The Lewiston teller. (Lewiston, Idaho) 1900-1905, 1905-02-07
ECONOMY the
" ATCnWo1
Appropriation for Natlens CAP
i,aI Cut Three AelIasas'
OF Dollafs
Especial staff Correspondent

especial Stan COrrespOndont.)
WASHINGTON, Feb. s.--It has been
known that economy In appropriations
would be distinguishing feature of
this congress but quite contrary to
precedent In domestic affairs. economy
has been first introduced in the national
home at Washington. The appropria-
tions for the capital city have been cut
down three millions OF dollars, ana
many long deferred and needed im-
provements. will have to wait for better
times or until congress Ii In q more
liberal mood. It liz estimated that the
value of the public and private prop
erty in Washington II about equal. -
In other words Uncle Sam and the pao-
pie Of Washington each owns an moiety
Of the real estate and should be equally
taxed. The tax assessment Of private
and corporate property this year
amounted in round numbers to over
six and half millions Of dollars and
assessing the government, at an equal
amount there would have been more
than thirteen millions Of dollars for the
support Of the municipal government
and to meet the expenses Of maintain
ing parks. streets, highways, etc. But
, the district has no voice or vote. Il
speaks and votes only through con-
gress. some or whose members and sem
ators are avowedly inimical to every
thing that pertains to the prosperity
and establishment Of the capital OF the
United States. This feeling Of course
II provincial and unpatri0tic but that
It II entertained by members and sena-
tors who are sent here Tor few years
but who are essentially lecal statssmen
rather than national stateMnen can not
be denied. But II the capital Of the
United States II not 70 - the urban
queen Of America through lack Of gam
erous appropriation there u sxpecta-.
tion that there Will be no lack Of
/ money to build big navy. Only :
year ago naval experts were on tip toe
iexpectine snbhasine boats armed with
salient torpedoes to revolutionise navat
warfare but the stupendous object lss-.
\ son Of the Russo Japanese war has
quite changed the opinion of experts
and there has been q rcyersion 10 ne
lold type Of heavy arm0red battle ahips
equipped with the heaviest guns, There
has been IN the last two OF three years
an effort to construct two great battle
ships Of the same class at the ss1no
time. They are called the Connects
cut" and the louisiana" They ara
sister ships and their construction ID
equally advanced. One has cost two
million two hundred and thirty -five
thousand dollars and the other three
million five hundred and forty -eight
thousand and, remarkable to say, the
!, saving of nearly million and quar-
ter OF dollars is on the vessel con-
structed In a government navy guard
by government officers, and by work.
men paid by the government. II the
government can 50 far outdo individual
contractors 1t is manifest that these
have been making unheard Of profits
at the expense Of the taxpayers and II
Ia suspected that there il understand
ing or collusion between the large con-
: tracing firms by which these excessive
profits are secured and probably d.
vided. II as expected the sea tria
=" shall prove an equal or greater EN-.
. cheney OF the government made boa
/. there will doubtless be an impetus Civ
en- to national boat building.