Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-09-12
WISE Ll8ERALlTY VS.. CRIMINAL
EXTRAVAGANCE.

In mn NA9fNlNSGs
The commission which has been
investigating the charges OF criminal
, extravaganza and graft in connec-
ton with the building and furnish
Ing of the Pennsylvania Capitol has
| submitted It's report to Governor
Stuart. A gigantic fraud was com
mitted, and it is understood that the
commissions l.port will be made the
basis for the prosecution of con.
siderable number of contractors and
others alleged to have lecn implicated
, in the grating operations. II Is
now announced that the Democrats OF
Pennsylvania, in the State campaign
this fall VIII make honesty and econ
omy i'll public expenditures the chief
issue; that they will have an army
of speakers in the field dcnouncing
extravaganza and corruption I'm.
doubtedly, economy in government is
an issue which should commend IT.
self to all persons who contdibntc to
the maintenance of government.
Every year the people of this No
public spends approximately $4,000
100000 for gpvcrnment About ST.
| OO0.O00,000 of this amount represents
the expenses of government in the
States and in municipalities and coun-
ties. Capitalized ut 4 per cent. we
| spend yearly the interest on $l2,5OO,-
100000 on national. State, municipal
and county government The wealth
of the United States, which includes
property of all descriptions, approx
imatcly 0,000000,000. The annual
expenditure Tor government is about
l-2 per cent. Of the nations wealth
ii Is time honorcd maXim=and
one whose intrinsic soundncss is be.
yond question that government ought
To be administered economically as
well as efficiently. An economical
administration does not mean mig
sardliness In expenditure or cheese
pairing in the spirit OF paisimony.
There are times when libcrality In ex.
ponditnrc Is the part of wisdom and
is essential to the promotion of the
general weltAie. After the fire in
baltimore In 1904. it would have been
an evidence of retrOgression If the
rehabilitation Of the city had been I'M
dertakcn In mise.ly and stingv
spirit Notwithstanding the gricvous
losses by the conflagration. there was
Il general realization of the need for
rebuilding on broad lines OF adding
materially to our municipal eouip.
ment. instead of reducing pnblic facil.
tiles because there had heen n ire.
mcndous disaster Hence a\programc
of municipal improvements was pro.
jccted which, If faithfully carried out
in all particulars, will entitle BAL.
| timoro TO Il place among the most pro
ercsslvc of great American cities.
True economy, in such crisis. was
lit2raiity in municipal expenditures.
hut true economy required then, as
II required now. dollars worth OF
improvements for every dollar sDent
on the additions TO our municinal
equipment There are crises In which
a policy of nigsardlincss might lead
10 decadence when loss OF prestige
ana trade and the decline of public
spirit might be the result of false
economy. Fortunately for baltimore
| narrow economy had few advoctates
In 1904. The taxpayers of this city
| demonstrated that they were willing
10 bear the bunlens of taxation. even
when large part of the business sec.
ton was In ruins. To rebuild Baltimore
ON firmer foundation then over be
iorc. with n municipal equipment oil
docks. sewers and improved streets
| worthy Of great ana progressive
citS' hnt they demanded an honest
return on their investment. and they
VIII not be Satisfied with lesss.
The difference between true econ.
omy. which means the proper ex
pcnditurc for necessary public pur.
poses. and willful waste and cytrava.
gance is as great as the difference
between the most cxacting honesty
mmn lhe most srasping ana unscru.
pnlons dishonesty For example. the
fonplc of D'nnsylvania decided Ia
bniid new state canilol at Harris
! hurg. Pennsylvania & very rich
state. with abundant sources of revc.
nue.. by system OF overcharges MI
most incredible. Pennsylvania has
been robbed of sevcinl millions OF dol
lars. This is the kind of government
winch no state shonll tolerate. Yet
It Is probably true that no little part
or the billion dollars which the Amer.
ican people spend evelN wear for
state and municipal government finds
It's way into the POCKET of graftcrs Of
The Pennsylvania type.-Baltimor