Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1911-03-08
SPECIAL WASHINGTON CORES.
PoNDENcE.
BY CLYDE II. Tayanner

Democratic control Of the House of
Representatives will mean more than
revision downward of the tariff. 1t /
will also mean revision downward in
government extravaganza.
Nine committees will Immediately !,
be set to work with the object of
reducing waste In government expen-
ditures to the minimum. These
committees have been appointed from
year to year under the republican ad-
but there has seldom
If ever been a meeting Of any of
them. 1t happened on one occasion
last spring that a meeting OF the
Committee on Expenditures in the
state department was called, and
that a majority of those present were
democrats. Finding themselves UNI
expectedly i'm control, the democrats
proceeded to do a little investigating
and although they had time to mere
ly scratch the surface, they develoop-
ed the. fact that in one year ~
state department spent $237.66 for
shoeing the horses Of the state de-
partment. Secretary Knox admitted
that the department had but four
horses, except for period OF three
months, when the number was six. J
This is just a sample Of the extrava-
gance of the state department..
AS a matter Of fact, there are few
more important committees thar
those on the expenditures IN the
State, Treasury, War, Navy. Pos.of
flee, Interior and! Agricultural de
partments-that is, If these commit
tees do their duty. Under the rules
they are charged with the examine
ton of the accounts and expendi-
lures of the several departments and
the manner of keeping the same;
the economoy, business and correct
ness of such expenditures; their
conformity with appropriation laws:
the security OF the government
!, against unjustly extravagant claims;
retrenchment, the enforcement of
| the payment Of moneys due to the
United States. and the aboldshment
Of useless officers. The republicans
have created 100000 new federal po-
sitions in 8 years; cost, $4,000, 900.
Senator Aldrich declared the gov
ernment wasted s300.OO0,O00 every
year. The democrats hardly hope to
reduce the cost of administration
1 to that extent, but they do expect to
lretrench wherever it can he done
/, without impairing the efficiency OF
| the government.
Basis Of Tariff Revision.
4 As to the tariff revision by the
democrats, the following rules wi
be applied:
| First: The government should
never collect one penny more ci
revenue than necessary to admins
ter its affairs with rigid economy.
Second: The lowest rate that will
yield the greatest amount Of reven.
Tie should be imposed.
Third: Luxurles should always
bear the highest revenue duties.
4 Fourth: Experience has vindicatet
the wisdom Of ad valoreem duties
as being the correct practice.
Il Fifth: Revenue duties should bt
laid SO as to operate with equality
Throughout the nation, discriminat!n'
neither for nor against any class o,
section. ItlTls
Sixth: Absolute necessar'es shouls
go on the free list.
Seventh: There should be imros
ed a revenue duty upon practical,
all imports, with the possible excep
item OF necessaries and articles com
ing in contact with trust controlle,
products.
Senate Near Democratic.
Standpattes who fondly expect tina
n whatever good legislation is passe,
by the new democratic house will b,
turned down by republican senate
stand a good chance of being disap
pointed.
The new SENATE will be near-dem
ocratic, with men OF the La Follett
type holding the balance of power
The country need not he surprise,
il Senator LaFollette, who is patriot
: ic first and partisan afterward
puts some democratic measur IS
through the senate a-fying H
will if they are meritorious.
p In his speech On behalf of Senate
Lorimer of Illinois, Senator Bale
of Texas pointed out that mot on
person in 10000 was familiar witt
the testimony in the case. This Il
largely true.
A review of some of the mos. Wit
al testimony in the case, therefore
becomes interesting.
State Senator D. W. Holtslaw,
member of the Illinois legislator
who voted for Lorimer, was one o
the most importan. Witnesses. H
appeared before the senate invests
eating committee which was charge,
by, the senate with ascertainin,
whether corrupt methods or prae
| tees were used" in the election o
d.orimer, and was sworn. He stat
ed that John Frederick, fellow
member of the legislature wh:cl
| elected Lordmer, approached hin
and offered him money if he woul,
vote for Lorimer. Witness testified
that on the next morning after thi.
promise, ON May 26. 1909, he voted
for Lorimer. and that on the 16tl
day of June, 1909, in Chicago, IN.
Frederick paid him $4,000 in curren
cy, and he deposited the same will
the State Bank of Chicago, to tn,