New-York tribune., 1904-09-29
PARKER'S PROMISES.
Whut He Says of Economy of i'd
ministration Campaign Buncombe.
IFRoM TIE TRIBUNE BUREAU.l

Washington. Sept 28-Democratic promises
and Democratic performance in the past nave
been so completely at variance that every one
familiar with federal finances sets down Cam
didate Parker's criticism of Republican extraVa-
gance and his promises Of greater economy as
mere buncombe. and points to the Cleveland ad-
ministration as ample warrant for their skepti-
cal attitude It is remarked, too, that Mr.. Par
ker in his letter of acceptance, took, for pur-
poses of comparison. the expenditures of MT
Clevelands first year in office. when the total
expenditures of the government aggregated
242.O00O0O. but failed. despite his alleged
frankness to reveal the facts that, first no year
of Mr. CIeveland's two ADMINISTRATIONS ever ap-
preached in economy his first year in office;
second, that the total expenditures for his first
term when he was hampered by the fact that
the Senate still Republican. amounted to
81 .O52 100000. an increase of S25OOO.000 over
the Arthur administration which Immediately
preceded it: and third. that the total expend-
lures of Mr.. Cleveland's second term amounted
to $1.441 100000 an increase of $3.50. .0o0.000
over his former administration, and an increase
of SG0000.O00 over the Harrison administration
which Immediately preceded it.
In the light of these facts, Mr. Parker's hor-
rOr at the increased expenses of the government
is not regarded well founded, and his prom
ises of Improvement. which chiefly impled'
are accepted as part of the usual 'ante-eiection
palaver." or and this view is generally heio III
Washington. as the promises OF man on the
outside who has more than once clearly Demon
strated his lack of familiarity with national
affairs and his inability to speak with authority
on other than purely legal subjects.
officials who have long been in government
employ declare that Mr. Cleveand's zeal for re-
trenchment evaporated in his first year in the
White House. and that only the presence of a
Republican majority in the Senate prevented
material increase in the aggregate Of his OK
penditures. n claim that is substantiated by his
record I'm the four years when both House and
Senate were under the control Of the Democracy.
when the total expenditures showed an increase
Of 1903 per cent over the Democratic admin
istration of four years earlier.
Candidate Parker's question, Shall economy
OF administration be demanded. or shall extraVa-
gance be encouraged o. is in the opinion of those
who make a study of federal expenses, regarded
familiarity with the subject with which he at
tCmpts to deal Many facts and figures
offered in proof Of this opinion. but one OF the
most striking is the showing of economy iu the
cost Of collecting the revenues OF the nation
For instance. under Mr.. CleVeland'S administra-
ersged 4.J2 per cent. under Mckinley this cost
was reduced 10 3.69 per cent, and under Roose-
welt il has been reduced still further TO 300 FER
cent. The same economy OF administration is
ternal revenues In the Cleveland adminisIra-
ton this item amounted TO go per cent in the
Mckinley administration to 1.61 and IN the
Roosevelt administration TO III per cent II IS
on this showing, apparently. that Mr.. Parker &C.
clares that an investigation of every department
of the government is needed.