Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1910-06-08
HIDING AFFAIRS OF The GOVERNMENT.
Fearing that ThsIr Wrong DOIngs Will
Hurt G. 0. P. Censorship is
Established, E-

null U. U. r. tenSuiSliap Is
Established.
Washington, June 6. Specia
Government by stealth, il
a fitting expression to describe
the gag~rule methods inaug
urated under Mr.. Taft.
Not merely the average
employee Of the government
but the highest officials, are
afraid to give newspaper men
information as to what is 60
ing on. Employees are being
made to feel that they owe
no fidelity to the public, but
that they are mere personal
servants of the coterie Of men
now in charge of the govern
ment.
AS a result of the discharge
of Pinchot, CLAWS, Kerby
and other interior departs
ment employees, the average
government worker to-day
feels that it is worth his posi-
ton to discuss even matters
of public record with a news
paper man.
The following official order
signed by George Otis Smith,
director of the Uuited States
Geological survey, gives an
idea of the Russian-like
censorship that has been es~
tablished over government
information:
"Rule 2. That no inter-
view shall be granted with~
out securing from the person
soliciting the same a promise
that he will, before submit
ting the material to his pubs
lication office, present a copy
of his manuscript to the di>
rector George Otis Smith)
for approval"
So far as is known among
newspaper men in Washing~
ton, nothing so drastic as
this in the way of press CEN
sorship has ever been at
tempted before in America.
In 1890, unGer Cle7eiand,
the total annual appropri-
alton for the expenses of the
national government was
S34O, 100000, or S6 for every
man, woman and child. In
1900 our expenses had in
creased to $500, 900, 900, or IS
for every man, woman and
child. The last Congress ap-
propriated the colossal sum
Of 81, ,044, 401, 857, or nearly
$12 for every man, woman
and child. This Congress
threatens to spend $17, 900, =
900 in excess Of last years ap~
preparation.
Republicans appear reluct>
ant to concern themselves
much about government ex~
penditures in relation to the
cost of living. But one thing
is certain. Government does
not pick up these hundreds
of millions Of dollars in the
street. This money comes
out of somebody's pocket.
Unlike city and state govern
ments, the national govern>
ment has but one way of rais~
ing revenue to meet expenses,
and that is by taxing things
eaten, worn or used by the
people. Hence it is that in
creased cost of living is
marching hand-in~hand with
increased Republican ex
travagance.
Il am sorry" said Senator
Bristow of Kansas, while dis
cussing the railroad bill,
THAT the senator from West
Virginia (Elkins) has desert
ed the chamber, and l an
so1ry the senator from
Rhode Island (Aldrich) is
not here, and that the Sena'
or from Massachusetts,
Nodge) has also disappeared
A survey of the senate
showed that the railroad
senators, after having out
lined the kind of Legislation
they had decided should bt
enacted, had fled from tht
chamber without waiting tt
hear those who disagreed
from the railroad viewpoint.
''Those of us who are her
might possibly be instructed
suggested a Democratic sena
tor. Upon noting Bristow'
chargin, "but if the senate
from Kansas imagines tina