The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-12-28

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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
1,O0O,O OO, 900. Years ago representa-
tives of the party in opposition used
to speak of the extravagances Of their
opponents, and say that they were
bent on giving the country a 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 IT
thought that the day would come for
scores of years when congress would
be called upon to appropriate $1,000
600, 900 in a single year for the ex-
penses Of the government
Natural growth is responsible In a
measure for the vast increase In the
expense Of running Uncle Sans
household. Twenty years ago the
navy cost US each year about 100000.
900; now 1t costs about s140,0 600, 600.
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 hill
each year. In the past year perhaps
the saving admonition has been more
sharp and pointed than before, for ap-
parontly the president, with other
American citizens, has been some
what staggered by the mere sight OF
the figures in the governments ex-
pense account.
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 a 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
courtfnds that the claims are just
all it can do is to say SO and to In
form congress that the United States
owes Henry Nelson or Phillip Stuy.
vesant such and such a sum OF
money. Then Henry Nelson and Phil
lip S%tuyvesant 60 to congress and ask
that the money which really belongs
to them shall be paid, and congress
| usually turns a deaf ear. OF course
claims are paid from time to time. but
many a man with a bill which the
| courts have o. KID waits many a long
year before he gets his money and
then he does not get all he deserves,
for no interest is allowed.
In his message to congress this year
President Taft urged the payment OF
the Just Indebtedness of Uncle Sam.
He says this pointedly: 1.-The delay
that occurs in the payment OF the
money due under the claims Injuries
the reputation Of the government as
an honest debtor, and I earnestly re-
commend that these claims which
come to congress with the judgment
and approval of the court Of claims
should be promptly paid"
Two Cavalry Leaders Die.
Recently two officers of high rank
on the retired list of the United States
army have died. one in this city, and
4 in Virginia, just across the Poto-
mac river. Major Generals Wesley
Merritt and Eugene A. Carr died on
the same day. Both were cavalry
leaders and one of them, Merritt, died
within sight of a battlefield on which
he Won fame and the stars of a major
general when he was only twenty-five
years of age.
Both Merritt and Carr were buried
a few days ago in the cadet cemetery
at West Point on the Hudson river,
where they lie close to another fam
Gus cavalry leader, George A. Custer,
who was killed in a fight with the
Sioux Indians on the Little Rosebud
June 26. 1875. Custer. like Merritt,
was a major general Of volunteers at
the age of twenty-five years.
Carr Famous Indian Fighter.
Eugene A. Carr. like Merritt, vas
a West Pointer. His rise was rapid
and he was one Of the few officers Of
the United States army who received
commissions by acts of congress be-
cause of conspicuous personal gallan-
try in the field.
Carr stayed in the regular service
at the close of the civil wal and was
sent to the plains to begin the untried
duty of fighting Indians. Like Gen.
eral Miles, Carr developed a remark
able plainsmen's sense. They won
perhaps even more fame as Indian
! fighters than came to them IS fighters
| against men of thier own color.
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