The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-02-17
PROFLIGACY RAMPANT.

Tt is not to be wondered at that
those who give attention to such mat
ters, are feeling more convinced every
day that an early return to the Oppres-
sive war time taxes. when everything
we used from a box of matches to
bedroom suit was ornamented with
q government taX-stamp, will be a ne
cessity. unless a general change in
methods, in administration and in the
purposes of the federal government is
made very quickly
A steady outlay of over two and one
half million of dollars each day of the
year-($1, 00S, 100000 annually)-is
matter that should cause those who
are taxed to raise this amount to SIT
up and take notice. And then when it
is known that of this enormous sum,
seventy per cent, or almost three
fourths of the entire amount, is going
to pay for what war has done or is
going to do, and to still further enlarge
the navy and increase the army thus
fastening this vast expenditure upon
US for all time, and making excuses
and reasons for still increasing it, the
necessity for some protest from the
essary.
And even with this two and a half
million per day of our outlay, the gov
eminent expenditures for 1908 exceed
ed it's income over $143,00 900, and for
1909 the estimated shortage is placed
at $15,000,000 per month or a total de-
felt for the year of $1S0,000,000
1t is for those who must make up
this enormous sum-and every man,
woman and child in the country, who
wears clothes, eats food or buys any
of the necessities of life, pays his pro-
portion of it in the tariff taxes that
are charged up against everything he
must have-that should awaken to the
enormity of the wrong that is being
done them through the extravaganza
and profigacy of those in power.
It is but a few who know that "a
single broadSide from the Pinch guns
of the new $4,000 ton battleships
which congress is expected to author
ize viii cost some 1000. Each time
q single gun is Tired it will send forth
a shot weighing $50 pounds, and cost
ing 1910 Each shot requires $50
pounds of powerful powder, which
costs 5000. making $50 in all. But
even this is not the total expense of
firing one of these big guns. Each of
them costs $4,000, and when one hum
dred shots have been fired through one
of them it is about ready for perma-
nent retirement. This means $3.50 per
shot to be charged to depreciation.
Therefore. without counting the Ia
Dor required for firing one of these
guns. the total cost of firing it reach
es the tremendous total of SLIGO per
shot"
Would you believe it? And yet these
are the official figures showing why
the expense of the navy has grown TO
such an enormous amount. And with
these figures staring the administra-
ton in the face, and with a deficiency
OF S15.000,000 month being charged
up to the tax account of the people, a
fleet of sixteen vessels, carrying any
where from sixteen to thirty guns
each, has been sent around the world
to burn up coal. salute royalty, and
show to all countries what reckless
and consummate asses we can make
of ourselves when it comes to mat
ter OF spending money.
Is it not time for the masses to
awaken to the condition that is upon
them? Congress can put a check to
the profiigacy that has brought about
the state of affairs now existing, and
the people can put a stop to the poll
teal existence of the member of con-
gress who fails to do his duty under
the circumstances
But will they?