The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-01-10
TO PUT ON THE BRAKES.

sixteen millions of dollars asked for
by Secretary Taft for Panama canal
purposes to eleven millions and the
hearings of canal officers by senate
committee, together with the debate
that followed in the two houses has a
far greater significance than would
appear on the surface. No one doubts
the good intentions of the secretary
and the hfgh-priced officials under him
in carrying out the digging of the
canal. Nor would the people of the
United States complain if the canal
should cost hundred or two millions
of dollars more than the most econom-
ical-minded persons think it ought
to cost. But there are those both in
and out of congress who are far
sighted enough to realize that long
after the canal is completed and after
those who had to do directly with its
construction are dead and gone the
legislative branch of the government
will be in existence, and in measure
1t will be held accountable by the then
living generations for what was done
in this generation. The accountability
will come through the process of in
duction. Critics-for there will be
critics then as now-will rise up to
warn those future congresses not to
fall into the bad ways of their prede-
cessors, and the Panama canal lob"
as 1t is then likely to be called, will
be referred to as a horrible example
of extravaganza.
II it should transpire that there is
then no law, as there is none now,
under which sensational string writ
ers may be summarily strangled, it is
within the possibilities that Secretary
Taft might be held up to the public
gaze as a corruptionist and boodler
of the worst order. OF course, there
will be no foundation for the charge,
but that will not prevent it's being
made. On the other hand, if some flu
ture congress, in cheese pairing fit,
should go contrary to the wishes and
views of the critics by show of ex-
cessive economy, it will be just as easy
for the sensationalists of that time, in
order to point a moral and adorn
tale. to say that the great secretary
& was the most wonderful economist in
all history. The rule under which
/. this comment could be justified would
fall within the delightful epigram
originating with the late Thomas
Bracket Reed, to-wit, that "a states
man is politician who is dead"
" In order to obviate all these things,
this congress. with treasury deficit
before it, used the pruning knife on
the canal appropriation. Back of this
stroke Of economy, however, was a
more seriously important purpose. In
recent years congress has fallen into
the habit of making lump sum appro-
priations and authorizing the execu-
tive departments to spend the money
in their own way. This is delega-
ton of power which has been imposed
upon the legislative branch alone. 1t
Is true that at the outbreak of the
Spanish war congress voted fifty mill
lions of dollars in a lump sum so that
President Mckinley could carry on the
bushes of fresing Cuba. But this was
. war measure. And although large
Issue Of bonds has been authorized to
aid in the construction Of the Panama
canal, it is very probable that con-
gress will hereafter require the sec
rotary Of war to submit estimates,
from year to year, Of the amounts res
anired p 80 on with the work, and
4hat being composed Of the represent
fatiyss Of the states and Of the tax
1aysrs. Y Will solsmnly proceed IN .
1sll sort of way M o. over the estis ].