The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-08-15

1rO statesman or publicist OF the
IN fifties, when the population OF
the United States was only about 3d.
600, 1000, ever dreamed, perhaps, that
any one then living would ever see
billion-dollar Congress, much less
a billion and
Has Congress Been half Con-
Unduly Extravagant? gress. The
aggregate APP
propriations of the Sixty-fourth Con-
gress will amount approximately to
S1,7OO 900, 900, as against 81, 4,OOO,-
600, which was the record of the Six
ty-third Congress.
The big jump is accounted for by
the preparedness programme, and the
carrying out of that programme was
in response tc a reasonable and a
pressing public demand. Republican
campaign orators will assail the dem
ocrats for their extravaganza, but the
House republicans, under the leader
ship of Congressman Mann, voted
solidly with the democratic majority.
Vast appropriations do not neces-
sarily imply wastefulness. AS in large
business operations enormous expendi-
lures are often in line with well
matured policy of economy, so govern
ment expenditure of startling aggre-
gate may be the result of careful de-
liberation on the part of Congress.
The larger the appropriations the
greater will be the danger, of course,
of "pork barrel" extravaganza, but
there is no reason to think that the
members of the Sixty-fourth Congress
have not been as careful to conserve
the public welfare and check extrav-
agance as were the members of other
Congresses.
Some people may think it extrav-
agant to expend money on rivers to
render them manageable for large craft
and to deepen harbors to promote i'm
portant shipping interests; may think
it extravagant to erect imposing fed
eral buildings in the large cities and
less expensive but beautiful postof-
flee buildings in the smaller cities. 1t
used to be that only cities whose post
offices were above the second class
were supplied with government-owned
buildings. But now, as a rule, cities CT
four or five thousand population have
postoffices of artistic design, costing
between twenty and twenty-five thou
sand dollars. And why shouldn't they?
Uncle Sam can afford to do that much
for the community, besides it is an
economic investment.
Some people may think it extrava-
CANT for the United States govern
ment to aid in good road building;
may think it wasteful to spend money
in extending the rural free delivery
system. But appropriations for the OBJ
jects referred to are enthusiastically
approved by intelligent citizens who
take broad view of government eco
Monies.
For the first few years after the
agricultural department was estab-
lished, in 1889, the appropriations for
that branch Of the government were
so small as to be almost negligible in
the great totals. In 1900, after the
department had begun to extend its
activities, Congress appropriated only
$3,726, 900. In 1906, the appropriation
had risen to $6,S82,00 In 1912 it
was $12,056, 900, and in 1915 it was
$14,865, 900. This year it will be S27,-
600, 900. Thirty millions might be used
profitably.
The department of agriculture was
for time concerned mostly with the
orizing and making suggestions to the
farmer. It is today, and has been for
several years, doing practical work
of far-reaching benefit. Its soil sur
veys, it's scientific experiments in an
imal husbandry, it's farm demonstra-
ton, its innumerable aids to the agri-
culturist and horticulturist, have won
for the department splendid reputa-
ton and made it = synonym for