Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1904-09-22

sFpueLlcAN ExTRAvAcANcE


two Of this trio. Let US now look at
the third.
Reckless extravaganza prevails in
many of the departments of the gov
eminent Judge Parker, in his ad
dress TO the Democratic editors, clear
ly defined his position and that of the
Democratic party and its practice
when in control of the administration
OF affairs, and forcibly contrasted il
with the alarming increase of expen-
diture in the last eight years Of Re
publican rule. The President took
alarm and Immediately issued an edict
that no information was 10 be given
out by any Of the departments in re-
gard 10 estimates of expenditures for
the coming year. lie thus locked the
door of information and put the key
in his pocket.
What was he afraid Of? Are these
estimates so enormous that he breads
their effect on the coming election.
II they were moderate and reasonable
would he not have been ready and
willing enough TO produce them and
thus do away with effect of Judge
Parker's charges? Now, until further
orders, which means until after the
November election. people are 70 be
kept in ignorance on this subject.
But though thus debarred OF the
knowledge of what the future has in
store for us, we have at present what
we can deal with. and surely, "sufii-
cient unto the day is she evil there
of. - First, the Postofiice Depart
ment, reeking with fraud and corrup-
ton; a few of the smaller fry are
caught and punished, but the big fish
escape. Democrats in Congress de-
handed investigation, but the Re-
publicans say no. and department
which ought to be self sustaining, is
run at an enormous expenditure every !
Year.
Then the War Department. Think !
o. nearly two hundred and seventy |
generals on the retired list. Eighteen |
were generals during the OWL War,
seventeen figured conspicuously in the
war with Spain, one hundred and
twenty held that rank on the active
list for two weeks or less and were |
only promoted to be retired as gener-
ais instead of as colonies; two hun
dred and ten are titular generals, who
never performed any service in that
rank, some were doctors, some pay
masters, among them is General Egan,
of embalmed beef notoriety, tried and
convicted, sentenced to be dismissed,
but Executive Interference saved him
and put him on the retired list. Now
what do these $40 generals cost us?
Say at average of 81, 800 each--a very
moderate estimate, and we have1
l.2l5, 600 annually, and this sum is
increased by every addition TO this
army of generals. A brigadier- gener-
ais command is from three TO five reg
iments, say four, and it is a very in.
teresting coincidence that we have
about enough generals ON the retired /
list to command the million or more
of pensioners ON the list, nearly forty |
years after the close of the Civil War,
more than we had men on. the army
rolls at any time during the war, and
costing more than the whole German
army-one million of pensioners.
Our population is estimated at IS,
600, GOO, then one in every seventy
five is a pensioner. Mr.. Garfield.
long before he was President. when
in Congress, introduced from his COM
mittee a very heavy pension bill and
explained that we had then reached |
tine high water mark and that from
that time forward there must be a
steady decrease, but it is still food
tide Only a month or two ago, a
bureau order mot an act of Congress)
added thousands to the pension list.
So long as we have a high protective
tariff TO grind money out of the peo-
pie and we have fine crops and high
prices and great foreign demand for
our products, we can stand it, but
should we have crop failures and
great decrease of the foreign demand
for them, we will have q state of
affairs that will be appalling
We do not wish TO be understood,
nor viii we be understood, nor can
the Democratic party be justly charged
with opposing just and proper pen
sions. or the retiring of meritorious
officers. On the con trary, the Demo-
cratic party is in favor of the utmost
liberality in dealing with them. There
are thousands upon thousands of mer-
itorious pensioners and hosts Of
worthy retired officers and they have
nothing to fear from the Democratic
party. but justice to them, rs we'll as
TO the whole country. demands that
the Democratic party lay its heavy
hand upon the frauds and imposters
whensit gets chance at them, and
we.trust it Will soon have its oppor-
tunity.
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