The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-07-28

publican convention 20 express an opin-
ion in favor of the publicity Of contrib
uJIons received and expenditures made
| in elections.
Here again we contrast our oppOn-
entS' promises with our own acts. Great
/ improvement has taken place under Re-
1 publican auspices in respect 10 the col
| lection and expenditure Of money Tor
] this purpose. The old and pernicious
I system Of levyins tax on the salaries
! Of Government employee IN order 70
pay the expenses Of The party in control
| OF the Administration has been abolish
| ed by statute.
BY a law passed by the Republican
Congress in 1907, contributions from
corporations 70 influence or pay the eX-
penses connected with the election or
Presidential electors or of members
of Congress is forbidden under penalty
A resident of New York has Deen Sc
] lected as treasurer OF the republican
national committee, who was treasurer
of the Republican State committee
! when Governor Hughes was elected in
/ New York, and who made complete
| statement within twenty days atser
| the election. as required by the New
York law. of the contributions received
! by him and the Expenditures made by
/ him or under his authority IN connec-
| ton with that election.
! His residence and the discharge of his
duties in the State Of New York subject
| him to the law OF that State as 70 al
| receipts Of the treasury Of the nauonal
| committee from whatever source ana as
/ to all its disbursements.
| His returns VIII be unCeI the obliga-
tions and penalties OF the law, and a
I misstatement by him or the flli1g OF a
false account viii subject MN u prose-
cutiOn for perjury and violation of the
statute. OF course. under the Federal
/ Inv, he is not permitted TO receive any
contributions from corporations
! If am elected President, 1 shall urge
| Ipon Congress, with every hope OF sue
| cess, that a law be passed requiring a
filing in 4 Federal office Of a statement
! of the contributions received by com
/ mittees and candidates in elections for
! members Of Congress, and IN such
| other elections as are consttutonally
| within the control of Congress Aean-
| time the Republican party by the selec-
4 ton Of a New York treasurer has sub
J jeCted all its receipts and expenditures
| TO the compulsory obligation Of such
| law.
Income Tax.
/ The Democratic platform demands
! two constitutional amendments. one
providing for an income tax. and the
/ other for the election OF Senators by
/ the people. In my judgment. an amend
ment 10 the Constitution for an income
! tax is not necessary / believe that an
l "
| Of customs and the internal revenue tax
/ shall not furnish income enough for
] governmental needs. .Gn and should be
devised which under the decis ons OF
the Supreme Court viii conform to the
! ConsU sutton.
| WITH respect to the election OF Sena-
tors 0y the people, personally 1 am in
I cliaed 70 favor IL, but 70 IS hardly q
perty question. A resolution in Its Ia
vor has passed a Republican House OF
"a
been rejected in a Republican Senate
b. the votes Of Senators from 10Th par
ties. II has been approved by she Leg
iSiatUres Of many Republican states
III d number OF States. both Democratic
and Republican, substantially such a
| system now prevails
Our opponents denOunce the Repub-
lican party for increasing the nunnei
OF Offices 1900. at a cost OF Sl6,UNop
during The last year. Such denuncia-
ton is characteristic Of the Democratic
platform II fails 10 specify In any way
what the Offices are, and leaves the N
ference that the increase was resisted
by the representatives OF Democracy II
Congress. AS a matter Of fact. the ne'
number OF Offices increased was JUS
about half the number stated me IN
crease was due chiefly TO the enlarge
ment OF the navy. the construction OF
:Ee Panama canal. the extension or lht
r',rCl free delivery, and 10 the new or.
fees necessary in the enforcement o.
the pure food, meat inspection. railroad
rate regulation. arid land reclamation
forest preservation. and other measure e:
which Congress passed with amos
una limous popular approval
! The Democratic platform so TAR IRON
attacking any OF this legislation spe'
cifcaIy approves much, and condemns
none OF il and II IS Of course. dis
ingenious to claim credit for approving
legislation and yet TO denounce the eN
qenditures necessary to give II effect
i Charge of Deficit.
Again. il charges that a deficit OF
S6O. OO0. 900 between the receipts and ex-
penditurCs during the fiscal year end
ing June 30. 1893, occur ed. As explained
by the Secretary of the Treasury, al
least half OF this deficit Is only an ap-
] parent one.
The falling off in receipts was OF
COURSE, occasioned by the unusual
panic but there is ample free money il
the Treasury 20 meet the difference. and
the difference itself is not half OF a
properly a deficit. because involved IN II
was the retirement Of some thirty-three
millions of the bonds Of the Govern
ment.
During the past seven years the IN
come and eXper iitUves OF the Govern
rnent have been nearly equal. some year.
showing surplus. and others, fewer N
number. a deficit Taxing one year
with another. including this year, there
has been an average surplus.
The surplus last year. for instance
was greater than the dehcil this year
so that. in fact. under the present Ad-
ministratiOn there has been m deficit
bat a surplus, which Is actually III thS
Treasury.
The Democratic platform, nowhere
/ points out the Expenditures which
might be reduced or a oided- 1t would
! be found generally th3t TO the increases
| which have occurred. Democratic repre-
| aentafives in Congress made no OppOsi
ion, out rather supported the meas
ures providing them, and now the party
has not the courage to indicate what
! part of Government cost il would end
1t Joins the Republican party specifically
in approving the outlay Of $4,000 900 a:
| PENSIONS
IT expressly favors also the cost OF
| greatly increased river and harbor i'm
provements. the cost OF doubling the
navy. and Of many othNr enterprise:
10 which II urges the Government It
attack, therefore, has nothing in 4
either Of fairness or sincerity.
Efficiency Of Administration.
The truth is that it is known of al
fair minded men that there never ha:
been an administration in the Govern
ment more efficiently conducted. more
free from scandal, and in which the
standard of official duty has been SCI
higher than in the present Republican
- | Administration which the Demo Ratio