The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1914-11-17
DEMOCRATS AND ECONOMY

The Information that comes from
Washington Is to the effect that the
President, now that his program OF fe.
form is very largely wrought into the
law Of the land. will, at the coming
session of Congress devote his infiu-
ence in a considerable degree toward
curbing extravaganza In public ex-
pendlturcs. II is indicated that his an
nual message will deal with this queB-
ton, and II il does, 1t will mean some
thing, for Mr.. Wilson's messages have
been more thoroughly read and under
president OF any generation This is
due in part 10 the attention attracted
10 them by his revival of custom
of hundred years ago In reading his
message in person. and In part by the
fact that they have been short, clear,
and to the point In hand.
IL Mr. Wilson shall endeavor to
curb congressional extravaganza, he
will again lay the whole people under
heavy obligation to him and his mas
terful leadership. There Is no doubt
Ing the fact that the Government of
the United States Is almost criminally
extravagant. During the past Is years
and more of Republican rule, prior to
March 4, 1913, the expenditures of the
government had practically doubled
Tom Reed. the great speaker, from
Maine. tossed off the Democratic criit.
cism Of the first billion dollar Con-
gress with the remark that this Is
a billion-dollar country" which
thwarted the effect of the criticism,
but did not alter the fact that the
country was devoting millions of tax
es to indefensible extravaganza.
Since Speaker Reeds day, however,
the Republicans have doubled that
figure, and the billion dollar session,
or two billion dollar congress, has
been with us for several years. The
Spanish war increased expenses vast
ly, OF course, and from that day to
the end of their power, the Republi-
cans did not reduce those expenses.
though the occasion for the increase
had long passed. The rate of increase
was Immediately lowered' when the
Democrats secured control, though II
must be admitted that they have not
very effectively decreased the govern
ment's extravaganza. 1t should be
said, however, that even q checking of
the extrayagant tendency OF appropri-
atoms is an achievement. When a man
is running down hill, he should not
be expected to change his course and
run up hill at once he has done a
great deal If he stops; then he can
begin the struggle up hill. So, If the
Democrats have merely checked the
oxtrayagantT tendencies of the past
siztsen years OF Republican ruie, they
nave done we'll; and, under the lead
eisiiip OF the President, they can now
undertake actually to reduce expendi-
lures.
1t should be said. however, I'm dis
cussing Democratic expenditures, that
the very men who belittle the econ
omical promises unfulfilled by the
party In power, are clamoring for in
creased military expenditures which
would far surpass the appropriations
made by the Democrats. it ia better,
according to the view OF really sane
and patriotic Americans. to waste
money. If It is wasted, on public build
ings and rivers and harbors, than to
devote 1t to increased military ex-
penditures-- purpose that is worse
by far than merely wastoful.