The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-04-25
NATIONAL EXTRAVAcANcE.

The following extract from the
speech of James j. Hill at the conser-
walton congress last month is worth |
cutting out and preserving. The figures
given certainly make a startling rec
ord:
The total debt Of the states. includ-
ing all these minor civil divisions in
creased between 1890 and 1902 $727,-
$500, or 81 per cent,
only a small part OF our expenditure
is represented by debt table. The rest is
raised by increased taxation. In part
this consists of new imposts, new Ii
censes and fees; and in part 1t comes
from increased assessments of all prop
erty that provide more revenue without
showing an increased tax rate.
The net ordinary disbursements of
the United States government since
1890 have grown by $160,000, 900 each
nine years on the average, or 100000
900 year, until now they are 1914 per
cent more than they were IS years ago.
THE total expenditures of state gov
ernments alone in all the state and ter
ritories OF the Union combined was
s77,1O5,S11 in 1899, and $1s5,764,202 in
1902. The increase in these % years
was sos. 65S.291, or TAI per cent.
TT is always asserted, when the
truth is told and a demand for econo-
my Is made, that the development of
the country and its increase Of wealth
have been so great as both to require
and justify enlarged outlay. The
answer to the charge Of billion dollar
/ 80 fg hn4
become a billion dollar country The
apology is neither relevant nor true.
It lis not necessary that expense should
increase in the ratio as growth. But
the growth of expenditure has so far
outrun the growth of the country that
the actual figures are almost incredible.
The following little table, exhibiting
the whole situation, 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, 116
per cent: 1879" to 1904, S. per cent.
Foreign trade, 1870 to 1890, 80 per
cent 1890 to 1908, s5.4 per cent.
Valued manufactured products. 1870
to 1890, 121 per cent; 1890 to 1905. So
per cent.
Net, ordinary expenses United
States government, 1870 to 1890 Ia
per cent; 1890 to 1908. 1914 per cent.
Expenditures, 30 tates, 1890 to 1909
201.6 per cent"
kB Colonel Grasse Is better natured.
- Sunday was an ideal spring day.
tT Winter grated onto spring fol
/ quite a spell.
Ew Democatic candidates for congress,
= are cheering up.
EE The death Of Mark Twain hal
: caused a revival in the demand To-
his books.
so II you are real anxious to know
how old Ann is-you might tip tn
e census man.
= k| The endorsement OF Taft b,
a Hearst Is one of the best jokes in ma
q tional politics.
= ~ Fargoans are interested in tn
announcement Of the name of the ma
who is to be city attorney.
E% Hereafter Tennessee may b
70 known as the pardon gtate--it Governo
Is Patterson keeps up his record.
Eg Feeding boozers on apples
whenever they want a drink is said I
have proven a marked success.
R% Fifteen persons were killed In
d landslide in Quebec--but just wait ii
a the primaries and see that record bust
% ed.
%If the strawberry vendor
10 wouldn't put the bottom of the box /
re near the top--the public would ha,
N less crouch.
i ezw In Little Old New York a min,
V teen-story saanty Is to be torn dow
st to make room for = thirty mine stol
modern building.
EvIf the stalwarts and insurgen
continue to pull and TUG at the O.
re- r. elephant they will have 1t stretch
he out like daschund
Ill 6B With the republican row In II
=, diana-Tom Taggart hopes to bre'
!, into the II. s. senate as the success
OF Beverage.
~ eT The democrats opposed to Bry
Us say the roseate hue Of things irnms