Perth Amboy evening news., 1904-09-26

/ uHdlTS Dy us is limited 10 lle SllBlt OI-
flee of enabling its people to work out
their own political and national destiny
for themselves free from the coercion of
any European state.
Reform In Governmental Expenditures.
Twenty-eight years have passed sine
the Democratic party of the state of New
York in convention assembled recon-
mended to the national Democracy the
nomination of Samuel j. Tllden as its
candidate for the presidency and declared
1t to be their settled conviction that q
return to the constitutional principles,
frugal expenses and administrative purity
of the founders of the republic is the first
and most imperious duty of the times
the commanding issue now before the
people of the Union.'' This strong ex-
preston was called forth by the nationa.
expenditures for the year 1919. which
amounted to 1874. 900. OOO-a situation which.
in the opinion of a majority of our peo-
pie, justified an imperative demand 70!
reform in the administration of public
affairs. AS the expenditures of the last
fiscal year amounted to the enormous
total of $s82, 900. 900. Ii Is evident that a
thorough investigation of the public serv-
ice and the immediate abandonment of
useless and eXtravagant expenditures are
more necessary now than they were then.
This astounding increase Is out of all
proportion to the increase of our popula-
llOH anu Illus HO cACuSc ITOm WlldtcNtl
aspect we view the situation. The ma
tional Democratic platform declares that
large reductions can easily be made in
the annual expenditures of the govern
ment without impairing the efficiency of
any branch of the public service Can
there be any doubt of the accuracy of
this statement? Between the expendi-
lures of the year 1886, amounting to $212.-
600. 600, and those of the last fiscal year
the seventh after Grover Cleveland ceas-
ed to be Notwithstanding 1882, 900, 900.
there is q difference so great as to excite
alarm in the breasts of all thoughtful
men. Even excluding the sum of 100000
900 paid for the Panama canal rights and
to the state of Panama, the expenditures
of the last fiscal year exceeded the sum
of $532, 600, 900, being more than double the
expenditures of the government for all
purposes during the first year of Mr..
Cleveland's administration.
The expenses of the first four years sue
ceeding the last Democratic administra-
ton amounted to the enormous average
of $511. 900. 900 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.
Blu 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 80, 1904. were about 1919, 900. 900, which
is the largest sum hitherto reached dur
ing a 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 observation, 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 ssumed con-
troll of the administration a surplus of re-
ceipts over expenditures of more than
$91 900. 900, there was an excess of eX-
%penditures over receipts at the close of
the last fiscal year of $42, 900, 900, and the
official monthly reports made by the
treasury department show that the ex-
penditures are continuously and rapidly
increasing, while the receipts are dimin-
ishing.
In this connection it is interesting to
note the recent administrative orders for
bidding government officers from making
public any statement of estimates on
which future appropriations are to be
based. as
II a man of ordinary intelligence and
prudence should find I'M the operating ex-
penses of his business such a tremendous
percentage of increase, would he not
promptly set on foot an Inquiry for the
cause of the waste and tax immediate
measures to stop itdi especially when
trusted employees have been found dis
honest and convicted and a widespread
impression exists that a thorough investi-
cation may discover other cases of mall
feasance? When the chief executive re-
ported 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 VIGOROUSLY
violated " -" there was a general popu-
lar demand for a rigid, sweeping investi-
cation by congress in addition to that I'M
dertaken by the executive himself. Such
an investigation the Republican majority
in congress would not permit, although
the minority insisted that the interests of
good government demanded 1t. And the
minority was right. The liberality, pa
triotism and national pride of the people
should not be made an excuse for waste
of the public funds. Official extravaganza
is official crime.
: There is not a sentence in the Repub-
lican platform recommending a reduction
in the expenditures of the government
not a line suggesting that the Increase In
the cost of the war department from $3l,-
000. 600 in 1886 to Sis, 900, 900 in 1904 should be
inquired into. and not a paragraph calling
for a thorough investigation of those
departments of the government In which
dishonesty has been recently disclosed.
The people, however, can by their votes,
if they desire 1t. order such an investiga-
ton and inaugurate n policy of economy
and retrenchment. 1t is safe to say that
this will not be acc llished by indors-
ing at the polls the ..apublican majority
of the house of representatives which re-
| fused the investigation and made the APP
preparations. nor by continuing in power
the administration which made the dis
bursements.
Reform in expenditures must be had in
| both tho oIx-t tnt1ftDr 81 md no val nGfDh-
lishments in order that the national eX-
penditures may be brought to a basis of
peace and the government maintained
without recourse to the taxes of war.
Conclusion.
1 have put aside a congenial work, to
which had expected to devote my life,
In order to assume as best l can the re-
sponsibilities your convention putupon me.
/ solicit the cordial cooperation and
generous assistance of every man who
believes that a change of measures and
of men Mt this time would be wise, and