Gilpin observer., 1914-12-31
BY Edward Keating.

every man, woman and child in the
land. The average American family
numbers five persons, so the aver
age family contributes at least $50
per year to the maintenance OF fed
eraa power.
And the total is increasing from
year to year at a rate which is al
together out of proportion ito the in
crease in population.
Twenty-four years ago "Czar" Reed
and a Republican congress were
swept frem power because OF tie ex-
travagant expenditures they had
authorized. That was in 1890 and
Uncle Sans expenses that year
amounted to only $532,7O8,747.
just eight years before that in
1885. with Grover Cleveland in the
White House and a Democratic cen
gress in the capitol, the country
worried along on appropriations
which totaded 1881 OILS. .4O4. OF this
sum more than 1000, 900 represents
payments on account of the national
debt
Thus in twenty-eight years the an
ntial cost of running Uncle Sans big
machine has increased about $780,
100000 or more than 200 per cent.
incidentally we have abandoned all
attempts to pay off our national
debt We are too busy spending
money to think of schemes for saw
ing it.
What has caused this increase in
expenditure and where will it end?
1t would require a prophet to an
swer the latter part of that query
and l am not in that business. The
first part is easier.
Gear" Reed and his followers
were probably guilty of extravagances
but the real era Of wasteful expend-
iture IN this country was ushered in
by the Spanish-Amer;can war. Then
1t was that a wave of imperialistic
hysteria swept over this country.
The United States must become a
"world-power," we were tcld by %
caliber statesmen and despite the
protests of such leaders as Bryan in
the Democratic party and Hoar in
the Republican party. majority of
the voters fell for" the new doc
trine.
Now, imperialism is the most cost
ly game ever played by nations and
it costs republics ten times as much
as 1t does monarchies. A country
cant be truly Imperial unless it
has colonies. and big army and a
smashing big navy. So We acquired
the Philippines and string of other
islands, and proceeded to spend
money like the proverbial drunken
sailor When some fellow object
ed he was silenced by the solemn
declaration that the United States
must realize its manifest destiny"
Army and Navy expenditure.
In 1894. before we had been stung
by the bug of imperialism our army
cost us s54.0OO.0OO
Last year we expended $173,000.-
900 ON it and all the jingoes in Con-
gress assure us that we haven't a
sufficient military establishment to
fight any of the robust second rate
powers.
In 1894 our naval expenditures to-
tailed S31 900, 900 and we thought we
had some navy.
Last year we spent $139 900 900 ON
our sea fighters and the alleged ex-
perts tell us We are not in ias good
shape as We were twenty years ago.
II We accept the advice OF the mill
tary and naval officers We will in
crease the appropriations for he
army and the navy to about $500 .00O,-
900 a year. or approximately $780,
900. 900 more than we are now expend
ing.
l sometimes wonder what the busi-
ness man in his store and the work
man In the shop and the farmer in
the field think of the suggestion.
Congress doesn't hear very often from
the businessman or the workingman
deal from the military man and the
army and navy contractor and the
small caliber statesman, who is seek
ing notoriety and votes.
wish the men who will be called
upon to dig up the 5000. 200. 900
would speak up and tell us what
they want us to do.
Supporting the Nations Capital.
suggested last week that | would
review the appropriation bills as
they came before the House and |
will do so.
The first appropriation bill brought
out by the committee had to do with
the expenses of the government Of
the city of Washington and the Dis