Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1910-09-23
Washington News.


Increased expenditures in The first
year Of the Tan administration, over
the corresponding year Of Cleveiand's
last administration, amount to $685.
o,eoo, or over 100 per cent, This oc-
currc,i under the much heralded Taft
policy Of ''cut.to-the-quick" economy v,
recently repudiated IA Maine and ver-
M mt.
National expenditures for the ensu-
ing year araount to 81 ,09S, SAT- 1884,
wh'ci e n, ,e her the erti,e cap
Tel ail Tie national banks In The
U.ii,u stai,s, 90, lsS,s25, and more
than ore-iiaid Of the entire output of
all II cur gold mines in 100 years, 49,
o6s. 1877 ,oOa
Two striking illustrations of the Re-
| publican cuisines administration
are: A deficit Of sll, 1896 stree June
30, 1910. IA deficit of slso,8si ,s55.69
since June 80, 1907.
pai,ers srend The peoples money in a
republic:
Marble baths for senators. Autos to
carty them 100 rods between their Of
fees and the Capitol. Touring cars for
the President, Vice President and
"Unele Joe.r
+ More than $500 for appolinaris
water for the senators. Thousands Of
dollars to keep them in vaseline, castor
oil, olive oil, bromo quinine, hairltonic,
costly acknowledgements, bergamot,
ing expenses Tin attending funerals,
etc,
Ifthe waste at Washington is $780,
100000 d year, as slaled by AlSrch, !
every American family suffers to the
extent of Sl6.6G every year. This is
enough to buy suit of clothes. 1t will
buy an ovelcoat or cloak. twill buy !
nearly three tons of anthracite coal.
1t will buy four or five pairs of shoes,
or many other necessaries.
Under our system of excessive pro-
lection, government extravaganza and
cost Of living keep pace. As the govern
ment raises practically all its revenue
by taxing things eaten, worn or used,
the consumer pays bis pro rata of gov.
eminent extravaganza every time he
buys protected article at his local !
grocery, dry goods or furniture store.
This rule proves Itself. The per capt. |
ia appropriation by Congress jumped
from SO in 1890 to over Sl2 in 1910. Be
tween 1896 and 1910, according to Brad
streets, the prices of 100 leading COM
modities advanced So per cent!
An increased annual tax Of more I
than Sl00,000,000 has been sadd!ed
upon sthe American people through
increased freight rates within the last
few years without opposition by the
government. But this is not enough.
The railroads want still more revenue,
and as soon as the November elections
are over it is believed they will be al
lowed to boost their rates couple Of
notchesshigher.
The interstate commerce commission
is now going throu h the formal pro-
cedure Of taking testimony as to the
reasonableness of the new increases
which, according to the estimates OF |
the commission, will swell 1.-THE an
nual profits of the railroads $500, 000,-
coo. The e are high-prlced lawyers for
the railroads at the hearings, and also
an imposing array of legal talent for
the big shippers. The public alone is
unrerresented.
One fact that las cropped out at the /
hearings is that the railroads seem to
have unanimously agreed that the il
creased rates shall apply where there
will be the least annoyance to the
trusts aud big com binations of manu-
facturers. The added burden is to he |
laid on the little feilow--the merchant |
the householder, the fathers and moth
ers of the familie-, the country store
keeper and the farmer. Products oil
the trusts enjoy striking immunity !
from Increases. This is not nald 10
understand. 1t is not easy for the
railroads to put an increased rate over
on the sugar or the steel trust. Snch |
increases would be fought tooth aud !
nail and probably defeated by counsel
for the combines who gather like HES
about the room in which the com lois
sion meets. But it is easy money TO
put an increased rate over on the gem
eral consumer, because he isn't present
to enter objection, nor is anyone there
to enter objection for him.
| The interstate commerce commits
sion declares it represents no one in
particular, but sits as judicial pody
wholly. The result is that III many,
many instances the case goes against