The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1915-04-09

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81 craft chairman OF the house committee on APP
Temptations, and Frederick II. Giett OF Massa-
lchusetts ranking Republican member Of that body,
larc practically III agreement certain points re-
liatng 10 the extravaganza of the recently adjourn
Sixtv.third Congress OF the United States, says
an exchange they have been engaged in review-
Ling the appropriations Of the last two years and
there is at least. difference ~ their totals how
ever far apart they may be in othgr conclusions.
1t cannot we believe be too often reiterated that
the Democratic party came into power. in 1912,
very largely on the strength Of platform pledge
to reverse the conduct Of the Republican party in
the matter Of extravagant appropriationsi for Il IS,
as we view it, important to the welfare Of the
nation that the Democratic party shall be held by
the people to strict accountability for the delib
crate disregard Of its promise to practise economy
in the administration Of the government.
The salient points are these The first session
Of the last congress authorized expenditures to the
amount OF $lii6llS.l 1885; the second session.
that which came to close on March a Of this
i year, authorized expenditures amounting to ST.
lis III 408 o8; making grand total for that con-
gress Of $223l, 239, 547.23, or $lI3,O00O00 more
than was appropriated by the previous congress.
For The Sftty setonta Congress sthe, Republicans
were only partly responsible the fast congress for
which they were wholly responsible was the Sixty
first. and that body authorized total expenditures
pronounced proHigate by the Baltimore platform
-less by $l77.0O0000 than those OF the first con-
gress OF the Wilson administrations. When the
lsixty-6rst Congress was III session the country
was prosperous; there was surplus in the treas
Jury. notwithstanding the demands Of Panama
Canal construction; 1t was not necessary TO mar
ket the authorized issue Of Panama Canal bonds ;
there was no income tax and no CALL because no
occasion for 900 special war tax to cover
upa deficit The Sixty-third Congress, in a period
Of depression, when all private business was being
curtaiied, spent SLY 100000 more Nthan the most
extrayagant Of its Republican predecessors. and
while doing this was drawing upon the people for
$80.O0000o in income tax and $l00OO0O0O in spe-
ciai war tax collections. And notwithstanding
these aids 70 the revenues the treasury today is
confronted with the necessity OF marketing the
Panama Canal bonds, held in reserve for several
years. or OF facing deficit Of 100000
Chairman Fitzgerald is disposed to lay blame
lfor the rotous extravaganza OF the last congress-
not Of all recent congresses, on the lack Of proper
system in dealing with appropriations but it
seems evident that, il prudence, good judgment.
moral sense and patriotism will not restrain the
body that holds the purse-strngs OF the nation,
mo system it can itself devise will do it, The peo
Iple have no desire TO tie the hands Of congress,
under the constitution each congress-, representing
lin theory the will Of the people is law unto it,
lself and properly So Evidently the only correc-
tive is that which can be, and which should be.
Exercised by the electorate OF every congressional
district. Responsibility for extravaganza in ma
Itional administration rests primarily with the
Voter: the remedy must be sought through the
party and the party canbe best reached through
Iitscandidates. Thereckless squandering Of public
moneys should be stopped by stopping the head
long course Of any party that permits or encour-
lagos IL