The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1914-11-01

Washington, Oct 31.-For politi
.cal objects in connection with the
approaching election the republicans
are making the charge of extrava-
gance against the democratic con-
gress and are using that as basis
for their unpatriotic assaults upon
the emergency revenue bill brought
forward for the purpose of providing
the place of the revenue lost by rea
son of decrease of importations on
account of the European war.
The extent to which this charge
is unwarranted is conclusively shown
by an examination of the various ap-
propriations which have been made
by the present congress and a com
parison of appropriations of prev
ious congresses.
Including the river and harbor bills
in each instance, the total cash
appropriations made by congress for
the current fiscal year exceed the
cash appropriations made for the last
fiscal year of the Taft administration
by a little less than $11,OOO,OO0
This, however, does not include the
increase of $27 600 which goes to
the improvement and extension of
the postal service, a large part of
,.o1, 4
menting the parcel post This in
crease, however, is an asset to the
government rather than a liability,
for the reason that by the eXpendi
ture of $27000,000 additional for the
postal service, a sum greater than
that amount is returned to the gov
eminent in receipts from the ser
vice. For the first time since the
establishment of two-cent postage, a
generation ago, the postal service un-
der Postmaster General Burleson is
yielding a profit to the government,
Heretofore the postal service has
been run at a loss. Now it yields
a net profit of $4,0O00O0 a year to
Uncle Sam. Therefore, the $27000,
600 is not properly chargeable as an
increase in the appropriations.
An examination of the facts as
set forth in the appropriations shows
that the present congress has actual
ly made a saving of millions of dol
lars, for the reason that more than
the apparent inrcease of $11,O00,00O
has been allotted because of extra
ordinary demands upon the govern
ment and for projects and under
takings for which no other congress
has been obliged to spend money
These extraordinary expenses ap-
proximate 29,3OO,OOO and when the
$11OOO,OOO actual increase is taken
from that amount ii shows that the
present congress in the matter of
regular appropriations has made
saving of $1S,000O01. One of the
big items of emergency increase was
the $5,100,O00 for the temporary in
surance of American vessels and their
cargoes incident to the European
war. While this is an appropriation
it in no way involves a loss upon
the government, for the reason that
in the end the entire amount will
come back 10 the treasury, and it
will doubtless show a profit. 1t is
in the nature of an investment and
not an extravaganza. 1t is simply
the exercise of a governmental pow
er in an emergency to protect the
commerce of the Unitd States and
to enable the products of the country
to be marketed in foreign countries,
where there is demand for them and
where ships would not go unless
they were insured
For the relief, protection and trans
portation of Americans in Europe, 1t
has been necessary to eXpend $2,70O,-
600. That was an extraordinary ap-
preparation brought about by the ap-
palling catastrophe across the sea,
and a large part of it will ultimate
" be returned to the treasury. Re
publicans as well as democrats voted
for it, as they have for other emer-
gency appropriations. Moreover, the
additional work which has been i'm