The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-03-17

isfy a need now In enc country and
now in another, strengthens the Inn
preston that 1t Is inexhaHstiBle. The
addition of uheeunted billions to the
aggregate wealth of the world has
stimulated the spirit of mankind. Its
availability has lulied to sleep natural
prudence and quieted the alarm of me-
ments OF sanity In the spendthfift's
life. The increase of apparent res
sources by an easy resort TO Borrowing
the mortgRgfng of a patrimehy not eur
own to obtain material for present eHs
travRBance, the diversion of wealth.
from productive to unpreduetive uses
all these have gone further than NEST
people realize.
Warns Against National Dgbt.
Tho people Of the United States In
herited from Its founders a wholesome
tradition against debt, which is only
now disappearing from the conduct Of
national affairs" Mr. Hill said the ua-
tional debt now tends to rise, concealed
under the polite fiction of certificates
| OF indebtedness to cover treasury de-
ficits. If" he continued, "the Rdvo-
Gates Of large bond issues for ell man
ner OF internal improvements should
carry their point. IL that resource Is
not definitely restricted to the emerg-
ency of war, we will be In the condi-
ton Of Europe where the motto Of
every chancellory now seems to be, Az
ter Us the deluge.'
In our cities, modern extravaganza
| finds its most untrammeled expression.
The total debt of the states. including
all minor civil divisions increased $13,-
s21,44S, or 1.25 per cent between 1880
and 1890. Between 1890 and 1902 1t in
creased $727,77s,39s, or 81 per cent.
| Nearly three quarters of q billion in
twelve years, an average OF $50 900, 900
year In the amount borrowed by the
people, ought to make any country stop
and think. Most Of the actual material
| development is privately financed, and
carries its own bonded Indebtedness,
which the public finances cannot take
into account. The figures down to 1910,
outside of and In addition to the ma
tional debt, would probably show an
increase of a billion and a quarter to a
billion and half dollars for the last
twenty years. and a grand total of over
two and total OF over two and quar-
ter billion dollars; about double what
1t was in 1890.
Debt figures, however, do not be-
gin to tell the story of our national
extravaganza. Only a small part of
our expenditure is represented by debt
tables. The rest is raised by increased
taxation. know of nothing bearing
| more directly or forcibly upon the sub
ject of national waste and the conser-
walton of national resources than the
profigacy disclosed by our public ex-
pense ledgers.
Although the great business expan-
sion of this country began right after
the Civil war, the expenses for 1890
were but $4,00O,000 greater than those
of twenty years before. Since 1890.
these expenditures have since grown
by S1s0,e00,000 each nine years on the
average, or $40, 100000 a year, until
now they are 1914 per cent more than
they were eighteen years ago. Ex-
pressed in terms of per capita outgo,
these charges, which are only part of
the cost of maintaining the federal gov
eminent, rose from $4,75 in 1890 to $3.50
in 1900 and to 1886 in 1908.
Has Become Billion Dollar Country.
"It Is always asserted, when the truth
is told and a demand for economy is
made, that the development of the
country and it's increase of wealth have
been so great as both to require and
justify enlarged outlay. The answer
to the charge of a billion dollar session
of congress is that this has become a
billion dollar country. The apology
is neither relevant nor true. 1t is not
necessary that expense should increase
in the same ratio as growth. But the
growth Of expenditure has so far out
run the growth Of the country that the
actual figures are almost incredible
The following, exhibiting the whole sit
patton, might be printed at the top OF
every letterhead used by any man in
public office anywhere in the United
States:
Increases.
Wealth, 1870 to 1890, 11s per cent;
1890 to 1904, 65 per cent. Foreign trade
1870 to 1890, SO per cent: 1890 to 1908
S5.4 per cent. Value manufactured pro-
ducts, 1870 to 1890. 121 per cent; 1896
to 1905, So per cent. Net ordinary ex-
penses United States government, 1876
| to 1890, Ia per cent; 1890 to 1908, 1914
per cent Expenditures, 80 states, 1896
to 1909, 2O1.6 per cent.
1.-THE phenomenal increase of public
expenditure has already produced a
plentiful crop Of public ills. 1t is one
OF the causes of the increase in prices
now disturbing the people This in
crease follows in suggestive way the
infation of national and local budgets
The average cost of the supplies that
must be bought for practically every
household has increased about so pei
cent between 1895 and 1900. During
the past. year. there has been a marked
lifting Of the price level. Foodstuffs
cost from 10 to 10 per cent more than
ten years ago.
Why Prices Are High.
Something is due to enormous cur
rency imitation. The total per capita in
| the United States in 1895 was $21.41
and in 1909 it was $35.01. Although
population had grown by many millions
In these thirteen years, the amount Of
money to each individual had increased
| by 1880, or more than so per cent
| The increase in the total production