The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1916-09-14

William X. Wilcox, chairman of the
Republican National committee. has re
ceived from Senator Penrose n brief
but positive summing up Of the ex
travagances of the Wilson administers
ton during the session of congress just
about 10 close. The senator says;
"When the country realizes what this
congress has done in the way Of ap
preparations 1t 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 approprl
ated Ia any one year In the history OF
the American government. The total
will reach nearly $2,000,000,0O0 before
the end of this carnival Of debancb
cry In public expenditures is reached
because no accoun has been taken OF
the ST.. 1900 for the Danish islands.
the $30,0o0,0O0 which the government
will probably have to refund as Il re
suit OF the 8 per cent rebate allowed
on importations brought across the seas
IN American bottoms, and other mat
ters which ore likely TO come up.
ut Is only too evident that this oil
which is expected to- bring in some
$500. 100000 will absolutely fail 10.
meet even The requirements for the
III advised and certainly not urgent
projects authorized 10y the present ION
gress.
ut Is now claimed that these pro
iects ore to be financed by the issu
ance OF Panama canal bonds. The
american people will regard such a
proceeding as n very queer one be
cause the issuing Of bonds by the
Cleveland administration largely help
ed 10 bring about the downfall Of the
Democratic party I'm 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 extra yagance and
ineficiency, to resort to IL.
ITO defray the expenses of a nitrate
plant and Of d shipping board and
many other needless projects by the Is
suing 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 Administrative of the Republican
narry.
Only about $130,OO0,Oo0 Of bonds
were rut out In Ihe construction or the
Panama canal The balance Of the
cost of that ~stupendous undertaking
was paid out Of current revenues, and
now. to advance the novel doctrine
that these bonds which represent the
thrift OF preceding years shall be Is.
sued for these questionable projects Is.
to my mind, preposterous. In fact. 1t
was expressly provided In the Spoon
er act that Panama canal bonds should
not be issued for any other purpose
than that or the construction of the
canal. and the ingenious theory that
they Gun be issued now to repay the
treasury and that then the money al
be squandered by the party In power
to finance doubtful projects and to
make good a deficit will not alter the
fact that such a deficit exists.
"No amount Of reasoning on the part
OF the chairman Of the committee on
finance viii alter the fact that outside
OF preparedness there has been at least
$500. 900 Of wasteful appropriations
and expenditures BY the present con-
gress. That condition of the treasury
will absolutely necessitate the with
holding OF contracts for battleships
and delay the whole scheme OF pre-
"The 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 will then find
that figures will not make a surplus
IN fha freaSGry.n III