must render the verdict
shall economy of administration be de-
manded, or shall extravaganza be encour-
aged?
by the people, or must justice wait upoI
political oligarchy?
fsSbaiI government stand for