The Washington times., 1904-09-26
SM IS THE ISSUE, DECLARES CANDIDATE PARKER

clared IL To be their settled conviction
that a return to the constitutional urin-
ciples, frugal expenses, and administra-
tive purity of the founders Of the Repub-
lie is the first and most imperious duty
or the tImes-the commanding issue now
before the people of the union" This
strong expression was called forth by
the national expenditures for the year
1910, which amounted to 81. .000-a
situation which, In the opinion OF a ma
Jorlty Of our people, justified an impcra-
i've demand for reform IN the admins
Udton Of public affairs. As the expcn-
ditures Of Tie last fiscal year amounted
20 tne enormous total Of $50. Gio.Oo0 II
IS evident that . thorough investigation
OF the public service and the immediate
aDandonment Of useless and eNtravagant
tisl.5 are, more necessary now
Ihan they were then.
This astounding Increase is ont Of all
proportion 10 the Increase of our pOpu-
atlOn. and finds no excuse from what
ever aspect We v{cv, me Situation The
national Democratic platform declares
that large reductions can easily be
made In the annual expenditures Of the
EoNeIhIqent without impairing the EN-
clency or any branch of the public serv-
Ice Can there be any DOUBT Of the
accuracy Of this statement
Compared With Cleveland.
Between the expenditures OF the year
1856, amounting 10 S242 0.cOO. and those
Of the last fiscal year-the seventh after
Grover Cleveland ceased 10 be PreSi-
dent-aggregaung S5S2O000J0. there IL
a difference so great as TO excite alarm
In the breast of all thoughtful men.
Even excluding the sum Of 100000
paid Cor the Panama canal rights to
the state Of Panama, the expenditures
of the last fiscal year exceeded the sum
Of S532, 600. 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 Admin
iStratiOn amounted 10 the enormous
average OF $5li.000,O00 per year This
! large expenditure was due TO "A cOnsid-
cradle extent TO the cost Of the Span
ish-American war, which occurred dur
ing that period; but the termination
Of that war brought no relief for the
Treasury; for the average annual eX-
Penses Of the Government during the
! three subsequent years ending June %,
1904. were about S5ig 000, 00U. which is the
largest sum hitherto reached during a
Ike period since the close Of the civil
war.
A Deficit at Hand.
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 situation
which led 10 the famous observation,
1T is a condition. and not a theory,
which confronts US" for, although the
present incumbent found at the close
Of the first fiscal year during which he
! assumed control OF the Administration
a surplus Of receipts over expenditures
Of more than SS1 100000. there was an
/ excess of expenditures over receipts at
| the close Of the last fiscal year of ST.
/ 100000. and the official monthly reports
made by the Treasury Department show
I that the expenditures are continuously
and rapidly increasing, while the re-
ceipts are diminishing.
In this connection il is intere sting to
/ note the recent administrative orders
I fOrbidding Government officers from
making any public statement of esl-
mates on which future appropriations
are to be based.
| II a man of ordinary intelligence and
| prudence should ind in the operating
| expenses of his business such tremen-
dOus percentage OF increase, would ne
not promptly set on foot an inquiry Tor
/ the cause OF the waste. and take i'm
mediate measures 10 stop II, especially
! when trusted employees have been found
| dishonest and convicted and wide
! spread impression exists that a thor
/ Ough investigation may discover other
/ cases of malfeasanCe2 When the ChleI
/ Executive reported TO Congress tndE,
/ through frauds, fOrgeries, and per1uries,
/ and by shameless briberieS, the laws re-
! lating to the proper conduct OF the
/ public service in general, and TO the
/ due administration of the PostOfhce De-
| partment- have been VIGOROUSLY vio-
/ lated ." there was general pop
/ ular demand for a rigid, sweeping in
/ vestigatiOn by Congress. il addition 20
! that undertaken by the Executive him
! self Such an investigation the Repub-
/ lican majority in Congress would NOT
! permit. although the minority insisted
\ that the interests of good government
\ demanded IL. And the minority was
/ right The liberality, patriotism, and
! national pride of the people should NOT
/ be made an excuse for waste OF the pup
/ lie funds Official extravaganza IS oth-
] ole r-fr0p