Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1910-12-23

canal will be blown up. The promise
to keep the peace would be whistled
down the wind in a minute. The only
way to keep the enemy off is to stand
him of with a gun. The canal cost
hundreds OF millions. Under neutral
ization 1t could be destroyed in
night"
Budget at Least a Billion.
At this stage of the session of con.
gress some of the appropriation
bills have been little more than /
skeletonized, but it is perfectly |
apparent even at this early date
that the expenses of the government
for the next fiscal year will be at least
81. 900, 100000. Years ago representa-
tives CT the party in opposition used
to speak of the extravagances of their
opponents, and say that they were
bent on giving the country billion
dollar congress"
At the time this charge was consid-
cred to be one of the highest flights
of rhetorical extravaganza, and It is
doubtful II even those who made 1t
thought that the day would come for
scores of years when congress would
be called upon to appropriate $1,000
100000 in a single year for the ex-
penses of the government.
Natural growth is responsible In
measure for the vast increase In the
expense of running Uncle Sans
household. Twenty years ago the
navy cost us each year about $30,000,-
900: now 1t costs about $140,000.0OO.
The presidents of the United States
one after another always have urged
economy. 1t made . no difference
whether 1t was Cleveland. Democrat,
or Harrison. or any other president, Re-
publican, the plea for economy went
from the White House to Capitol bill
each year, In the past year perhaps
the saving admonition has been more
sharp and pointed than before, for APP
parently the president, with other
American citizens. has been some
what staggered by the mere sight OF
the figures in the governments ex-
pense account.
4 Taft Wants Just Debts Paid.
No president, however, no matter to
which party he has belonged, ever
has asked congress to refuse to au-
thorize the payment of Uncle Sans
just debts. President Taft has urged
economy constantly, but like other
presidents before him he this year has
urged strongly that congress do Jus
tice to the persons who have valid
claims against the government and
who cannot get their money
Uncle Sam has court of claims
The Judges are as hard worked as
and perhaps harder worked than, any
of the other federal jurists. They are
obliged to pass Judgment on the valid
ity OF claims made against the United
States by private individuals. If the
} courtfinds that the claims are just
, all Il can do is to say so and to In
!, form congress that the United States
. owes Henry Nelson or Phillip Stuy
I vesant such and such a sum o
a money. Then Henry Nelson and Phil
J. lip Stuyvesant go to congress and asl
3 that the money which really belongs
: to them shall be paid, and congress
n usually turns q deaf ear. OF cours
= claims are paid from time to time. blu
J. many a man with bill which tn
l. courts have o. KID waits many lon
e year before he gets his money AM
IS then he does not get all he deserves
it for no interest Is allowed.
l. In his message to congress this yea
n President Taft urged the payment c
8 the Just indebtedness Of Uncle San
q He says this pointedly: The della
r that occurs in the payment Of tn
money due under the claims injure
the reputation of the government
an honest debtor, and | earnestly n
, commend that these claims whic
y come to congress with the judgmer
and approval of the court of claim
should be promptly paid"
i Two Cavalry Leaders Die.
d Recently two officers of high ran
Of on the retired list of the United State
A. army have died, one in this city, an
II one in Virginia, just across the Pot
t. mac river. Major Generals Wesle
IL Merritt and Eugene A. Carr died 0
al the same day. Both were cavalr
leaders and one of them. Merritt, die
Of within sight of battlefield on whtc
IN he won fame and the stars of maJc
lie general when he was only twenty-fiV
'y years of age.
e. Both Merritt and Carr were burie
Is few days ago in the cadet cemeter
to at West Point on the Hudson rive
It. where they lie close to another fan
lie Gus cavalry leader. George A. Custe
1s who was killed In a fight with ii
n Sioux Indians ON the Little Rosebu
~ June rs, 1875. Custer. like Merritt
ID was a major general of volunteers
lie the age of twenty-five years.
Carr Famous indian Fighter.
On Eugene A. Carr, like Merritt. WI
On a West Pointer. His rise was rap
ig and he was one of the few officers
n the United States army who receive
commissions by acts Of congress b
al cause of conspicuous personal gala
Ms try in the field.
to Carr stayed in the regular servit
We at the close of the civil war and W,
"a. sent to the plains to begin the untris
le- duty eof fighting Indians. Like &c
TT. eral Miles, Carr developed remar
able plainsmen's sense. They VIZ
of perhaps even more fame as Indii
u. fighters than came to them as fighte
tn against men of thier own color.
r. each additional hour. or SIS da