The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-02-08
WHERE'S THE ADVANCE AGENT,

CIOSou SEASON Oh
WHERE'S THE ADVANCE AGENT?
The advance agent of prosperity, who
is supposed to be the presiding genius
of the Republican party, seems to have
missed his train or have got off his
route The monthly statement of the
public debt from Washington shows
that the national obligation increased
nearly s1,OO0,0O0 during January. This
is not in itself so singular, because the
principal of the public debt may rise
and fall irregularly, according to I'M
portant fact that the expenditures for
the month Of January exceeded the re-
ceipts by nearly $7,OOO0OO, leaving
deficit of that amount for the month.
Mr.. Roosevelt has just declared him
self in favor of a general service pen
sion act, a principal feature Of which
is the amount that it would cost the
| country. There is something to be said
in favor of the principle of the pro-
posed Legislation, but of course The
first inquiry should be as to it's cost
Nobody knows or can even give
| reasonable guess at what addition it
would make to our national expenses
and to the pension roll, that already
runs from $40, 900 to $4,000 900
year. The smallest estimate made by
those who favor the bill is an increase
of from $4O,OOO,OOO to 100000, 900 in
the pension appropriation. A more
liberal, but still a conservative, esti-
mate fixes the additional cost at prob
ably not less than $100,OOO,O0O.
Now, at,4the same time, extravaganza
is running riot. in every department of
the Republican administration. There
is not one work of economy that has
been effected or is even proposed. The
cost of the rural free delivery has al
ready mounted into millions and is
doubling about once during the life of
in the postof1ce department amount
to much more. Every appropriation
bill is swollen beyond precedent. Just
as soon as the coming election is over
we will have river and harbor bills and
sundry civil bills carrying 500, 900 900
apiece, in addition to big appropria-
lions for the army and navy, and for
everything else under the sun. Be-
sides this, we are to pay $40, 900, 900 at
once for the Panama canal and $1O,-
100000 to the alleged republic of Pana-
ma, and everywhere millions are fly
ing through the air.
1t could at least be understood that
this was not fatal while there was big
surplus on hand. Though we were
throwing money right and left. we had
1t to throw, and the public was not too
critical. The existence Of a deficit that
is climbing skyward at every step Gre
ates a different situation. A Januarv
excess of expense over income of
nearly $7,O00,OOO is a strong reminder
of the actual situation, and must tend
to sober those who are responsible for
the condition of the treasury and it's
administration before the country.
Republican extravaganza. Republican
legislation which cramps and INJURIES
industry by senseless prohibitive
tariff, Republican policies that have in
jured legitimate business all over the
country by assaults upon it for party
purposes, Republican incompetence and
Republican dishonesty everywhere
have brought about this change in tho
situation. Secretary Shaw predicted
a modest deficit. The chances. are that
1t will be immodest. 1t looks now as
If from $75,OO0,O0O to 800, 900, 900 wear
extra would be required to keen the
pace which the Republican party has
set. How is it going to be raised ?
That is the question which the people
VIII ask of the party and it's leaders
during the approaching campaign. and
we shall be much interested to learn
what answer they are going to make.