Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1910-05-06
Washington Letter,
By TAvENNER,
Special Correspondent of The Sentinel.
Washington, D. c., May 2. 1910.

Washington, D. c.. May 2. 1910.
A deficit of nearly two million dollars
for the first twenty-five days in April
A deficit of more than eighteen million
dollars so far this fiscal year
A deficit of $l90,057, 1887 $50 since June
80, 1907.
These are features of Taft QUITO the
quick economy, about which so much is
heard everywhere save in Washington.
Here are some striking illustrations of a
Republican business administration :"
Marble baths for senators
Automobiles to carry them 100 rods from
their offices to the Capitol
Touring cars for the President, Vice
President and Uncle JOer'
White House receptions which rival the
glory of Napoleon's court, at one of which,
according to the Washington Post, "a daz-
cling ravine of gold blazed before the Wis
ion"
Another group Of characteristic cut to-
the-quick" economies includes:
More than $4,000 for apolinaris water
for the senators.
Thousands of dollars to keep the sena-
tors in vaseline, castor OIL olive oil, broElo
quinine, hair tonic, costly perfumes, glyc-
crime, bergamot, nail brushes, clothes
brushes, travelling expenses in attending
funerals, etc. etc.
Then we come to this item that stands
by itself:
The addition in the last eight years of
99,225 federal ofiiceholders to the payrolls
of the republic at an increase of expense
to the people of more than seventy million
dollars
How does this rotous extravagance af-
feet the treasury is asked. These figures
tell us
Since June 80, 1907, the total balance
in the general fund has dropped from $272,-
06l ,445,47 to $82,003, 557.61. With an
average daily deficit eating its way into
this remaining eighty-two million dollars,
but short time can elapse before the gov
eminent will have TO sell more bonds to
secure more funds to meet more extrava-
gances. Bond issues are added to the ma
tional debt
How does all this concern the average
citiZenY This is how:
The per capita appropriation by Congress-
jumped from SO in 1890 to $l2.40 in 1909.
Since the government raises the bulk of its
revenue at the custom houses and internal
revenue offices, you, Mr.. Reader, are paying
for Republican extravagance in increased
prices.
There is no use of your correspondent
reporting further on the proposed investi-
cation Of the sugar underweighing frauds
or the alleged Illegal sale of rich Philip
pine sugar lands TO the sugar trust. The
trust has shown itself powerful enough to
prevent probe by Congress- Just how IL
was able to protect itself from an inves-
tieation the writer does not pretend to
know. All that is known Is that nine res
olutions providing for probe Of this thiev-
ing trust have been introduced In this Con-
gress, and everyone Of them has been
chloroformed. The brother of President
Taft was the attorney for the sugar trust,
and Attorney General Wickersham was
formerly partner of this brother. The
attorney general says the sugar trust should
not be investigated, and the President sus-
tains this view.
I'VE expect that the customs receipts
will fall of from now on, said high Off
cial OF the treasury to the writer. THE
increase in the customs receipts was largely
If not wholly due to the interruption Of
business while the tariff bill was in the
making. Importers held their orders be-
cause of uncertainty of what the new rates
WOuiu Dc' hS bOOil as lut tuIlIl Dlu was
passed, these delayed orders were sent
abroad and the increases in the customs
receipts OF the past couple Of months are
merely temporary and do not by any means
indicate that the new law is to be a much
better revenue producer than the old one. ="
"Aldrich is not candidate for re-elec-
ton and therefore is no LONGER an issue -
is what the Republicans are preparing TO
say from the stump in the approaching
Congressional elections. But such pro-
gressive Republicans as Senator La Fol
lette expect to see Aldrich in the next
Congress, ready and eager to serve the biz
interests, as usual There is nothing to
prevent the Rhode Island boss from chang
ing his mind after the fall elections are over
On April rs. 1910. Vice-Presdent Sher-
man made speech at ST. Louis in which
he intimated that the new tariff law was
bringing in so much money that 1t might
possibly be necessary to revise the Payne
Aldrich tariff law upward On that day,
according to the report of the United States
Treasurer, the expenses of the government
exceeded the receipts from all sources by
$l.274, 553.23l