New-York tribune., 1906-07-10
WHAT APPRoPRIATIoNs ARE FoR

For want of other material We shall hear
great deal in this campaign of the extravaganza
Of the present Republican Congress. AS mat
ter of fact, the increases in appropriations have
been largely due to greater facilities in the dis
tribution of mail matter by the extension of the
rural delivery and are met with the exception
of about S1OO00O00. by the greater receipts in
the POstoffice Department so that while the eX-
penditures likely to be $191,000,O00 the re-
suppose that any Democratic statesman will rise
and denounce this specific increase. Then there
was an appropriation of S36000000 for the Pan
anna Canal which is TO be paid for by the pro-
ceeds of government bonds drawing > per cent
interest, on the theory that as this canal is to
be permanent in its construction, and to bring
permanent benefit to the country, our posterity
may we'll be called upon to pay part of its cost
Then there was the extraordinary expense Of
$4,000 900 made necessary in the proper appro-
prations to set the new states of oklahoma and
Indian Territory, and possibly of Arizona and
New Mexico, on their way rejoicing. l do not
know why this should be criticised. Then there
was an expenditure of S5,O0O,0O0 made neces-
sary by the San Francisco disaster. We heard
no objection from Democrats on this score at
the time the appropriation was made Twenty
million dollars was appropriated for public
buildings through the country.
These were badly needed and we heard no
Democratic objections 20 the bill when it went
through. and no complaint that Democratic dis
tricts were not visited with the same degree of
libeTality the Republican districts / shall
not go on with the other items. the mere state
ment Of which justifies them In spite Of the in
crease. there will be a surplus Of $40O00O00 in
the Treasury after all the expenditures have been
lnaoe. we nave The money with which pay
for the government which the people are enjoy
ing. The country is growing rapidly and the ex-
penses OF its government naturally expand. The
truth is that the greatest rigor was exercised
by the appropriation committees. especially of
the House Of Representatives, to prevent undue
and extravaaant expenditure and comnarsons
with previous administrations are wholly un-
just unless the critics take up item by item the
increases and consider the for the addi-
tiOnal appropriations made necessary either by
peculiar emergencies or by the general expan-
sion Of the country. presenting reasonable
ground for greater governmental expenditure.
Another criticism that has been made is that
the laws passed haVs greatly extended the ma
tional power compared with the state power,
and have promoted the Capitalization Of govern
ment at Washington. In sense this is true.
II Is not true that she expansion of power is
unconstitutional. but IL is only true that the ma
ticnal government has taken upon itself the
ercse OF greater powers, heretofore unused but
all within the constitutional grant. in order IA
curb certain evils which were widely extended
across state lines as TO make il impossible fer
the states 20 suppress them. This has been done
through the .nstrumentallty OF regulations ee