The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1904-09-27


we're then. This astounding increase
crease of our population and finds
no excuse from whatever aspect we
view the situation. The national Dem
ocratic platform declares that large
reductions can easily be made in the
annual expenditures of the government
without impairing the efficiency of any
branch of the public service" Can
there be any doubt Of the accuracy
of this statement? Between the eX-
penditures of the year 1886, amount
| ing to S242,000,0 900, and those of the
Grover Cleveland ceased to be presi-
dent-aggregating $5S2 100000, there
is a difference so great as to excite
alarm in the breasts of all thoughtful
men. Even excluding the sum of $50,-
100000 paid for the Panama canal
rights and to the State of Panama,
the expenditures of the last fiscal
year exceeded the sum of $532, 900, 900,
being more than double the expendi-
lures of the government for all pur-
poses during the first year of Mr..
| Cleveland's administration.
The expenses of the first four years
succeeding the last Democratic admin
istration amounted to the enormous
average of s511 ,0O0,00 per year. This
large expenditure was due to a consid-
eraable extent to the cost of the Span
ishAmerican War, which occurred
during that period; but the ternina-
tion of that war brought no relief to
the treasury, for the average annual
expenses of the government, during
the three subsequent years ending
June 80, 1904, were about $519 900 900,
which is the largest sum hitherto
reached, during like period, since the
close Of the Civil war
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 sit
uation, which led to the famous OBJ
servation. 1T is a condition, and not
: a theory, which confronts u.s." for,
} although the present incumbent found
at the close of the first fiscal year.
during which he assumed control Of
= ceipts over expenditures of more than
| SOL 900, 900, there was an excess of eX-
e penditures over receipts at the close
! Of the last fiscal year Of Sal ,000,0 600,
e and the official monthly reports made
by the treasury department show that
= the expenditures are continuously and
: rapidly increasing, while the receipts
t are diminishing.
e In this connection it is interesting
!, to note the recent administrative or
e ders forbidding government officers
from making public any statement OF
estimates on which future appropri-
= ations are to be based.
: If a man of ordinary intelligence
: and prudence should find in the oper-
: ating expenses of his business such G
y tremendous percentage of increase
! would he not promptly set on foot ar
d inquiry for the cause of the waste
d and take immediate measures to stoI
: it, especially when trusted employee.
" have been found dishonest and con
If victed, and a widespread impression
n exists that a thorough investigation
VI may discover other cases of malfeas
e ance? When the chief executive re
= ported to congress that, Through
8. frauds, forgeries and perjuries, and by
n shameless briberies the laws relating t
l. the proper conduct of the public ser
l. vice in general, and to the due admin
n istration of the postoffice department
= have been notoriously violated >
II there was a general popular demand
& for a rigid, sweeping investigation by
y congress, in addition to that under
d taken by the executive himself. Suct
'e an investigation the Republican ma
u jority in congress would not permit
e although the minority insisted that tn,
Is interests of good government demand
)f ed it. And the minority was right
e The liberality, patriotism and nationa
\ pride of the people should not be made
y an excuse for waste Of the public funds
l. Official extravaganza is official crime.
is There is not sentence in the Re
r publican platform recommending a re
Is duction in the expenditures of tn
re government; not line suggesting tha
ID the increase in the cost of the war de
s. partment from $34,O00,000 in 1856 t,
lie S115,000,000 in 1904, should be inquir
D ed into; and not paragraph callin
ot for thorough investigation of thos
ir departments of the government i
E. which dishonesty has been recent
N disclosed
er The people, however, can by thei
r votes, if they desire it, order such a
at investigation and inaugurate a polio
Is of economy and retrenchment. 1t
b. safe to say that this will not be accom-
n plished by endorsing at the polls tn
ee Republican majority of the house c
IN representatives which refused the in
vestigation and made the appropria
& tions, nor by continuing in power tn
administration which made the dis