New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-04

When Congress adjOurns and the approprla-
lions for the two sessions are counted up uo
usual cry will be raised Of wastefulneSs ana
extravagance In 1890 and 1891 the lact thaI
The 51st Congress spent a billion dollars was
seized upon as an unanswerable indictment OF
that bOdy's patriotism and sense OF response
bilitv Now the fact that the appropriations
or tho 5eth Congress have been between $780,
100000 and So O00OOOO00 will be similarly eN-
Dloited 10 startle the imaginatiOns OF the
groundlings. 1t is easy enough to go back
twenty years and show that the government
was then spending less than 81 where 1t is now
spending more than So But such an exhibit
no more convicts the Congress of to-day or
prodiCality than it proves the frugallty or the
Congress Of twenty years ago. We are much
bigger nation now than we were then, ana our
growth has forced upon the government duties
and functions which it never used TO exercise.
Such comparisons in expenditure are mislead-
ing. too. because Of the vast enlargement of
the postal service This service draws no moro
heavily now on the Treasury than 1t did two
decades ago since the Treasury has only to
meet the small annual deficits incurred in the
service But while Congress made nominal
postaI appropriations OF SjOOOO0O0 n session
then. il is making nominal appropriations OF
S2OOO0OOOO a session now. Much Of the APP
parent increase is therefore only a matter Of
bookkeeping.
Appropriations increase and must continue to
increase. But the real point TO be considered
is not whether we are spending more as
nation. but whether we are getting an adequate
return for our money. Twenty years ago we
had only the beginnings of a navy. Not sin
gle first class battleship few our flag. Now we
have a navy adequate TO our needs and worthy
of our pride. Twenty years ago we had
standing army of $4,000 men and military sys-
tenn destined to go to pieces on the first prac-
teal test. Our coasts were undefended and
open to any enemy Now we have a modern
lied army and an effective system OF coast de-
fences. Twenty years ago we had no immi-
grafton service, no public health and quaran-
tine service, no forest reserves. Would the
country be satisfied TO go back to the more
primitive status? Does it hold the expenditure
unjustified which maintains the federal ma
chinery in fits present vastly more efficient
advice and prepare in time Of peace for the
sudden emergencies Of war. 1t costs money TO
guard the public domain, to prosecute frauds
in land entries, to enforce the laws against re-
strant of trade, TO regulate the operations Of
common carriers 10 protect the public against
fraudulent foods and diseased meat products.
to exclude undesirable immigrants, and In
hundred other ways TO defend the interests OF
the public Measured by their present cost
these services are cheap, not dear. Federal ad-
miniStratiOn calls for a greater actual outlay
than il used TO call for But let us remainder
that federal administration was never before
so active, so viglant and so useful, and never
before accomplished so much for the average
citizens protection, advancement and general
welfare.