Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1904-10-06

| which, in the opinion of Il majority of
our people, justified an imperative de-
mand for reform in the administration
of public affairs. AS the expenditures
of the last fiscal year amounted to the
enormous total of $5S2, 100000. it is evil
dent that a thorough investigation of
the public service and the immediate
abandonment of useless and eXtrava-
CANT expenditures are more necessary
now than they were then. This as
founding increase is out of all proper
ton to the increase of our population,
and finds no excuse from whatever as
pect we view the situation. The Ma
tional Democratic platform 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
service? Can there be any doubt Of
the accuracy of this statement? Be
tween the expenditures of the year
1886, amounting to $242, 100000, and
those of the last fiscal year-the sew
enth after Grover Cleveland ceased to
be President aggregating $3.50, OOO,
600, there is difference so great as to
excite alarm in the breasts of all
thoughtful men. Even excluding the
sum of S50,OO0O00 paid for the Pan
anna Canal rights and to the State of
Panama, the expenditures of the last
fiscal year exceeded the sum of S532.-
100000 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
succeeding the last Democratic Adj
ministration amounted to the enormous
average of $511 100000 per year. This
large expenditure was due to consid-
cradle extent to the cost of the Span
ish-American War, which occurred
during that period, but the termination
of that war brought no relief to the
Treasury, for the average annual ex-
penses of the Government during the
three subsequent years ending June 80,
1904, were about $519, 100000, which is
the largest sum hitherto reached, dur
ing like period, since the close Of the
Civil War;
CONCEALMENT OF CONDITIONS.
This draft upon the revenues of the
country has had the effect which might
have been anticipated, and now we
have presented the reverse of the stu
alton, which led to the famous Obser
walton, at is 4 condition. and not q
theory, which confronts u.s. for, al
though the present incumbent found at
the close of the first fiscal year, dur
ing which he assumed control of the
administration, a surplus of receipts
over expenditures of more than SOL,
100000, there was an excess OF eXpen-
ditures over receipts at the close Of the
last fiscal year Of 81 100000, and the
official monthly reports made by the
Treasury Department 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 or
ders forbidding Government officers
from making public any statement OF
estimates on which future approprla-
tons are to be based.
If a man of ordinary intelligence |
and prudence should find in the Operat- |
ing expenses of his business such 4
percentage Of increase.
would he not promptly set on foot an
take immediate steps to stop it, espe- |
cially when trusted employees have |
been found dishonest and convicted, |
and a widespread impression exists |
that thorough investigation may dis
cover other cases of malfeaSance? |
When the Chief Executive reports to
Congress that, through fraud, forger-
es and perjuries, and by shameless
)riberies the law relating 10 the proper
conduct of the public service in gen
1ral, and to the due administration of
he Postoffice Department have been
violated - there
vas general popular demand for
'igid, sweeping investigation by Con-
,reSS, in addition to that undertaken
~ the Executive himself. Such an
the Republican majority
n Congress would not permit, al
hOugh the minority insisted that the
interest of good government demanded
t. And the minority was right. The
iberality, patriotism and National
ride of the people should not be made
N excuse for waste of the public
unds. Official extravaganza is official
rhine.
1utIc Is llOt SeulellCe Ill Tie heDuD-
lean platform recommending a reduc-
ion in the expenditure of the Govern
nent; not a line suggesting that the
Increase in the cost of the War Depart
Gent from $34OOO,0OO in 1886 to $115,-
100000 in 1904, should be inquired into;
nd not paragraph calling for thor
ugh investigation of those depart
nents Of the Government in which dis
onesty has been recently disclosed.
The people, however, can by their
otes, if they desire it, order such an
Investigation and inaugurate a policy
f economy and retrenchment. 1t is
afe to say that this will not be ac-
by endorsing at the polls
he Republican majority of the House
f Representatives which refused the {
and made the apprOpria- z
ons, nor by continuing in power the {
which made the dis {
urSements IL
Reform in expenditures must be had
the Civil, Military and Naval es- S
in order that the National {
Expenditures may be brought to a f
asiS of peace and the Government V
Maintained without recourse to the q
lXeS Of war. t
CONCLUSION. f