The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1915-09-30
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS
RESPONSIBLE FOR
EXTRAVAGANZA

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 re-
gard to economy, were a disgrace. No
preceding Republican Congress had
gone the length of a Democratic Con-
gress elected on platform of econ
omy. The last one made record for
extravaganza. 1t embarrassed the
President and brought down ridicule
upon his administration"
Al of which is true except that the
eensurc is grossly misplaced when it
is loaded upon Congress, and also ex-
cepting the statement that Congress
embarrassed the President. If the
President 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 100000 more than
the last Congress appropriated,
though the total appropriations of
that Democratic Congress were $177,-
100000 more than were made by the
last Republican Congress. The real
fact is that by asking for so much
money the Wilson cabinet embarrass
ed 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 to tell. But the
President in his address to the two
houses of Congress, at the opening of
the last session, said that the Ameri-
can people are not jealous of the
amount of money appropriated if they
get what they want for their money.
No words could have been uttered
more plainly inviting Congress to ex-
travagance. If that language means
anything, it means that if the people
got money for local public buildings
and other public improvements com
monty but often enormously referred
to as pork" they will not criticise
the administration. OF course Presi-
dent Wilson put it in the more digni-
fed language of the college professor,
but its meaning could not have been
otherwise than call for larger public
expenditures.
Undoubtedly, President Wilson will
send an economy message to the next
Congress, and attempt to pose before
the country as the watch dog Of the
treasury. But the American people
are possessed of more than average
intelligence and have habit Of read
/ ing and remembering. Moreover, the
people are honest enough, and cour-
ageous enough, to place the response
bility exactly where it belongs, despite
the studied efforts Of the Presidents
friends to shift the responsibility en-
tirely TO Congress, where only less
er degree Of blame should be placed.
1t is true that the Democratic Con
gress passed extravagant appropria
ton bills, but it did so under pressure
from the Executive Departments. No
one Of those appropriations became Of
presumably would become law with
out the consent Of the President, WHIT
holds the power Of veto.
Now, If the defenders Of and apol
ogists for the President can get any
consolation out Of the record, the,
are welcome TO exploit it to Their
hearts content. Not one Of them hai
the hardihood to challenge the yer
acity Of the fighting Democratic
Chairman Of the House Appropria
tons Committee, Hon. j. j. Fitzger'
aid, who, in an address TO Congress
told Of the excessive recommendation
Of members Of the cabinet An issue