Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-05-21

What did he say? quote his exact
language:
From an investigation more or less
superficial 1 am myself fully salts
fed that the appropriations made last
year could have been reduced at least
fifty millions without impairing The eff
fciency of the public service. There
are periods in the life of a nation
when the spirit of extravaganza per-
vades the atmosphere, and the pub
lie money is scattered right and left
often without reference to the results
to be secured. / hope and expect to
see a radical reform in this direction.
We have within the past few years
created many unnecessary burdens
and multiplied employees beyond the
possibility of efficient work.
And the senator could have said that
every one of these extravagant items had
his approval and support.
Senator Aldrich further said no one
committee or official has been charged
with the duty Of attempting to co-or-
dinate Expenditures with revenue, and ex-
travagant and unwise appropriations have
been made without reference to the eco
nomical administration of the govern
ment.
In this work Of necessary reduction
in expenditure and in reform in methods
of appropriation to which the senate is
pledged, 1 am authorized to say that we
shall have the earnest support and ac-
tive cooperation of the president and
the administration
DAMAGING ADMISSIONS.
THE senator in this speech admits
that we are spending $50,0O0,0O0 each
year more than we ought to expend to
administer this government. 1 chal-
Ienge the senator to point out during
the last twelve years single instance
where he has made any effort to reduce
our expenditures. The senator is the
leader of the Republican party. The
country believes he molds and shapes
its policy Why, during this last ses-
sion of congress, when an effort was
made to increase the salary of the presi-
dent to 100000 per year and to almost
double the salaries of the federal
Judges, the senator from Rhode Island
exerted every influence possible to secure
it's increase When an effort was made
by. the senator from Maine (Mr. Hale)
10 cut down the expenses of the navy,
the record will show that the senator
from Rhode Island was the first senator
to vote against reducing the expendi
lures in the navy department. When an
effort was made to force the national
banks to pay 2 per cent interest on
Nearly three hundred millions Of money
on deposit in those banks belonging to
| ,ne American people, the senator from
! Rhode Island was the first senator to
| vote against sucn an amendment. II
the senator openly admits on the floor
OF the senate that each year we have
spent fifty millions of money more
than we ought to have spent, and he has
never raised his voice against this ex-
| travagance and has never pointed out
to the senate or the country what items
| OF extravagance could have been avoid
ed then he has been derelict in his duty
| to the people of his state and the coun-
| try When did the senator become
clamorous for economy and reformF
| All, Mr. President. when he saw that the
! Income tax in all probability would be-
come a law, he became alarmed and en-
! deavored to show the country that we
! could produce enough revenue and re-
/ uuce the tariff downward to support the
country without an income tax. And ne
was exceedingly anxious when the in
come tax confronted him TO cut down
| the expenses of the government to avoid
| the adoption of such an amendment, 10
save the milIionaires of the nation from
assisting in paying the legitimate ex-
! penses of the government
.AILDRICH INCONSISTENT.
"The senator has not been consistent.
He has never been an economist he
has never stood for economical, plain SIM
ple government. The senator has never
I had any political associations with ideas
| of this character. He belongs to diff
ferent school of politics. We do not think
! alike I do not criticise his integrity
or his intelligence. 1 appreciate his great
| ability. If the senator has ever manifest
! ed the slightest sympathy in the interest
| of the great masses of the American
people 1 have never heard of it. The SEN
/ ator believes in a strong central govern
ment-the government by the classes and
! the government of the masses. He rep
| resents what is called in his party the
| 'stalwarts' If he had his way, he would
! not change our tariff laws. He is sat
| isfied with the Dingley law.
MANY members of his party differ
with him. Their views have been express
ed on this floor time and again in the
! interest Of the masses of the people. BY
their votes and speeches they have de-
monstrated that on many public ques-
tions they are in line with the democ-
racy.
/ Mr.. President, this tariff bill. If en-
acted into law in it's present shape, will
give no substantial relief to the Amer
| lean people. The question may we'll be
asked: Why was congress called in extra
] session and the American people put to
the extra expense of an extra session oe
! congress If we simply intend to re-enact
the Dingley law?
| .Jf the president of the United States
entertains now the views which he 50
often expressed during his canvass, he
cannot regard this measure as substan-
+iol ro,,teioD of the tariff downward"