The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1910-09-08
VIII
Washington Letter.

\ washington l4ettefs
Clyde H. Tavenner, The Repor-
ters special Washington correspon-
dent, gives us the facts as they really
exist.
Washington, Sept. depending
nearly 100000 a day more than it
took in, the government closed the
month of August with deficit APP
proximating S5,0O0,000, which is
indicative of a deficit of 100000, 900
for this fiscal year, as against de-
ficit of $19, 4S0,75243 for the last
fiscal year.
This deficit was due to two prin-
cipal causes:
First: The unparalleled extrav-
agance of the standpat faction of the
-uoo u! 81 qo!qM JARED ugoUqndeH
troll OF the government.
Second:J Failure of the Payne
Aldrich tariff law to produce suf-
ficient revenue to meet the expenses
of the government
Excess of expenditures over re-
ceipts is not new in the history of
the party now in power. For three
or four years now the government
has been closing it's books each night
| facing big deficit in the days bust
ness. But the average American
does not know this. While there
would be no justification for stating
in this dispatch that the big press
associations misstate the facts, there
is ample justification for saying that
the facts are SO stated that the aver
age man does not understand them.
For instance, the statement of the
treasury issued at the close of bust
ness August 81 shows that the ex-
cess of expenditures over receipts for
July and the first 81 days of August,
1910, amounted to $14,431, 727.34,
or an average deficit of $2S6,634.54
for each banking day in that period.
No one could possibly SO understand
the situation, which invaribly give
the administration side of the gov
eminent finances.
If a business firm should spend
more money than it took in, day af-
ter day, week after week, month af-
ter month and year after year, it is
but natural to assume that the stock
holders would demand a new man
agement. Yet the men in charge of
the government have for years been
able to overspend the receipts with
out having been called to account by
the public. This can be explained,
however, by the fact that the
average man is not by any means
aware of the actual situation.
What the Figures Show.
How are these daily deficits made
up? The amount of the deficit is
taken from the general fund. How
does money get into the general
fund? 1t comes from the people
Figures best tell the story of what
these daily deficits are doing to the
general fund:
Balance in General Fund at Close
of Year.
1907 .:........ 1912, 061, 445 AT
1908 .......... 245,171,3 "a
1903 ......... 126,375, 42S.1C
\ 1910 ........ 1O6,894 ,675.67
Aug.29, 1910 ;. $500, 035.4 2
How I. II. Could be Useful.
Mr.. Roosevelt has stated over and
over again that it is his ambition
so far as within his power lies, tc
assist the people to purify politics
| There is but one way the people
can exert influence to purify politics
by voting right. If Mr.. Roosevelt
wishes to give information to tho
people that will really enable them
to do this, why does he not tell them
frankly whether in his opinion AL
drich and Cannon and the men who
vote and cooperate with them are
friends or enemies of the Republic?
Surely he knows whether they are
or not, after having co-operated will
them as long as he has!
The 1910 Campaign Book.
1 Every Democratic worker in the
country should have a copy of the
1910 Democratic campaign book
which is without doubt the best hand
book on tariff now in print. One Of
the unusual features of the book, as
contrasted with past campaign books
. is its utilization of Republican ut,
terances to sustain Democratic ar.
guments. Thirty-six of the Sig pages
of the book are made up exclusively Of
speeches by Republicans, who take
practically the same position on many
OF the big issues as the Democratic
leaders. The committee is asking 81
for the book, which goes towards de
fraying expenses of the Democratic
SoA5IeSSloudI CoLlmllIee. Not nav
ing been favored with contribution:
by the great industrial concerns o.
the country, the Democratic commit
tee must rely largely upon contribu
tions from the people. Those wht
are really unable to contribute the
dollar to the campaign fund, how
ever, may secure copy Of the cam
paign book free. Contributions ant
requests should be addressed to tn,
Hon. F. F. Garrett, treasurer of tn,
National Democratic Congressiona
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