Gilpin observer., 1910-06-09
Furnished the Observer Weekly by
Clyde n. Tavenner, Special Cores
pondent.

pondent.
WASHINGTON, d. c., June T.
Government by stealth, is a fitting
expression to describe the gag-rule
methods inaugurated under Mr.. Taft.
Not merely the average employees
Of the government but the highest
officials. are afraid to give newspaper
men Information as to what Is going
on. Employees are being made to feel
that they owe no fidelity to the pub
lie, but that they are mere personal
servants Ct the coterie of men now
in charge Of the government.
As result of the discharge Of Pin
chot, CLAWS, Kerby and other in
terror department employees. the
average government worker today
feels that it - worth HIS position
to discuss oven matters of public
record with a newspaper man.
The following official order signed
by George Otis Smith, inspector of
the United States Geological Survey,
gives an idea OF the Russian-like
censorship that has been established
over government information:
Rule 2. That no interview shall
be granted without securing from the
person soliciting the same a promise
that he will. before submitting the
material to his publication offic-,
present a copy of his manuscript to
the director George Otis SMITH for
approval; and. further, that in case
any such promise Is violated, the in
cident shall be matter Of record,
and future interviews shall be denied
to the person guilty Of such viola
tion."
So far as is known among news
paper men in Washington, nothing so
drastic as this in the way Of press
censorship has even been attempted
before in America.
In 1890. under Cleveland. the total
annual appropriation for the expen-
SIS Of the national government was
$34O, 0O0, 900. or Sc for every man.
woman and child. In 1900 our expen-
ses had increased to $500. 900, 900 or
So for every man. woman and child.
Tho last congress appropriated the
colossal sum of 1904, 401 1857. or
nearly $12 for every man, woman and
child. This congress threatenes to
spend $17. O00. 900 in excess Of last
years appropriation.
Republicans are reluctant to con-
Germ themselves much about govern
ment expenditures in relation to the
cost OF living. But one thing Is GER
tain. Government docs not pick up
these hundreds OF millions Of dollars
In the street. This money comes out
Of somebody's pocket. Unlike city
and state governments, the national
government has but one way OF rails
ing revenue to meet expenses, and
that is by taxing things eaten. worn
or used by the people. Hence 1t Is
that increased cost Of living marches
hand-in-hand with increased govern
ment extravagances.
81 am sorry" said Senator Bristow
Of Kansas. while discussing the rail-
road bill, that the senator from
West Virginia (Elkins) has deserted
the chamber. and / am sorry the SEN
ator from Rhode Island (Aldrich) is
not here, and that the senator from
Massachusetts Uodge) has also dis
appeared"
survey of the senate showed
that the railroad senators, after hav-
ing outlined the kind Of legislation
they had decided should be enacted,
had fled from the chamber without
waiting to hear those who disagreed
from the railroad viewpoint.
'Those Of us who are here might
possibly be instructed" suggested a
Democratic senator upon noting Bris-
tow's chagrin, "but II the senator
from Kansas imagines that anything
he can say will influence those SEN
ators he is wasting time and breath"
81 am afraid the senator is right"
answered Bristow. Then he went on
addressing the Democrats and the
empty seats Of the standpatters.
Lest we forget. only nine Of the