Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1904-10-01
entitled to pension. win they suthor,.

entitled to pension. VIII they .author,-
tatively state that they sntc1d to 90
this? II 30, we accept the issue.
This suggests the suspicion. at least,
issue-that II was supposed to. present
a strong strategic position in, the bat
tie of the ballots. But as the making
OF that order was, In my Judgment, an
attempted, though perhaps unwilling,
upon the Legislative power,
and. therefore, unwarranted by the
the challenge Is accepted.
II elected. | will revoke that order. But
/ go further and say that that being
the enactment of a law to be passed by
both houses of congress and approved by
the executive that will give an age PEN
sion without reference to disability 10 the
surviving heroes of the civil war; and
under the provisions of which a pension
may be accepted with dignity because OF
the consciousness that II comes as Just
due from the people through their chosen
and not as largess dis
tributed by the chief executive:
Reform in Governmental Expendi-
lures.
'Twenty-eight years have passed since
the democratic party of the state OF
New York in convention assembled. recon-
mended to the national democracy the
nomination of Samuel j. Tilden as its can
didate for the presidency, and declared 1t
to be their settled conviction that re-
turn to the constitutional principles, fru-
gal expenses and administrative purity
of the founders Of the republic is the first
and most imperous duty Of the times-the
commanding issue now before the people
of the union This strong expression was
called forth by the national expenditures
for the year 1876. which amounted to VIA
600, ,0O0-a situation which, In the opinion
"a DnatoritV Of nennle Justified
imperative demand for reform In the ad-
ministration of public affairs As the ex-
penditures Of the last fiscal year amount
ed to the enormous total OF {5S2,OO0O OO0, II
is evident that thorough Investigation
of the public service and the immediate
abandonment OF useless and extravagant
expenditures are more necessary now than
they were then. This astounding In
crease Is out Of all proportion to the In
crease Of our population, and hnds no
excuse from whatever aspect we view the
situation. The national democratic plat
form 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 serv-
Ice Can there be any doubt OF the accu-
racy OF this statement? Between the ex-
penditures Of the year 1856. amounting to
$242. 900, 900. and those OF the last fiscal year
the seventh after Grover Cleveland
ceased to be president-aggregating $685.
tntTt lS ulntItnIt 6O biNte 40
to excite alarm In the breasts of all
thoughtful men. Even excluding the sum
OF s500O0,000 paid for the Panama canal
rights, and to the state OF Panama, the
expenditures Of the last fiscal year exceed
ed the sum of $532, 900, 900, being more than
double tho expenditures Of the government
for all purposes during the first year Of
Mr.. Cleveand's administration.
1.-The expenses OF the first four years sue
ceeding the last democratic administra-
tion amounted to the enormous average
of $5l1 ,O00, 600 per year. This large ex-
penditure was due to a considerable ex-
tent to the cost of the Spanish american
war, which occurred during that period;
but the termination Of that war brought
no relief to the treasury. for the average
annual expenses of the government, dur
ing the three subsequent years ending June
30, 1901, were about s5l9,0O0,e 900, which Is
the largest sum hitherto reached during
n 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 situation
which led to the famous observations: 1T
Is a condition, and not theory, which
confronts u.s. for, although the present
incumbent found at the close OF the first
fiscal year. during which he assumed con-
troll of the administration, surplus Of
receipts over expenditures OF more than
s9l, 100000, there was an excess or expend-
lures over receipts at the close Of the last
fiscal year of N2,OOO,OOO, and the official
monthly reports made by the treasury de-
partment show that the expenditures are
continuously and rapidly increasing, while
the receipts are diminishing
I'm this connection 1t is interesting to
note the recent administrative orders
forbidding government officers from
making public any statement of esti-
mates on which future appropriations
are to be based.
IF man of ordinary intelligence and
prudence should find in the operating ex-
penses of his business such tremendous
percentage of increase. would he not
promptly set on foot an inquiry for the
cause of the waste, and take immediate
measures to stop 1t, especially when
trusted employees have been found dis
honest and convicted, and widespread
impression exists that a thorough inves-
tigatlon may discover other cases OF
malfeasance? When the chief executive
reported to congress that, through
frauds, forgeries and perjuries, and by
shameless briberies, the laws relating to
the proper conduct of the public service
in general, and to the due administration
of the post office department have been
notoriously violated there was
general popular demand for a rigid,
addition to that undertaken by the execu-
tive himself. Such an investigation the
republican majority in congress would
not permit although the. minority in
ment demanded it. And the minority
was right. The liberality,. patriot
ism and national pride of the people
should not be made an excuse for waste
of the public funds. Oficial extravaganza
is official crime.
There is not sentence in thu repub-
lican platform recommending reduce
tlon in the expenditures of the govern
ment; not a line suggesting that the In
crease in the cost of the war department.
from s3iO00,0O0 in 1886 to Sis, 1000 in 1904
should be inquired into: and not para
graph calling for thorough investiga-
tion of those departments OF the govern
ment in which dishonesty has been re-
Gently disclosed.
Reform in expenditures must be had
In both the civil, military and naval es-
Establishments in order that the national
expenditures may be brought to a basis
of peace and the government maintained
without recourse to the taxes OF war"
Conclusion.
Among other things which are touched
upon in the letter Is the democratic pledge
to secure to all citizens equal protection
abroad. The need Of careful diplomacy
in the management OF the foreign relations
of the government, and the democratic
pledge to administer this department OF
the government In conformity with the
prlnc1pleS lAlu uOWn ny WaSTlHRtOH. Inc
need Of legislation in aid of American ship
ping. SO that 1t may again be commensu-
rate with American commercial interests.
He pledges the democratic party to a
wise and careful administration Of the ma
tional statutes concerning the irrigation
of the arid lands Of the west and in con-
clusion says:
'The issues are Joined and the people
must render the verdict.
shall economy of administration be de-
manded, or shall extravaganza be cncour-
aged?
''Shall the wrongdoer be brought to bay
by the people, or must justice wait upon
political oligarchy?
shall our government stand for equal
opportunity, or for special privilege?
"Shall 1t remain government of law,
or become one Of individual caprice?
"Shal we cling to the rule OF the peo-
pie, or shall we embrace beneficent des-
potism?
"If 1t be the wish Of the people that I
undertake the duties Of the presidency, I
pledge myself, with Gods help, TO devote
all my powers and energy to the duties Of
this exalted office. Very truly yours,
ALTON b. PARKER"