New-York tribune., 1908-07-29


ceived by committees and candidates IN elec.
tions for members of Congress, and in sucn
other elections as are const1tutlonany wl.nl LII.
control of Congress. Meantime. the Repuohcan
party. by the selection Of New York treasurer.
has subjected all It's receipts and expenditures
to the compulsory obligation OF sucn a law
Income Tax.
The Democratic platform demands two con-
stitutional amendments, one providing for an
income tax and the other for the election OF
Senators by the people. In my Judgment an
amendment to the Constitution for income
tax is not necessary. / believe that an income
tax when the protective system of customs
and the internal revenue tax shall not furnish
income enough for governmental needs. can and
should be devised which under the decisions OF
the Supreme Court will conform to the Consti-
tuition.
Election of Senators.
With respect TO the election Of Senators by
the people, personally am inclined TO favor it.
but it is hardly party question. A resolution
in its favor has passed Republican House or
REPRESENTATIVES, several times and has been re-
jected In a Republican Senate by the votes of
Senators from both parties. 1t has been approved
by the legislatures OF many Republican states:
In number of states, both Democratic and
Republican, substantially such system now
prevails.
inaccuracy and lnsincerity of Democratic
Charges Of Extrsvaeance in Increase OF
Offices and Expenditures.
Our opponents denounce the Republican
party for increasing the number of offices
year. Such denunciation is characteristic Of
the Democratic platform 1t fails to specify in
any way what the offices are. and leaves the in
ference that the increase was resisted by the
representatives of Democracy in Congress. AS
a matter of fact the net number of offices in
creased was just about half the number stated;
the increase due chiefly to the enlargement
OF the navy, the construction of the Panama
Canal. The extension of the rural free delivery
and to the new Offices necessary IN the enforce
ment of the pure food. meat inspection rail-
road rate regulation. arid land reclamation
forest preservation and other measures which
Congress passed with almost unanimous popu-
lar approval The Democratic platform, so far
from attacking any of this legislation. specif-
caIly approves much and condemns none or IT,
and it is, of course disingenuous to claim credit
for approving legislation and yet to denounce
the expenditures necessary TO give 1t effect.
Charge of Deficit
Again, It charges that a deficit of S60oo0OOO
between the receipts and expenditures during
the fiscal year ended June 80 1908, occurred
AS explained by the Secretary of the Treasury,
at least half of this deficit is only apparent
one. The falling off in receipts was. of course.
ocCasioned by the unusual panic but there Is
ample free money in the Treasury to meet the
difference and the difference itself is not half
of 1t properly deficit, because involved in it
was the retirement OF some thirty-three millions
of the bonds of the government.
During the last seven years the income and
expenditures of the government have been near
ly equal some years showing a surplus, and
others, fewer in number deficit. Taking one
year with another including this year there
has been average surplus The surplus last
year. for instance, was greater than the dehcit
this year, so that in fact, under the present ao-
ministration there has been deficit but sur
plus which is actually in the Treasury
The Democratic platform nowhere points out
the expenditures which might be reduced or
avoided. 1t would be found generally that to
the increases which have occurred Denocratlc
representatives in Congress made no opposition
but rather supported the measures providing
them, and now the party has net the courage 20
indicate what part of government cost 1t Wouid
end It Joins the Republican party speclhcalIy
In approving the outlay Of Sl5OocOOpo as pen
gions. 1t expressly favors also the cost Oh
greatly increased river and harbor improve
ments the cost Of doubling the navy and or
many other enterprises to which it urges the
government Its attack. therefore, has nothlns
in it either of fairness or sincerity.
Hioh Character and Efficiency OF Administration
The truth is that 1t is known of all fair1nlnded
that there never has been an administrator
in the government more efficiently conducted
more free from scandal, and In which the stanc-
ard of official duty has been set higher tnan in
the present Republican administration, WhICn
the Democratic platform has thus denounced IL
has had to meet the problems arising from the
enormous expansion Of government runcoloEs
under new legislative measures as Wen as III tue
new dependencies and in the greatest construC-
tive work of modern times the Panama CdhdI,
and its members may we'll feel just prlde III
the exceptionaI record for efficiency economy
honesty and fidelity which it has made we may
relv upon our record in this regard In an appear
TO the American people for, their approVai.
The foreign policy of this country under tne
nresent administration has greatly contributed
to the peace of the world The important part
the administration took in bringing ABOUT an
end of the Russian-Japanese war py treaty
honorable to both parties and the preVentlon OF
wars in Central America and Cuba are stlkIhg
instances of this. The arbitration treatles
sisnad With all the important nations of the
world mark a great step forward IN the deVei-
opnent of the usefulness Of the Hague trlounal.
The visit of Secretary Root to Soutn America
arnnbasized our friendship for our sister repuo-
lies which are making such strides IN the SoutH
Hemisphere, and met with most corola . anu
gra+if,-ing response from our Latin-Amer1can
coIIeagues The assistance which we are rem
dering in Santo Domingo TO enable that govern
roent TO meet its obligations and avoid anarchy
is another instance of successful work OF thls
administration in helping our nelBhpoTs-
This administration has by the pronptness.
skill and energy of its negotiations secured 90
r,inIon in the canal zone OF the Isthmus OF Pan
anna without which the construction or tne
canal would have been impossible 1t has SUB
dued the heretofore insurmountable obstacle or
disease and made the place OF work healtny- II
has created such an organization that IN SIX
Years certainly and probably in less, the At
iantic and Pacific will be united. TO the ever
lasting benefit of the worlds commerce. ana the
effectiveness of our navy will be doubled
The mere statement of the things actually
done nv this administration at home, in our de-
pendencies and in foreign affairs shows mar
vel of successful accomplishment, and II ever a
marty has entitled itself to the approval Of its
works by renewed mandate of power from
the people whom II served 1t Is the Hepupilcan
party in the present campaign
The only respect in which nothing mas oeen
done is in the development of our forelgn !
marine AS long as we uphold the system OF
rrotection for our home industries we must !
recognize that ii IS inappcable to assist those
of our citizens engaged in the foreign shipping |
business because there is no feasible means Oh |
excluding foreign competition, and tnat the only
other method Of building up such business is |
by direct aid in the form Of a mail subsidy. /
am in favor of the bill considered IN the !ast
Congress as a tentative step. The establish /
ment of direct steamship lines between our |
Atlantic ports and South America would GER
teinly do much to develop trade that might |
be made far greater, On the Pacific the Wnole /
shipping trade threatens to pass into the con-
troll Of Japan Something ought to be done, and |