The Democratic advocate., 1908-09-11
REPUBLICAN ExTRAYAGANCE.
Mr.. Bryan Says Farmers Are Taxed
to Support the Cities.

to Support the Cities.
st. Paul Mimi, Aug. 31.-William
J, Bryan spoke here to-day, taking
for his subject the extravaganza of
the Republican party. Following is
summary of his address
The Democratic platform makes
Republican extravaganza one of the
issues of the present campaign The |
Republican platform is silent on the
subject and naturally so; to have
promised economy would have been
a mockery, and to have defended the
appropriations made by the last Con-
gress would have been impossible,
The fifty-frst Congress was commonly
called the Billion Dollar Congress.
The appropriations made by that Con-
gress covered two years, amounting
| for the first time to $1,000,000,000 or
$500 900 900 a year. The extravaganza
of that Congress contributor to the
overwhelming victory won by the
Democrats in the campaign of 1890.
The last Congress, however, has
made a new record in extravaganza.
In spite of a deficit of more than $780,
900, 900 in the last fiscal year, hte a-pI
propriations made during the last
session amount to more than $1,000
900 900 in the last fiscal year, the ap-
preparations for single session of
the Fifty-First Congress. The in
crease over the year before was $780,
900 900, showing growth of expendi-
lures far in excess OF the growth OF
the population
| While this tendency to extravaganza
shows in nearly all departments, 1t lses-
pecialIy noticeable in the army de-
partment and the navy department.
The army is more than twice as large
as in 1896, and the appropriations for
the army more than three times as
great as they were II years ago. The
expenses of the navy are also about
three times what they were decade
ago. The increase in the appropri-
ations for the army and navy alone are
100000, 900 a year in excess of what
thew were in 1897 The imperialistic
poIicy. for which the Republican
party is responsible, is the only excuse
for this enormous and increasing
drain upon the taxpayers.
Our platform also calls attention to
the fact that $4,000 new Offices have
been created at an expense of $70,-
OOO, 900 a year, as against an increase
of 10000 new Offices, with salaries
amounting to $6,000.00O in the Cleve-
land and McKinle administrations
| While every element of our popu-
tent because of the unnecessary ex-
tent because of hte unnecessary ex-
penditures of the Government, the
farmers have special reason for COM
plant, because they pay more than
their share of the taxes collected and
receive less than their share of the
benefits which flow from the expendi
ture of the corporation. Nearly all
of our Federal revenues, excepting
postal receipts, are collected from in
ternal revenue taxes and import
duties, and these are taxes upon con-
sumption. Taxes upon consumption
always overburden those of moderate
means and unburden the rich. If the
Federal taxes could be separated from
the price of the article in which they
are concealed and each persons per
capita tax be shown, it would be
found that the Federal tax now col
lected would be in effect a graduated
income tax, the largest percentage
being collected from the small incomes
and the least percentage upon the
large incomes And to aggrevate the
case still more, the appropriations
which unfairly oppress the farmers
are spent in cities, so that the farm
ers enjoy few direct benefits from
the appropriations and scarcely any
direct benefits.
Why is it that the Republican party
is SO much more extravagant than
the Democratic party in the expendi-
lures of public money? There are
two reasons First because Republi-
can leaders are more intimately asso-
os1 80 ~xvs4 +1o %oxy pto,,c %hny xrysf \,
the taxpayers. They hear the hun
CRY clamor of the men who spend
money more than they do the pro-
tests of the masses who contribute
revenues.
But there is second reason. The
Republican leaders have taught the
doctrine that taxation is an unalloy-
ed good. They have tried to cultivate
public opinion to support the idea
that tariff taxes on the theory that,
even when not needed for revenue,
are direct advantage to the pro-
tected interests and an indirect ad-
vantage to the whole country. 1t is
not strange that people who consider
taxation q blessing would be inclined
to make the blessing as large as pos
sible.
The Democratic party is in a posi-
ton to bring reform in the matter
of expenditures. 1t believes that a
tax is defensible only when necessary
and that it should be reduced to the
lowest limits consistent with good
government. Our party is pledged
to reduction in appropriations and to
economy in every department of Gov
ernment and our position ought to
appeal with special force to those of
our population who are engaged in
agricultural.
The Democratic Advocate for the cam
.,a;n., q orafhc o. aa,nk.