The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-04-29
WORK REVIEWED
BY THE LEADERS
Congress Has Done Nothing
But Spend Money.
PEOPLE PAY ENORMOUS BILL
SINS OF OMISSION AS WELL as
COMMISSION.

Washington, April 2S-The Republic
an and Democratic views Of appropria-
tions made thus far by the Fifty
eighth congress Were. presented 20 the
house today by Chairman Hemeuway
of the appropriations committee and
Representative Livingston.
Good Government Housekeeping" S
the caption chosen by Mr.. Hemenway
TO represent his views.
"A Congress That Has Done Moth
ing but spend Money is the heading
Of Mr. LiVingstcn's summary.
After reviewing the expenditures for
the next fiscal year, Mr.. Hemenway
concludes:
The expenditures of our govern
ment in their aggregate as showed by
the appropriations of congress, are
large and by unthinking persons. and
especially by misguided newspapers.
are denounced as extravagsnt, and yet,
according TO the very best authority
our national government is the most
economically administered Of any in
the civilized world"
A table to substantiate this state
ment is given showing the per capita
expenditures Of the leading nations.
The highest given is New Zealand,
where the per capita expense is S30.3S,
Il
per capita showing of S7.97
Total is 1871, 574, 629.
The total appropriations made by this
congress aggregate 1871, 574,629, accord
ing to Mr.. Hemenway. 'Of this sum
S26,S01,S43 was to pay deficiencies for
prior fiscal years, and $50, 800. 600 is set
aside for application 10 the sinking
fund. This leaves the total apprOpria-
ton for the expenses Of the govern
ment for the year 1905, S69S, 272. 7S6. The
total estimated revenue for this period
are S704, 472.O60, or an excess over ap-
preparations or authorized expenditures
of $6,199,274. Continuing, Mr.. Hemen-
way says:
Experience has demonstrated that,
one year with another. the actual eX-
penditures Of the government are
about five per cent less than the ap-
preparations made by congress and, an
ticipating that the coming fiscal year
viii not prove an exception TO this
practically we'll established rule it is
safe to assume that the apparent sur
plus of revenues over expenditures will
be augmented by not less than $780,
900. thus affording a safe margin Of
at least $4,000, 600 between revenues
and expenditures, with which TO meet
all legitimate deficiencies that may
arise and that may have to be pro-
vided for al the next session and also
affOrding considerable sum to be de-
voted to the sinking fund"
Democratic Economy.
Mr. Livingston in his stStement
compared the expenditures of Demo-
cratic congresses with Republican con-
crosses, and adds:
The appropriations for each of the
fiscal years 1895 and 1896. as made by
a Democratic congress, do not mate
rally vary, as viii be seen. one from
the other and average only $49z,619,-
602 for each year.
The table also shows that apprO-
pTiations for federal expenditures made
under a Republican administration, by
a Republican congress for the next ifs
cal year. have reached the startling
sum of $3.50. SIS, 629, or an increase of
1886, .027 over the average of the last
two years under Democratic control,
and within a period Of less than ten
years.
II do not question the honesty Of
those vast appropriations, either in
their aggregate amount or in the de
tails; but I challenge the wisdom Of
the policy Of the dominant party that
has made these enormous expenditures
necessary through the increase in the
military and naval estimates. the
maintenance of which Is at the expense
Of reeded internal improvements, suca
as river and harbor works and public
buildings. During the session which is
just about to close, the representative
Of the people have been denied con-
sideration Of the demands of their con-
stituents all along this line, and yet
the appropriations for the army show
an increase over what IL cost in 1896
Of S54,00O,000 and the navy the still
greater increase Of SIS. 600, 900.
Whatever may have been the sins
OF commission Of this congress. they
are as nothing compared TO the sins
OF omission denying consideration to
all legislation looking to the welfare
Of 80. -