The St. Louis Republic., 1904-09-26
cioouro No Money TIL eured
UuOOUu y piiiS. Be. is:cisssss m.
pRS. TD0RNf0S Z MINOR. aess Oilvs s.. 8. Lssh

last fiscal year amounted to the enormous
total of Sssc.co.op0. it is evident that a
thorough investigation OF tie public serv-
Ice and the immediate abandonment of
useless and eXtravagant expenditures are
more necessary now than they were then
This astounding increase s out Of all pro-
portion to the increase OF our population.
and finds no excuse from whatever aspect
We view the situation
The national Democratic platform de-
ciareS that large reductions can easily
be made in the annual expenditures Of the
Government without impairing the ef-
ficiency of any branch Of the public serv-
Ice" Can :hare be any doubt Of the ac-
curacy OF this statement? Between the
to seiaoOo.co. and those of the last fiscal
year-the seventh after Grover Cleveland
ceased to be Presdent-aggregating $Ss2.-
excite alarm in the breasts of all thought
ful men Even excluding the sum of go
"e.o, paid for the Panama Canal rights
and TO the State OF Panama. the ex-
penditures OF the last fiscal year exceed
ed the sum of s532 20ca0O. being more than
double the expenditures OF the Govern
of Mr.. Cleveiand's adminissration.
The expenses Of the first four years sue
ceedine the last Democratic admtnistra-@
tion amounted to the enormous averas
penditure was due. to a considerable ex-
tent. to the cost Of the Spanish-Ar1erican
bl a ;b whien Occurred ,In m during that period
no relief to the Treasury. for the average
annual expenses Of the Government dur
m June 'ss 1 vs@e sSSni sS5 % enSins
is the largest sum hitherto reached. dur
ing 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
whfch led TO the famous observation, 1T
Is condition and not a theory, which
confronts us: for. although the present
incumbent found at the close of the frst
fiscal year. during which he assumed con-
troll OF the administration, a surplus OF
receipts over expenditures OF more than
sN.oo.uO, there was an excess Of ex-
the ast eal f! yeas x sss sns slSse .ss Se
official monthly reports made BY tho
Treasury Department show that the ex-
increasing. while the receipts are diraIn-
ishing.
In this connection II 10 Interesting to
note the recent administrative orders for
public any statement Of estimates os
based.
II man OF ordinary intelligence and
prudence should find in the operating ex-
penses OF his business such a tremendous
percentage OF increase. would he not
promptly set on foot an inquiry for tho
cause OF the waste. and take inmediats
ed employees have been found dishonest
and convicted. and a widespread impress
sion exists that thorough Investigation
may discover other cases OF malfeasance?
When the chief executive reported tn
Congress that. through frauds. forgeries
and perjuries. and by shameless briberies.i
the laws relating to the proper conduct of
the public service in general and TO the
due administration of the Post-Office De-
partmeEt. have been notoriously violat.
ed there was general popular
demand for n rigid. sweeping Investigation
by Congress. in addition to that under
taken by the executive himself. Such an
investigation the Republican majority m
Congress would not permit. althouen the
minority insisted that the interests OK
good government demanded It. ana the
minority was right The nberahty. pa
triotism and national pride OF the people
should not be made an excuse Ior waste
OF the public funds Official exua'asancs
is official crime
There Is not n sentence IN the Rcpuchc-
an platform recommending a reductlon IN
the expenditures of the Government. noe
a line suggesting that the Increase IN the
cost OF the War Department. from $sa.oU-
co in 1856 TO S115.ocW n iSf snoulu %
inquired into. and nor s.epn caiuhs
FOR a Thorough investlgation OF those ae-
n,rt-snts az the Government In which
dishonssty has been recently disclosed
-rha ,acpIe however. can py their voteA
q. - Sasire IL order such an inveSdGA-
49,. - inaugira:e policy OF economy
sd sa,r,nchrnent. It is safe to say that
.h, ~, not be accomplished by indors-
So 81 The polls the Republican maJcrty
- ,he House Of Representatives wnnn
va,,ssd the investigation and made tno
a1nropria tons. nor by continuing IN pow