The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-12
An Opportunity; where l. the Man"

send stamps tor that purpose
An Opportunity: where l. the Man"
Since European war has upset the
trade OF the world AMI entangled the
finances If the United States the neces-
sity Of filing the Treas has engaged
the attention of the authorities Mt
Washington. In the executive depart
ment aud the Congress.
They have conyerscd together about
the practicabilliy of new taxes and the
feasibility Of Increasing the imposts
now in force.
They have Speculatch rs 10 the sums
that might bc brought into the Treas
ury in This way rnI that. and they
have assured the nation that. come
what may. their ingenuity will be equal
to the task Of dcvising means to I'LL the
strong box.
It is an alarming, although not u
novel fact. that In all the dissertations
on this pressing and important subject
not one suggestion has been made that
deficit in income should he met, even
in part. by economy Of expenditure.
There has not been II single recon-
mendation that expenses should he re-
duced and the outflow of money from
the Treasury checked. or that any
bureau or department Of Government
should contribute to the modification Of
the present situation 10y restraining Its
enterprises. reducing its salary list or
even withholding itself from increased
and costly activities
II Is accepted at Washington. and
apparently throughout the country, that
the extravngances of to-day mark
the possible minimum Of governmental
cost. II Is assumed that no bureau, no
department. no expert no clerk can bc
dispensed with, and that the sole solu-
ton Of the problem is the collection VI
more taxes from the people Of this
country.
How has the taxpayer Jared in n
generation OF American national gov
eminent consisting of administrations
each Of which was elected pledged to
the strictest economy. and In two cases
on platforms specifically denouncinH
the wasteful conduct of their prede-
cessors? A few figures tell.
In 1890 the population Of continental
United States was Go,047,714. The ex
penditures Of the Government were
S3ls.40,710 The per capita cost In
that year was 500.
In 1900 the population was 1904 ,575
The expenditures were SiS7,713701
The per capita tax was S6.4+.
In 1910 the population was ~ ,972,,
2G6, The ordinary expenditures were
SG59 105.39l. The per capita cost that
year was $7.l--.
We were told In 1000 that there had
been an extraordinary necessity fol
greater expenditure consequent on Oul
war with Spain The per capita in
crease over lSHo wns about $40
In the period between 1900 and 1910
We had no war to add to our burdens
and no foreign complications by which
to account for u heavier tax. Yet tn,
per capita charge of ordinary oNpend
lures grew between 1900 and 1910 b,
scventy cents or onc-hAlf the increas,
Of tie preceding decade. with Us wal
erd tae subsequent Appearance of th,
United States rs a world Power"
The present Congress. ecctnl To Of
fee on the solemn assurance that /
would reduce expenditures and safe
guard the peoples money, has show
pledges that has called from It's SAN
leaders singing rehukcs on the foo
OF the House Of Representatives. Tn
executive, engrossed with reformator
projects Of far reaching nature. ha
ehown no disposition TO exercise T.
power In the cause Of economy. To.da
the members Of the majority in the Con