The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1910-07-07
Washington News Letter.

claimed that he was omnipotent and
could force congress to do anything
he desired declared Minority Lead
er Champ Clark, in reviewing the
session just closed in an interview !
with the writer.
eff that be true one thing must be
admitted and that is that Mr.. Taft
is in favor of the reckless waste of
public money
THE total appropriations for the
fiscal year ending June 80 1910, was
S1,044 100000, whereas the appro-
priations for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1911, are about $1,05S,-
100000, an increase of $4,000
600. Such expenditures are abso-
lutely unjustifable. When the presi-
dent came into office he declared for
economy with great flourish of
trumpets. The newspapers were full
OF what he was going to do in that
regard to relieve the taxpayers of
the land. But all such talk turned
out to be laundering in the index-as
the foregoing totals show.
Il have heretofore stated in the
house and out of it Senator Aldrich
said good business man can run the
government just as we'll as it is run
for 100000 per annum less
than it now costs. The president
himself fixed the amount which
could be saved every year at $780,
100000. Other republican big wigs,
notably Senator Carter, of Montana,
Senator Hale, of Maine, chairman of
the senate appropriations committee,
and Hon. James A. Tawney, chair
man of the house appropriations
committee, have talked economy:
but the fact remains that their econ
omy consists entirely of CAB and that
they actually increased the appropri-
ations instead of reducing them.
AS they have large majorities in
both houses OF congress and could do
as they pleased, one of two things is
true: LIST, They do not desire to econ
omize; or End, They are utterly in
competent.
But how can President Taft ex-
pect congress to economic when he
sets the example of extravaganza not
only by using up the $4,000 annual
allowance for travelling expenses, but
uses up several thousand dollars
more? Be it remembered no presi-
dent ever received this travel pay till
the last part of the Roosevelt regime
and Roosevelt never used all of the
allowance, while his successor uses
more. How can congress be expected
to economic when the vce-president
and speaker set the bad example by
using automobiles paid for by public
money?
Il am aware that economy is an
4 al a G,,% -
hearts of the people and millions of
them cannot afford to be taxed to
support republican officials in their
reckless extravaganza
Roosevelt Snubbed Taft.
| 1t has become known in Washing
ton that President Taft endeavored
to have Roosevelt pay him visit at
| the white house, and that the latter
did not accept the invitation. This
further emphasizes the story that the
Taft administration has been so bad
| that Roosevelt will not dare to en-
dorse it. 1t is said that the presi-
dents invitation was carried to
Roosevelt orally by Captain Archi-
| bald Butt, and delivered on the day
OF, Roosevelt's return. Senator Lodge.
of Massachusetts,, and son-in-law.
LongWorth, according to information
| which has leaked out, also made
strenuous endeavors to have Roose-
| welt pay his respects to Taft at the
White house, but T. R. baked.
Lodge Shown Up.
Now comes Representative Butler
Ames, of Massachusetts, republican
| lnsurgent, with the statement that
| the political machines of Senator
Lodge, OF that state, lis backed by
all the large corporations and all the
state and federal patronage at his
command and it is used to advance
the selfish financial schemes of the
large railroads, banking and manu-
featuring interests he serves in the
halls of congress. This is hardly
news to we'll informed men in Wash
ington. Lodge is one of the Aldrich
group, ever ready to increase the tar
if and serve the corporate interests.
ne stated in the senate one day that
the ultimate consumer is a myth
How Protection Protects.
Protectionists assert that high tar
III rates protect" American work
ingmen. What is meant by the word
"protect?" The steel industry is one
of the most highly protected indus
tries in the United States. The high
rates on steel products have pro
tected" the American workingmen
in that industry by driving them from
the mills. Positions formerly filled
by Americans are now occupied by
the cheapest foreign labor A report
just made on conditions in the mills
OF the steel trust at Bethlehem, Pa,
states that "4725 men, or 81 per cent
of all the employees. worked twelve
hours a day; 220 workmen had
| twelve hour day except on Saturdays.
and .4203 employees had a workday
OF ten and one-half to eleven hours
in length" Thus does protection
prot t" the .workingman
People Were Betrayed.
-protection-makes for mon
opoly,' declares Alfred Henry Lewis
| in Pearson's magazine But that is
not all he says. Monopoly" he de-
| clares, lis robbery arranged for, by
law. Anyone who would be a monop-
olist would be pickpocket could he
| be safe. The politicians in Wash