Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-01
TAFT REPLIES TO PARKER.
Makes Comparison Of Governmental
Expenses in Speech at Buffalo.

secretary Taft addressed a large republi-
car mass meeting at Buffalo, N Y, Sat-
urday night. He spoke, in part, as follows
Judge Parker has again returned to the
discussion of the national expenses 1t
" as pointed out to him that in the selection
of the year 1856, the first year of Mr. Cleye-
lands administration, for comparison with
the expenses of 1904. he had hardly follow
ed the course of a Judge, but rather of
sharp advocate, for the expenses of the
year 1886 were the smallest of Mr. Cleve-
lands eight years, and were $50, 600 600 less
than the last year of his first term and
$11S.0OO,Oot less than tine average expenses
of the years of his second term.
He now transfers his comparison from
the year 1885 to the year 1897, the last year
of Mr. Cleveland's second administration
and invites comparison between the ex-
penses of that year and the expenses of the
year 1904. He says that he has been in
vited to make specifications of the places in
which he would make reduction. Let us see
how much more he specifies in his speech of
October 81 than he did IN his letter of ac-
ceptance.
1.-The difference between the expenditures
of 1897. which were $500, OO0. 600 and of 1904,
which were 500. 600, excluding the So
100000 for the Panama canal. is $166, 900 600
In the first place. as I have already ex-
planned, $532, 100000 are only apparent ex-
penditures; the net expenditures are $34, O0O,-
600 less. So. too the 1886, 900. 600 in 1897 were
Only apparent expenditures; the actual ex-
penditures were $15,5O0,OO0 less. In other
words, the real difference between the ac-
tual expenditures in 1897 and 1904 is less
than s166.0OO.000 by SIS, 100000, or S147, 5OO,-
COO But for purposes of comparison we
may take the larger figure.
1.-The difference of 100000 between
1897 and 1904 Is accounted for. first, by an
increase in the pensions of 81. 100000 which
Judge Parker says he would not reduce
Second there is an increase in the naval
expenses of $6S, 4OO, 600. l have already dis
cussed at some length the necessity for the
increase in naval expenditures; and as
Judge Parker has been challenged to
specification as to whether he would or
would not reduce the naval expenditures
and say nothing it would seem as il that
expenditure may be passed in silence as
concededly one in which we may not look
for democratic reduction.
"Then there is an increase in the expendi-
lures Of the War Department of $66,OOO,OO0
in 1904 over the War Department expenses
in 1897 This is made up of $9,000,OOO in
crease in the improvements of rivers and
harbors an increase to which the demo-
cratic party by its platform is ex-
pressly committed; $27.OO0.OO0 for the
equipment Of the state militia, an expense
for our citizen soldiery which certainly the
democratic party has not made any objec-
ton to; an Increase of S., 100000 in expendi-
lures for national homes for disabled vol
unteer soldiers for the payment of war
debts due to the states. for artificial limbs
and appliances for soldiers, and for nation
al cemeteries; 81 100000 increase for forth
fications and necessary military posts. and
to 81 900 enlisted men and officers, 1900
hospital corps. and 1890 Philippine scouts,
the cost of the increase being a little more
than 81 600 a man.,