The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1912-02-13
WASHINGTON coRREsPoNDeNcE.

Washington, d. c., Feb. 13.-Repre-
sentative Oscar W. Underwood, chair
man OF the ways and means commit
tee of the house. has sounded a warn
ing against congressional extraya-
gance. 1t looks now as though the
pork barrel would have to be set in
a corner untapped Even expenditures
for the District of Columbia are great
ly pared A contemplated expenditure
of Sl6,0O00O0 for public buildings has
been shunted in caucus. Not only
House Leader Underwood but other
prominent democrats have been TAX
ing inventory of the situation. Here
are some of the things disclosed: The
Ordinary government revenues for
|1911 of $7OO,1099O6 wire $45,6S1 ,619
in excess of the ordinary expenditures.
The Rural Free Delivery News, pub
Ilished in Washington as the organ of
the National Rural Letter Carriers
Association, says The much yaunt-
ed surplus appears to have been due
to the failure of the department to
pay it's bills and the antiquated sys-
TEN of bookkeeping. 1t says that in
reality there is a deficie in the post,
Office department this year of about
81 ,00U,0O0.
lhe total amount expended upon
the Panama Canal to October 81. 1911,
was $252, ,7S2,S69. Upon it much more
will have to be spent
1t is estimated that the Sherwood
pension bill means an expenditure of
nearly S75,000,000 yearly. Democratic
leaders do not want such a deficit as
was charged to them in 1894 to con
front them in the coming campaign,
especially in view of the declarations
of their platforms regarding economy
in the public service.
OF those who would run riot" with
the public money they have been ask
ing, IF we make deficit, how would
lit look to have these words from the
last national platform quoted upon us:
rhe republican congress in session
just ended has made appropriations
amounting to 81 1OOS,OOO,O0O exceeding
the total expenditures of the last fiscal
year by more than $90,000,000 and
leaving a deficit of more than 100000,
1000 for the fiscal year. We denounce
the needless waste of the peoples
money which has resulted in this ap
palling increase as a shameful viola
tion of all prudent conditions of gov
ernment as no less than a crime
against the millions of working mer
land women from whose earnings the
great proportion of these colossal sum:
} must be extorted through excessive
tariff exactions and other indirec
/, methods. 1t is not surprising in view
} of this shocking record that the repub
! lican platform contains no reference
} to economical administration or prom
: Uses thereof in the future We demand
that a stop be put to this frightfu
lextravagance and insist upon th'
; ,strictest economy in every department
compatible with frugal and efficien
. administration
"Coincident with the enormous in
crease in expenditures is like add
J ton to the number of office-holders
t During the last year 23,784 were adde'
costing S16,156000, and in the last si
Z years of the republican administrator
. the total number of new offices create
| has been 99.319 entailing an additiona
5 expenditure of nearly $40, 100000 a
r against only 10,297 new offices create
t under the Cleveland and McKinle
E administrations, which involved an el
penditure of only $6,000,000. We d'
, nounce this great and growing increas
S of the number of officeholders as no
t only unnecessary and wasteful bu
also as clearly indicating a deliberat
S purpose on the part of the administrt
+ ton to keep the republican party !
e power at public expense by thus il
e creasing the number of its retainer
4 and dependents
"The conscience Of the nation
: now aroused to free the governmen
from the grip of those who have mad
e it business asset of the fayor-seel
z ing corporations. 1t must beeom
V again peoples government and b
- administered according to the Jeffe
t sonian maxim: Equal rights to a
y and special privileges to none
/ In view of the innovations now pr'
r posed of government ownership an
e operation of the express, TELEGRAPH
2 telephone business, etc, democrat
n Ileadtrs are pointing out that the pla
e form then declare din favor of efficier
l. regulations of such utilities, but nj
in favor of government ownership an
= Operation of the same. The histori
i position of the democratic party, 1t