The Winslow mail. (Winslow, Ariz.) 1893-1926, 1912-02-24

Representative Oscar w Underwood
Chairman OF the Ways and Means Com
mittee of the House, has sounded
warning against Congressional extra
vagance 1t looks new as though the
"pork barrel" would have to be set in a
corner untapped Even expenditures
for the District of Columbia are greatly
pared A contemplated expenditure OF
$16,OO0,000 for public buildings has be- n
shunted in caucus Not only House
Leader Underwood but other prominent
Democrats have been taking inventnry
of the situation. H. re are some of the
things disclosed: The ordinary Govern
ment revenues for 1911 of 500, l09,9U6
were $45,o ,619 in excess of the ordina-
ry expenditures.
The Rural Free Delivery News, pub
lished in Washil gtOn as organ of the
National Rural Letter Carriers Assocl-
alton, says: "Ibe much Wanted sur
plus appears to have beer due to the
failure of the Department TO pay its bill S
and the antiquated system OF book-keep-
ing" It says that i'll reality there is a
deficit in he PostCfficA departm ent this
year of about $7,0OO,O00
The tot al amount expended upon the
Panama Canal to Oct. 3lst, 1911, was
1852, 1872, 1863. Upon it much more will
have TO be spent.
1t is estim ated that the Sherwood
Pension bill means an expenditure of
nearly $75,OO0,OO0 yearly. Democratic
leaders do not want such a deficit as was
charged to them in 1894 to confront
them in the coming campaign, especial
" in view of the declarations of their
platforms regarding economy in the
public service.
OF those who would "run riot with
the pu bile money they have been ask
ing, "If we make deficit, how would 1t
look to have these words from The lasI
national platform quoted upon as: The
publican Congress in session just
ended has made appropriations amount
ing to l,OO8, 600, coo exceeding the tota
expenditures of the last fiscal year by
more than $90,000,0J0 and leaving de-
felt Of more than $60,0O0000 for The ifs
cal year. We denounce the needless
waste of the peoples money which has
resulted in this appalling increase as
shameful violation of all prudent con-
ditions of government as no less than
a crime against the millions of working
men and women from whose earnings
the great proportion of these coloss al
sums must be extort ed through eX>es-
sive tariff exactions and other indirect
methods. 1t is not surprising III view
of this shocking record that the Repub-
lican platform contains no reference to
economical admins ration or promises
thereof i'll the future. We demand III At
a stop be put TO this fr4ghtful eXtrava-
gance and insist upon the strlctest eco
nomy in every department compati BILE
with frugal and efficient ad administration.
"Ooincident with the enormous in
crease in expenditures is like addi-
ton to the number of otfice-holders
During the last year 23.784 were added
costing $l6,l 900, aud in the last six
years of the Republican ad administration
the total number of new offices created
has been 80, 3l9 entailing an additional
expenditure of nearly $4,000, 900 as
against only 1929 new offices created
under the Cleveland and Mckinley adj
ministrations, which involved an ex-
penditure of only $6,000,000. We de-
nounce this great and growing increase
of the number of office holders as not
only unnecessary aud wasteful but also
as clearly indicating deliberate pur-
pose o. the part of the administration
to keep the Republican party in power
at public expense by thus increasing
the number of its retainers and Deepen
dents
"Tbe conscience of the nation is now
aroused to free the government from the
grip of those who have made it bust
ness asset of the favor-seeking corpo
rations. 1t must become again peo
Piles government and be administered
according to the Jeffersonian maxim
Equal rights to ali and special privi
leges to none"
In view of the innovations now pro
posed of government ownership and
operation of the express, telegraph
telephone business, etc, Democratic
leaders are pointing out thar the plat
form then declared in favor of eff1ci
ent regulations of such utilities, but
not in favor of Government ownership
aud operation Of the same. The historic
position Of the Democratic party, it il
recalled, is that public expenditures
shall be limited to the needs of govern