The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1907-06-15
CONGRESSIONAL sxTRAvAeANcE
A Two Billion Dollar Congress Pro
dicted-Lavish Expenditures.

This congress will &c into history
as the most extravagant of any OF it's
predecessors. The appropriations will
be close to $4,000, 000, 900. 1t is almost
certain that when the figures are cast
up OF the appropriations for this ses-
sion, h amount will exceed $1,000
O00,O The Fifty-first congress,
congress, as it appropriated $685.
65O,1O9, and the people very promptly
turned the rascals out" when he
time came to do the voting. What
will they do with the Republican
party Of the Fifty-ninth congress for
doubling that former extravaganza?
The estimates Of the treasury de-
partment for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1908, which the present con
gress is appropriating for, amounted
to $500, 100000 These estimates, as
they always are, were considered all
that was necessary to run all the de-
partments of the government with
liberality, but congress will probably
exceed that amount by over $500, 000,-
900.
These figures are startling, and
some of the Republican leaders stand
aghast at their magnitude, and fear
ing the wrath of the %plundered people,
are sounding notes of warning. Never
has a congress been more liberal in
it's treatment of claimants, particular
ly those asking for private pensions.
The bars have been thrown down in
this kind of legislation and thousands
of private pension bills have been
rushed through both houses in record
time. 1t was said that the new service
pension law would make these private
pensions nearly unnecessary. but the
prediction has been anything but veri-
fled. 1t was found necessary to ap-
propriate SIS, 000, 900 extra to pay the
new service pensions, and it is stated
that President Roosevelt felt impelled
to request the house and senate COM
mittees to go slow on those private
pension bills now the service pensiC'
bill is a law.
The congress has not only increased
it's own salaries, but those of hou
sands of others and every appropria-
ton bill that passes adds to the to-
tai. The army bill, the navy bill, the
river and harbor bin are all greater
than ever before, except during the
civil war.
There is perhaps a method in this
madness of the Republican majority
to pile up the appropriations, so as to
expend all, or more, than the income
of the government and thus be able
to declare that tariff revision is i'm
possible, in view of the enormous
amount of money necessary to run the
government. But this Xcuse will not
prevent the demand for tariff reform
for some schedules, at least, would
produce more revenue than they now
do, if the rate of duty was decreased.
Those who voted for Republican
candidates for congress are to blame
for this extravaganza. They elected a
large Republican majority without
even a pledge of economy, and their
representatives have virtually run
wild" The Sixtieth congress will but
be a repetition of the present one, ex-
cept as the approach of the national
election leads it to be more cautious
on account of fear of the people.
The voters will have another chance
for re~trenchment and reform at the
national election of 1908, and Demo-
Gratis can do no better service to their
country than by arranging to have
honest and capable candidates to vote
for at that important election.
rIJRAN REVIVED