The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1915-09-30
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS
RESPONSIBLE

LNo0A OAN64D64
A ~well-known newspaper defender Of
the Wilson administration says that
"the expenditures allowed by the last
Congress, in view of the declaration of
the Baltimore convention with regard
70 economy, were a disgrace. No pre-
ceding Republican Congress had gone
the length of a Democratic Congress
elected upon a platform of economy.
The last one made a record for extrav-
agance 1t embarrassed the President
and brought down ridicule upon his ad-
ministration."
All of which is true except that the
censure is grossly misplaced when it is
loaded upon Congress, and also except
ing the statement that Congress embar-
has been embarrassed, it is due solely
to his own action. He has absolute
control over his cabinet. That cabinet
asked for appropriations to the amount
of $S4, 000, 900 more than the last Con-
gress appropriated, though the total
al preparations of that Democratic Con
gress were $177 ,000,0 900 more than were
made by the last Republican Congress.
The real fact is that by asking for so
much money the Wilson cabinet embar-
rs.ssed Congress and made its work far
more difficult than it should have been.
If the Democratic Congress had re-
ceived any cooperation whatever from
the President in its effort to economic,
there might have been a different story
dress to the two houses of Congress, at
the opening of the last session, said
that the American people are not jeal-
GUS of the amount of money a%ppropriat
ed if they get what they want for their
money. No words could nave been ut
tered more plainly inviting Congress TO
extravaganza. If that language means
anything, it means that if the people
get money for local public buildings
and other public improvements com
monty but often enormously referred
to as pork they will not criticize
the administration.
it in the more dignifed language of
it in the more d~ig7nifed language of
the college professor, but its meaning
could not have been otherwise than a
call for larger public expenditures.
Undoubtedly, President Wilson will
send an economy message to the next
Congress, and attempt to pose before
tie country as the Watchdog of the
treasury. Blu the American people are
possessed of more thar average intel
ligence and have a habit of reading
and remembering. Moreover, the peo-
pie are honest enough and courageous
enough to place the responsibility ex-
aetly where it belongs, despite the
studied efforts of the President s
friends to shift the responsibility en-
tirely to Congress, where only a lessor
degree of blame should be placed.
1t is true that the Democratic Con
gress passed ~extravagant appropriation
bills, but it did so under pressure from
the executive department. Not n OF
those appropriations became or presu-
mably would become law without the
consent of the President, who holds the
power of veto.
Now, if the defenders of and apollo
gists for the President can get any con
ISOLATION out of the record, they are vel
come to exploit it to their heart Is cod
tent. Not one of them has the hardi-
hood to challenge the veracity of the
fighting Democratic chairman of the
House appropriations committee, Hon.
J. J.. Fitzgerald, who, in an address to
Congress, told of the excessive recon-
mendations of members of the cabinet.
An issue of that kind, between Wilson
and Fitzgerald might very easily start
a movement for Fitzgerald as a nom
iAee of the Democratic party in the