The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1916-10-14

william II. WILCOX, chairman OF the
Republican National committee. has re-
ceived from Senator Penrose a brief
but positive summing up of the ex.
travagances of the Wilson administra-
ton during the session Of congress JUST
about to close. The senator says:
"When the country realizes what this
congress has done in the way Of ap.
preparations 1t will be dumfounded.
Already It has been shown that over
q 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 total
will reach nearly $2,O0O,OoO.OOO before
the end Of this carnival Of debauch.
cry in public expenditures 10 reached.
because no account has been taken OF
the SO ,O00. 900 for the Danish islands,
the $3O.OOO.OOO which the government
will probably have to refund as q re
suit Of the per cent rebate allowed
on importations brought across the seas
in American bottoms, and other mat.
tiers which are likely to come up.
1T Is only too evident that this bill
which is expected to bring In some
$500, 100000 will absolutely fall to
meet even the requirements for the
Ill advised and certainly not urgent
projects authorized by the present con.
gress.
1T Is now claimed that these pro.
jects are to be financed by the issu.
ance Of Panama canal bonds. The
American people will regard such O
proceeding as q 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 will
adherence by the Democracy; now
we find the party leaders compelled
BY reason of their extravaganza and
ineficiency. to resort to 1t.
ITO defray the expenses Of a nitratt
plant and Of q shipping board ,ant
many other needless projects by the Is
suing of Panama bonds will be In th'
last analysis equivalent to paying To-
| them by bond issues. These bonds arr
lying in the treasury unissued as thu
result of the thrift and economy ant
| wise administration Of the Republican
| party.
| "Only about $130OOO,OOO Of bond
were put out in the construction Of tn
| Panama canal. The balance of tn
cost Of that stupendous undertaking
was paid out Of current revenues; ant
now, to advance the novel doctrine
that these bonds which represent tn
thrift Of preceding years shall be is
sued for these questionable projects Is
to my mind, preposterous. In fact,
was expressly provided In the Spoon
er act that Panama canal bohds SHOULD
not be issued for any other purpos
than that Of the construction Of tn
canal. and the ingenious theory tina
they can be issued now to repay tn
treasury and that then the money cal
be squandered by the party In powe
to finance, doubtful projects and I
make good deficit will not alter tn
fact that such deficit exists.
mo amount of reasoning on the par
Of the chairman of the committee o
finance will alter the fact that Outsid
Of preparedness there has been at leas
SOC. 900 of wasteful appropriation
and expenditures by the present COZ
gress.. That condition Of the treasur
will absolutely neeessitate the witt
holding Of contracts for battleship
ind delay the whole scheme Of pr'
raredneSs.
1.-THE figures Of the secretary Of tn
treasury may be juggled as they ma!
but when the secretary is up agains
the brute fact Of not ha wing money
| pay for these projects he will then fin
that figures will not make Q surplu
In the treasury"