The Savannah morning news., 1904-10-18
SECRETARY SHAW
TALKS OF ECONOMY.
His Attempt to Answer Judge Par
ker's Charge of Extravaganza.


His Attempt to Answer Judge Par
ker's Charge of Extravagance.
! Saratoga, n. Y. Oct. 17.-Secretary
of the Treasury Leslie NJ. Shaw and
| Congressman Lucius Littauer tonight
addressed one of the largest Republi-
can mass meetings ever held here. The
| principal address was made by Secre-
tary Shaw.
His speech was devoted to an an
swer to Judge Parker's charge of ex-
travagant administration by the Re
publican party. After quoting COM
parative figures upon Cleveland's adj
ministration and that of President
Roosevelt, he said:
THE Democratic party never fails
to make economy a much-featured
plank in it's platform, but it's appro-
priations, like it's other legislation, are
never affected by its promises.
1T is a conceded fact that both our
army and navy have been increased
within the last few years. 1t is like
wise true that the people of the United
States are doing much more business,
and therefore sending much more mail,
and they are also writing many more
letters of congratulation than during
Mr. Cleveland's administration. In adj
dtion, free delivery has been estab-
lished in many cities, and rural free
delivery inaugurated over a consider
able portion of every state. Let those
who would reduce our army and navy
to their former size and condition, and
those who would abolish the free de-
livery in the towns where 1t has been
established, and rural free delivery al
together, accept the figures given by
Judge Parker, but those who do not
wish this can find the real test of
economy in comparing expenditures
other than those of the army,the navy,
and the postoffice. Eliminating these
three items from consideration, the
annual expense of administration dur
ing Mr. Cleveland'S last term averaged
1918 per capita; but during the last
four years this has been reduced to
$3.50 per capita, showing a greater
economy in the last four years in adj
ministrative matters, including outlay
for public buildings, of nearly 10 cents
per capita.
Take the Postofice Department as
another illustration of greater economy
during the last four years. During
Mr.. Cleveland's administration it cost
over II cents per capita in excess of
postal receipts to conduct the business
of that department but during the last
four years it has cost less than 81
cents in excess of postal receipts, not
withstanding the improved service and
the Inauguration of $1,000 rural free
delivery routes, taking the mail to
three and one-quarter million fami-
lies. But his comparison is seeming
ly unfavorable only because he in
cludes among the expenditures of the
cost of postoffice administration and
omits to give credit for the increased
receipts. Annual postal receipts have
increased one dollar per capita since
the first year of, Mr.. Cleveland's adj
ministration, with which, in another
place, he seeks comparison. but fails
to give credit therefor.
Economy is a good thing to preach
and it is better thing to practice, but
economy and craftsmanship are not
synonymous terms The issue ought
never to be who spends the least
money but rather who has the most
to show for money spent.