Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-10-20
EXPENSES GROWING.
Limit by No Means Reached by Gov
eminent.

Washington, Oct. l9.-One would judge
from the part which the 'eXtravdgan@e
issue plays in the national campaign that
Federal expenditures had gone rs far as
they Were likely to go. Such is by no
means the case, whichever party IS sue
crssfuI. The session of Congress which
has Just closed was extremely frugal i'll
many respects, declining to do number
less things which must certainly be done
before long, on the theory that II would
not look well to run up too large a total
lust before election. In going about Wash
ingtOn one hears constantly of improve
mentS ana engagements which are soon
to be made. but for which Congress de
frrreI making the necessary appropr1a-
ton until after the election. This is true
of a great many salaries, as well as of
direct purchases of material and equip
mrnt The Government ought tn buy the
Census building, Tor example. since the
census has been made permanent. ana
this building was constructed especially
Tor census purposes. but a. it looks bet
ter on the books to pay rent than to buy
a building outright its condemnation by
the Government was deferred.
There is a wide call for increased Sala-
ries in the army and the navy, hut one
which has been steadily resisted because
of this desire to make showing for
economy. 1t probably cannot be perma
ncntly resisted unless there could be
drop in the prices OF commodities. The
letter carriers have long been wanting
more pay; they defeated Congressman
Loud on this issue, and ii was supposed
would promptly grant them the desired
favor. But the session Immediately be
fore presidential election proved an lIn
fortunate time for them. and no action
was taken. The railway mail clerks also
want more pay. The rural letter-carriers
obtained an increase at the last session.
but with il they are not Likely 10 be long
satisfied. in view of their tremendous po-
ltical power.
The navy is pushing steadily forward in
its needs. Every new ship means addi-
tionau officers and men, Every institution
which the Government provides must.
when on established. be maintained.
Tie first cost is nothing and Yet it is
over this that the debate always proceeds
often in apparent disregard of what an
institution once established will sue
ceSSiyeiy call for. Two great legislative
projects which have long been held back
seem near the point OF realization; these
are the service ana pension and The ship
ping subsidy bill. The latter. as already
pointed out in these dispatches, will aim
to get as much of the revenue by indirect
means as possible, but it VIII be nc less a
tax upon the people if provided in in
creased tonnage ditY. in large post@i de-
fcits and discriminating duties. Many
bureaus and services OF the Government
never figure on the books as costing any
thing and yet the revenue which supplies
them in an indirect charge upon the peo-
pie. This is true of the Patent Office
whose fees for patents more than cover
the cost of opera ZION. The profits in one
and nVe-cent pieces alone more than sup
port the mint service. The sales of pub
lie land support the irrigation service,
while the charges formerly covered byi
this revenue. like the support Of the
Agricultural Experiment Stations are
thrown squarely upon the treasury. \
service pension law is apparently quit e
near at hand although Order IS will be
accepted as a substitute for perhaps a
session of Congress or two.
With these two projects apparently so
rear realization and countless other small
things getting into line. it is clear that in
stead of having reached our high tide the
Government is about to enter upon a |
period of expenditures greatly exceeding |
anything that it has ever before known |
Barring a panic. which would depress |
prices 50 as to lower expenditures it is |
inconccivabe that another four years can
pass without reaching an altogether new
level.
Our system of Government is vitality de-
fective in its machinery governing appro-
rr1atiOnS. The President should have a
veto power over items of an appropra ton
bill, Just as the mayors of cities usually
do. Now the presidential veto on APP
preparation hills. with the exception of
that on rivers and harbors. comes pretty
near being dead letter. Any general bill
that he VetoeS must be passed in new
form to Congress. or the wheels of the
Government would stop He could
theoretically send back bill after bill until 1
they passed one to suit him. but practi
cally this would be impossible. His only
real veto is in calling prominent leaders
and in private conversation urging them
against certain eNtravagances river
md harbor bill is exceptional. because it
is never absolutely necessary that one
should be passed And here again Con-
gTeSS could beat out an economic Ex-
eclltive by putting river and harbor items
into the sundry civil bill, which is often
done.
This lack of presidential oversight is |