The Washington times., 1909-07-28
GROWTH OF THE GOVERN
MENT'S EXPENSES.

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"The billion dollar Congress has been
succeeded by the billion dollar session"
That statement. brief as it is, should
receive the serious consideration of
every citizen in the United States. If
it appeared in the public prints oftener
and eventually became 8 phrase with
which every taxpayer and every voter
vas familiar the country might be bet
ter of.
The author of the phrase-Repre-
sentative James a. TawHey of Mime
sofa.-is perhaps better qualified to dis
cuss the nations expenditures than
any other man in the country. He Is
chairman of the House Committee on
Appropriations, anG in that position he
Is apprehensive Of a rapidly growing
tendency in every section Of the land
to rely upon the Federal Government
fer funds to carry on work which the
several States not only have the power
to carry ON. but which they should un-
dertake voluntarily and without the
suggestion that the Government should
relieve them of their burdens.
Appropriation bills aggregating one
billion of dollars during one session Of
Congressi Does the average taxpayer
realize that he has a vital interest in
these appropriation bills2 Does he re-
allie that the faster they grow the
heavier his burden viii become Does he
realize that the same percentage Of in
crease that marked the appropriation
bills of the past decade cannot con
tinue for the next ten years without in
cressing in like proportion his financial
responsibility to the nation? Finally,
does he realize that this percentage of
increase cannot 90 on forever.
Mr., Tawney realizes it. and because
he does he is making every effort TO
cut appropriation bills 10 the very bone.
in calling attention at this time to the
billion dollar session the chairman of
the appropriations is particularly in
terested that the country should know
something about the agitation for the
conservation of the natural resources Of
the country under the supervision of
and at the expense of The Federal Gov
eminent. He also wants the country to
know that there is a limit to the re-
sources Of even this wonderfully pros
nervous Ia nd of mrs
Mr.. Tawney has been bitterly attack
ed BY DR.. Richard Won Hise for writing
into the statute books a clause which
abolishes all commissions created with
out authority of law, and particularly
the conservation commission. Mr.. Taw-
ney does not regret his action-in fact,
ne is proud Of it. But he does not
regard the commissions themselves as
the important factors in the contro-
versy between himself and Dr. Hise. 1t
IS the conservation movement which
gives Mr.. Tawney serious concern and
rightly so.
Mr.. Tawney asserts, and there seems
20 be no evidence TO contradict him
that the movement has reached the
stage where the several States of the
Union want the Federal Government
!, to take care of their streams and
forests, TO spend Federal funds for
their preservation.
There does not appear to be any
good reason why each individual State
should not take care Of the forests and
streams within its borders. The Gov
eminent has already embarked upon
the policy of reforestation 10 an ex-
tent which should satisfy the most
exacting. The States should do their
share. They are fully as able to do it
as the Federal Government and there
is every reason why they should do so
and every reason why the Government
should not.
Every citizen who entertains the
idea that the Government should bear
the expense OF his pet proposition
should bear in mind the following per
tinent remark made by M. Tawney:
During the fiscal year just ended
we have expended for the army. navy,
and Notifications Al per cent Of our en-
tire revenue, exclusive of postal re-
eeipts; while during the same year we
expended 81 per cent OF our entire
revenues on account OF wars We have