The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-12-04
THE DEMOCRATIC BUDGET.

Ine democratic piat1ufm oil last
year contained these words:
We denounce the p%rofigate
waste of the one wrunE from
the people by oppressive taxation
through tn" lavish appropriations
Of rccen; republican congresses.
which have kept taxes high and
reduced tho purchasing power of
tho peoples toll. We demand Il
return to that simplicity and eco
nonly which he!its a democratic !
government, u n reduction in
the nunloar of useless Offices. the +!
salaries Of which drain the sub
stances Of the people.
That was all very we'll for the con-
sumption OF tho voters in an election
year. Just how many people paid any
attention to it VIC do not know, but,
anyway, it was the usual thing for the
party ont of Office to put forth. and
The party in Office is always Il lcgiti-
mate target for criticism Of any sort !
from the opposition. Tho "lavish APP
8 were s1.105."06. 963.1+. This
was tho lot of h republican es-
Inmates for tho ear ending Juno 30.
1914. Tho estimates of tho various
heads of departments of the present !
administration for the fiscal year end
ing June 80. 1915. amount to Sl.10S,-
661,777.Oc. Thus the democratic esti-
mates for the next year. after they will
have been i'm power long enough TO
make q good start at any ecc"oaies
that they propose To practice. exceed
the republican estimates which the
democrats SO severely criticized by 4
little over three millions.
In order to place the comparison
In a strictly fair basis it is proper to
note that one reason for the Increase
in the present estimates is the in
creased appropriation required for
parcel post service. which, of course.
is a producer of e. Taking out
the estimate for the postal depart
ment i'll each case we find that the
past years estimates were $S23,415,-
455.02. while the estimates. for the
coming year are $~so1,72S,455.14.
There is. therefore. an apparent re-
duction Of some twenty-five millions
for he coming year. or a little less
than three per cent. which is not a
startling reduction in view of the
sweeping denunciations made of re-
publican extravaganza. When thepar-
ty in power is accused Of wasteful exc
travagance by the party out Of power.
and the latter promises a return to
simplicity and economy, and when, on
having had charge Of affairs for a
year the latter estimates that it can
cut expenses ahou three per cent. we
have something resembling an anti
climax, or a tzzy" f~irecracker. And
then we must remember that things
like river and harbor bills and public
building bills have a habit of creeping
in during the session and swelling the
expenditure away beyond the esti-
mates.
In connection with all this matter
OF expense Of government there are
several things to be borne in mind,
among them the following:
The country is growing in popula-
ton, and therefore in the cost Of adj
miaistration.
Society is continually making more
demands on the government. The
little bureau of agriculture Of a few
years 6 has grown into a great de-
partment, with activities not dreamed
Of at the. beginning. The interstate
commerce commission has become a
vast piece of machinery. We are un-
dertaking the study Of farm credits.
Of corporate management. the investi-
cation Of business Of many kinds. All
these things are new, and all OF them
cost money. We are increasing THIS
work all the time, and necessarily We
are increasing the cost Of govern.
ment.
The several hundred gentlemen who
constitute he legislative and admin
1strative branches Of our government
are, in the main, men who are sim
cersly DESTROYS Of having the business
Of the government conducted with the
least possible outlay consistent with
eficiency-provided always that some
little latitude be permitted in the mat
ter Of expenditure in the g%entleman's
district and among his OWN
friends. This statement, with its pro-
viso. applies to most republicans and
most democrats. And 1t is the proviso
thst accounts for most Of whatever
waste there IL. and that there is a
10nd deal 0nes udthont ea>,},r