The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-10-01
PROMISE We. PERFORMANCE.
TBv Senator "A. B. Cummins.1

IBy Senator A. b. CumminsI
Let us look at some OF the things
that have been done in national al
fairs since the fourth Of March, 1913,
in order to inquire what effect they
had. or may have, upon the lives and
business OF the people who have the
RIGHT to expect that our public affairs
shall be so conducted as to give them
the greatest opportunity for comfort,
happiness and prosperity. For years
have been deeply impressed with
the rapidly increasing cost OF main
tanning the government OF the United
States. am not a captious critic,
for everyone must feel and know that
as we grow In population and wealth.
the expense OF organized society must
advance: but year after year we HAYS
all heard our democratic friends VOC.
ferously denoun 20 the reckless extrav-
| agnnce of republican ADMINISTRATIONS
and so persistent were these cri.s
cisms that 1t might well have been as
sumed that democratic lea ders HON
estly felt that they had plan when
| would at cnce maintain tho efficiency
OF government and reduce the cost OF
administering.
When the democratio conventio
met IN Baltimore in 1919 it announce
with great emphasis its promise upon
this subject. 1t said: eve denounco
the profiigate waste Of the money
wrung from the people by oppressive
taxation through the lavish appropr;s-
tons Of the recent republican con-
crosses, which have kept taxes hig"
and reduced the purchasing power OF
the peoples toll. We demand re-
turn to that simplicity and economy
which BELTS q democratic govern
ment, and reduction Of the number OF
useless ofices the salaries OF which
drain the substance OF the people"
It Is not surprising that the voters
OF the county were strongly attracted
to the democratic candidate. in the
hope that some OF the burdens press
ing upon them would be removed. On
the faith of pledge SO allurfng the
democratic party was installed III
power, and came into complete pos
session of our affairs on the 4th o.
March, 1913. Let US examine how
faithfully the administration has full
filled the promise so often repeated !.
and upon which they secured tna
power which they are now exercising.
For the current year ending June
80, 1914, the regular ordinary appro-
priations, not including the rivers nn
harbors' bill, and not including man.
other items to which will call all
tention hereafter, amount to s1,0Ss.
| 40S,777 26. The appropriations for the
year ending June 80. 1913, being the
yearly appropriations mentioned IN
the democratic platform, amounted
to $685., s53,34O.441.
That is to say. for the first year in
which the democrats have been Ia
full charge of the government. they
have appropriated $101,055,436.s :
more than the republicans appropria-
! ted for the year in which they wer>
! unsparingly condemned by the con-
vention at Baltimore.
! But this does not tell the whole
story. In the face Of the necessi.:
for new and extraordinary taxes. the
house passed the rivers and har-
bors' bill which carried cash appro-
priation, in round numbers. of $43,-
| 0eO, 0c0 The senate committee in
creased It, in round numbers. to s54,-
0oO, 900 with additional authorizations