Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-06-17
Our Washington Letter.
Special Correspondence, June 10
1908

Special Correspondence, June 10,
1908.
Congress adjourned with an I'M
surpassed record of over one billion
appropriations for one year. Just
think of the exact amount-Sl,O0S,
SO4, S94.57.
It's only few years ago that a
billion dollar Congress broke the
record, but now we have that
enormous amount more than doubled
Ger aliniiat r,anr. .,aada
are lfbf onesyear only.
AS the population is now estimat-
ed at about 81 millions, the expend-
lures for the coming fiscal year
will exceed Sl2 per capita, or $50.
per family. That is SIS a month for
each man to pay in taxes to the
Federal government whether he is.
rich or poor, a business man, a
farmer, or a wage Garner.
The Republican party certainly
is a record breaker for spending
money, but unfortunately its record
for spending will not be equaled by
the receipts. for the estimate of the
Chairman of Ways and Means com
mittee of the receipts Of the govern
ment for the coming fiscal year is
$l50,000,00O less than the appro.
priations. But that did not have
any effect on the republican asso-
ciates Of the chairman, although he
repeatedly warned them of the de-
felt for the present year of 100000,
600 and of the far greater deficit of
1909.
Congress started out to do moth.
ing but pass the appropriation bills
and to stand pat on everything else,
and as for useful or reform legisla-
ton, it came mighty near carrying
out the designs of it's leaders. At
the last minute it did pass a com
promise currency bill, that only
seems to satisfy the Rockefeller in
terests in Wall street, because it
will create market for their rail
road bonds and allow them to dom
mate the financial interests of the
country.
Thus Congress may have caused
another record to be broken, for the
campaign contributions from the
favored financial interests should
certainly surpass their former record
in that direction. Instead Of that
malefactor Of great wealth, the no.
torious Mr.. Hartman, raising the
large amount requested by President
Roosevelt, he will be an migrate if he
does not at least double it. Then the
tariff protected trusts should GER
tainly respond handsomely, for did
not Congress stand pat and refuse
to touch the sacred tariff? Also the
railroad corporations will surely be
willing to surpass their former con-
tributions to republican campaign.
funds, if they have spark of reci-
procity in their makeup, for did.
not Congress refuse to meddle with
railroad legislation?
Ii you think this is too strong a
democratic view OF our record break
ing congress, ask the representative
Of the Business Mems association,
or the member OF the legislative
committee Of the National Grange,
or the labor organization. how they
Jared with important legislation
they asked for. Can you find anyone
but a republican politician, who
has 10 agree with whatever is done,
that is satisfied?
The attempt to pass Force bill
by lacking it onto the bill for pub
licity of campaign contributions
was perhaps smart political trick,
but tho republican party cannot
evade its obligations to the people
by such evasion OF it's responsibility.
The republican party is in absolute
control of the government with a
large majority in both houses Of
lcongress. 1t could, therefore, legis-