Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1916-09-30

William r. Wilcox. Chairman OF
the Republican National Committee,
has received from Senator Penrose a
brief but positive summing up OF the
extrayagances OF the Wilson Admins
tration during the session of Congress
just about 70 close, The Senator
says:
when the country realizes what
this Congress has done I'm the way of
appropriations IL will be dumfounded.
Already, IL has been shown that over
a billion, seven or eight hundred mil
lion dollars have been appropriated
more money than was ever appropri-
ated In any one year in the history
of the American government The to
tai Will reach nearly two billion dol
lars before the end OF this carnival
of debauchery IN public expenditures
been taken of the twenty-five millions
for the Danish islands, the thirty mil
lions which the government will prob
ably have to refund as result of
the five per cent rebate allowed on
importations brought across the seas
in American bottoms, aud other mat.
tiers which are likely to come up.
at Is only too evident that this bill
which Is expected to bring In some
two hundred million dollars Will alb
solutely fail to meet even the require
ments for the illadvised and certainly
kxr a
present Congress.
at Is now claimed that these pro-
jects are to be financed by the lssu-
ance of Panama Canal bonds. The
American people will regard such a
proceeding rs very queer one be
cause the issuing OF bonds by the
Cleveland Administration largely help
ed to bring about the downfall of the
Democratic party In 1896 A bond
issue has ever since been viewed with
adherence by the Democracy; now,
we find the party leaders compelled,
by reason of their extravaganza end
inefficiency, TO resort to 1t.
ITO defray the expenses of q nitrate
plant and of "a shipping board and
many other needless projects by the
Issuing of Panama bonds Will be In
the last analysis equivalent to paying
for them by bond issues. These bonds
are lying In the treasury unissued as
the result of the thrift and economy
and wise administration of the Repub-
lican party.
a"Only about S130,0O0,0C0 Of bonds
were put out In the construction of the
Panama Canal The balance Of the
cost of that stupendous undertaking
was paid out Of current revenues |;
and now, to advance the novel doe
trIne, that these bonds which repre-.
sent the thrift of preceding years
shall be issued for these questionable
projects is, to my mind preposterous.
In fact, 1t was expressly provided In
the ISpooner Act that Panama Canal
bonds should not be issued for any
other purpose than that of the con-
struction of the Canal, and the In
genious theory that they can be is
sued now to repay the treasury and
that then the money can be squau-
dered by the party in power TO finance
doubtful projects and 10 make good a
deficit will not alter the fact that
such deficit exists.
mo amount of reasoning on the
part Of the Chairman of the Commit
tee on Finance will alter the fact
that outside of preparedness there has
been at least $200,0O0,0OO Of wasteful
appropriations and expenditures by
the present Congress. That condition
of the treasury viii absolutely neces-
state. the Withholding of contracts
for battleships and delay the whole
scheme of preparedness.
'1The figures of the Secretary Of
the Treasury may be juggled as they
may, but when the Secretary is up
against the brute fact of not having
money TO pay for these projects he
win then find that figures will not
make surplus in the treasury"