Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-01-06


him. off with a gun. The canal cost
hundreds of millions. Under neutral.
ization II could be destroyed In a
night"
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 ct this early date
that the expenses of the government
for the next fiscal year will be at least
| sl.00O.0O0.O00 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
or rhetorical extravaganza. and it is
| doubtful if 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
100000 in single year for the *
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 it costs about $4,000 600.
The presidents of the United States
| al hay
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 anE pointed than before, for ap-
parently 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 othe.
presidents before him he this year has
urged strongly that congress do jus
tiee to the persons who have valid
claims against the government and
who cannot get their money.
hac of oil
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. II The
courtfinds 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 o
money. Then Henry Nelson and Phil
lip Stuyvesant go to congress and asl
that the money which really belong'
to them shall be paid, and congress
usually turns a deaf ear. OF course
claims are paid from time to time. bu
many a man with bill which TIT
courts have o. KID waits many a loni
year before he gets his money ant
then he does not get all he deserves
for no interest is allowed.
In his message to congress this yea
President Taft urged the payment o
) the just Indebtedness of Uncle Sam
, He says this pointedly: THE della.
: that occurs in the payment Of TIT
money due under the claims injure
the reputation of the government Al
an honest debtor, and / earnestly re
commend that these claims which
come to congress with the judgmen
and approval of the court of claim
should be promptly paid"
Two Cavalry Leaders Die.
Recently two officers of high ranl
on the retired list of the United State
army have died, one in this city, ant
one in Virginia. just across the Poto
mac river Major Generals Wesle.
Merritt and Eugene A. Carr died OF
the same day. Both were cavalr,
leaders and one of them. Merritt. diet
within sight of a battlefield on which
/ he won fame and the stars of a majo
, general when he was only twenty-five
years of age.
Both Merritt and Carr were burie'
J a few days ago in the cadet cemeter.
} at West Point on the Hudson river
where they lie close to another fam
, GUS cavalry leader. George A. Custer
J who was killed in a fight with tn
Sioux Indians on the Little Rosebu'
: June &c, 1876. Custer. like Merritt
was a major general of volunteers a
, the age of twenty-five years
Carr Famous Indian Fighter.
Eugene A. Carr, like Merritt. wa
a West Pointer. His rise was rapi'
and he was one of the few officers o
the United States army who receive,
commissions by acts Of congress be
| cause of conspicuous personal gallan
) try in the field.
, Carr stayed in the regular servic'
at the close of the civil war and wa
sent to the plains to begin the untrie'
duty of fighting Indians. Like Gen
eral Miles, Carr developed a remark
able plainsmens sense. They wol
( perhaps even more fame as 1ndial
fighters than came to them as fighter
, against men of thier own color.
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