The morning journal-courier., 1908-12-11

Friday. December it, 19as.
 
 GONERNMENT EXPENSES.
 In tho various discussions, which are provoked from time to time over the rates of taxation imposed by govern ment, t appears to be impossible to interest tho combatants in the equally important issue of government ex- peuses. The close connection between the two is overlooked, and with an ob- atlnacy that suggests an interest only in an escape from some share of the burden imposed ny the tax. This is all the more strange because the question of just and equitable taxation in ma tior, state and town will never he set tied until 1t Is studied from the point of view of government expenses.
 In his annual report to The congress, Secretary of the Treasury Cortelyou makes the interesting and Important suggestion, that if 2 whole session of that body was given over to the con slderaton of the ways and means to reduce expenses. It would he possible to conduct tho affairs of the federal government at a saving of several mil lions n year and without in any way impairing the efficiency of government. The Washington correspondent of the Springfield Republican, commenting upon the suggestion says; Tn a very mild and diplomatic way he has stated what every intelligent person. who knows anything whatever about the methods of tho congress, knows to be true The present manner of making up the national budget Is haphazard. except where 1t Is worse. In the fact of big deficit for the year and with an apparent lack of any other practical problem seriously considered for the winters work, it is beyond question that congress should devote Itself primarily 10 the reorganization and co- ordination of the national finances, adopting for itself rational and modern business methods Just as these have already been largely introduced in the executive departments under President Roosevelt
 These statements carry conviction with them. The congress of the United States, like every other American legis- lativc body, Is human institution Being human lt had fallen into rut SO far as expenses are concerned There has been no pressing necessity aa there would be in a commercial un. dcrtakng. to watch the pennies, and lr consequence expenses have been con. stantly increasing without regard tc IlfFIFI iN'lliillltNs " IhN b''i 'NFi hody's business to spend, or to suggest methods in which money could h' spent, but lt has been nobody's bust ness to economize except in refusing new expenditures, A general inquiry Into tho business methods of the gov. ernment, especially in the Legislative department, for the purpose of ascer taIning whether the public business could be carried on more cheaply, ant more effectively has not been under taken within the memory of man IT other words, no one knows or has eve undertaken to learn whether the ma tion's money is being spent with thu recklessness of n drunken sailor or not
 If 1t Is q good idea, as Secretary Cor telyou suggests to reorganize and co ordinate the national finances, 1t Is ; relatively important thing for Connec ticut and New Haven to undertake tn, same inquiry. Connecticut spent in tn last year far more than her revenues supplied New Haven is restive unde what Is believed to be an excessive ta, rate but neither political institution has the remotest idea whether the cos of government is greater than it shoult be, or whether the business method employed are modern and suited to th conditions True, eight years ago competent commission made a repor with regard to the receipts and ex penses of the state government and il that report 1t was stated that thou sands and thousands could he annual, saved without in the least impairinl the efficiency of government No at tenton was ever paid the report whicl at the time was taken to mean tha any interruption of prevailing method would interfere with the political gam as if was then played and is stll played Connecticut cannot be called prudent state when it finds outlay ox ceediug income and does nothing t rectity the situation
 There are good reasons for believing