Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1916-08-09
Omnibus Revenue Bill BoIsfers $500, 100000
Deficit of Nations Most Exfravaganf Congress
BILLION

From the Washington Bureau of Pu-
litzer's Review

(From the Washington Bureau of Pu-
litzer's Review
Notwithstanding the fact that the
fiscal year 1856 closed with STA
956,2Sl to the credit of the general
tund of the Treasury; and notwith-
standing the fact that more than $780,
100000 was raised during the year
from purely domestic or internal
sources, and Notwithstanding the
fact that dutiable imports showed a
vast increase during the year-break-
ing all monthly records for May-not-
withstanding all these facts. the pres
ent Democratic Congress has found il
necessary 10 enact an omnibus rev
enue bill that will produce 5000 OO,-
600 more money.
This necessity arises from the fact
that the present session Of Congress
has been the most extravagant in the
history of the nation. It has consid-
cred favorably measures appropriate
ing more than one billion and a half
dollars. It has lavished money upon
project after project that might have
waited or, better still, been abandoned
II has offered to finance every public
work that has applied for assistance
and has created wholly new agencies
for footing the treasury.
And the result is an obvious deficit
for the coming year, unless extraor-
binary means to head il off are re-
sorted to. How much this deficit
might have been, il is quite impossi-
bile to say, but the fact that the Dem
ocratic leaders have proposed a
bond issue. in addition to the new tax
bill. indicates that II might possibly
have passed the S4OO0O0.OOO mark
The Issue of bonds, it is true, is de-
signed to meet the expense Of the
Mexican campaign but it is no less
a liability upon the present regime
whether the present or future gener-
atoms pay the bill.
The cost of preparedness figures
largely i'm the total appropriations
ard in the deficit which the new rev
enue bill is intended to meet. And
If the vastly increased expenditures
could be charged wholly to national
defense. the country would doubles
regard the fiscal work Of this Con
gress as well done. Every enlighten
ed interest in the United States is
now behind genuine and effective de-
Tense measures and is willing to con-
tribute ungrudgingly to payment of
the price. But these interests are
not IA favor Of every pork barrel
project that has sought to justify
itself as defense legislation. And the
calendar Of this Congress bears elo-
quent testimony to the crimes COM
mitted IN the name of preparedness.
Take a few instances: The caption
Of the administration ship purchase
bill carrying an appropriation Of $780,
100000 reads "An Act to establish
a United States Shipping Board for
the purpose of encouraging. develop
ing and creating a naval auxiliary
naval reserve. etc" The $40 900 00C
rivers and harbors bill was defended
in both houses on the ground that il
provided for proper naval bases and
for an inland waterway to make pos
sihle the safe movement Of small war.
ships in time of emergency. The $780,
100000 good roads bill was designed
to provide for military highways
along with postal roads and star mail
routes Otherwise it would have been
manifestly unconstitutional The
authors OF the S25,O0O,0OO public
buildings bill have not advanced it
as defense measure. but then. they
have not had their chance.
II the sum total Of these measures
could be subtracted from the sum to-
tai OF this sessions appropriations
there would be no occasion for a
S200,000000 revenue bill The emer-
gency war tax might have been ex-
tended one more year and the Mexi-
can bond issue authorized to meet
the cost of our military demonstra-
tion on the border These two money
measures would have overcmoe the
deficit. assuming that normal revenue