Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1914-10-23

salaries as the secretary Of commene
may fix, and a clerk for each, at $500
and for travelling expenses the snn
Of 100000 was appropriated ter q
year.
The salary Of the private secrefzzE
to the secretary OF the treasury wsx
increased from s25OO to $4,000, whnn
means that the salaries Of the privaIz
secretaries Of the other nine cabinez
officers must also be increased from
$500 to $4,000.
The salary of chief of division
created less than year ago under
the income tax. has been increased
from $500 to ss5OO
Six assistant attorneys general IL
the department Of justice have had
their salaries increased froms5. Oes
to $500 each.
The salary Of the assistant to TIE
attorney general was increased dur
ing the extra session on an urgent de
hciency bin from $1,000 to $4,000.
The salaries of our diplomatic rep
resentatives in Argentine, Chile ana
Spain were raised from $4,000 to
$4,000 each per annum. and the sal
aries of the three secretaries of tzz
legations to those countries were In-
creased from s2625 to $4,000 each
The mission to Paraguay and Uru-
quay was divided and a new minis
ter authorized, with a new salary OF
100000
Political Pension Agents.
In the pension office 40 special ex-
aminers, at 1890 each, heretofors
employed to facilitate settlement of
claims for pensions for old soldiers.
and whose appointments were con-
trolled by civil service law, were aboI-
ished In their places fifty special
examiners at $1,000 each, who are not
under the civil service, but are pc
litical appointments, were provided for
1 have no doubt that this bill VIII
pass as it has been written, but it iE
only another milestone in the terrific
rate which we are travelling along the
highway Of extravaganza. But if It
is to pass, let us be candid with the
people and tell them why it is passing
and why it is necessary to pass it
10 meet our vast expenditures, to meet
nothing less than brazen and unre-
strained and unblushing extravaganza
Let us be candid with those who put
up the money.
Now, what are the conditions
Of the country from a business
standpoint? What is the situa-
ton of the people upon whom
we are imposing this tax? There
is no occasion for exaggeration-
plain, simple statement of facts
is quite sufficient. The securi
ties of insurance Companies and
savings banks have shrunk in
value during the last IS months.
and prior to August 1, s500,000
900. We are advised that on Au-
gust 1 the railroads of this country
had defaulted in their bonds and
notes to the extent of 100000
600. We are advised also that rail-
road revenues fell off during the
last fiscal year to the extent of
s44, ,70O,0 900. We are advised that
business failures during the month
of August, 1914, were to the
amount of s4S.OOO,OOO, as against
$40, O,O0O, 900 in 1918 and 100000 in
1912. We are told also by those
who are in position to know that
there are laboring men out of en-
ployment to the number of two
and one-half millions, and a mil
lion more working on half time
We know, furthermore. that the
cost of living has not been re-
duced. that the balance of trade
has been going against US. and
that business uneasiness and dis
tress are not at all uncommon
throughout the land.
Taxation seems to recognize no
signs of distress. Incomes may
disappear, business houses put UP
their blinds profits fade. railroads
default in their securities, wages
decrease and disappear, but taxes
increase with a steady and even
imperious movement.
1t is a strange and unnatural
situation when a government takes
no notice Of the conditions Of its
people when it comes to lay on