Evening journal., 1916-01-15
SATURDAY JAN. Is. 1916
DEMOCRATIC ExTRAvAcANCE CONTINUES.

IXTHEN Democratic hard times hit the country after
w the passage Of the Underwood tariff law labor
Ing and others whose incomes curailed
compelled to economize Not the Democratic
Congress- which made appropriations upon a scale of
exrayaganoe never before equalled. Within the last
year "war brides" have iyoned up some communities
and in some localities times better Not in the
Federal Treasury. which has fifty millions Of def
cit and which will have more than twice as much at
the OF the fiscal year Yet tho Democrats in Con
grcss show signs trying to 1T their expenditures
to the income.
The number and amount of appropriations arc little
short OF appalling, considering the condition OF the
Ireasury-and the significant fact is that most of the
raids the public funds which Democratic Congress
men contemplate wholly to be classified pork"
Examination of the file of printed bills introduced
by Democrats in Congress the first day OF the pres
ent session and calling for money from the Treasury
Tor private selfish political reveals docu-
ments that vivid commentary upon the ingenuity
Of Democratic statesmen in devsing schemes to get
public their political benefit and for the
benefit Of their communities
These bills also produce additional evidence If any
we're needed that the South is in the saddle and that
the great bulk Federal pork money is desiened TO-
be distributed i'm the Southern States For instance,
Representative from Arkansas proposes that the Fed
sral Government shall pay each Confederate soldier
and each widow OF such $500 in lump and pen
sion OF $50 a month during the remainder of their
lives and asks the modest sum OF Sl00OO000O for this
purpose "a member from Louisiana demands that the
government establish homes for disabled Confederate
soldiers their wives and widows. and wants $72O000
appropriated. Three Misunderstanding from Mssiss-
ppi. Oklahoma and Arkansas. respectvey-want the
cotton tax refunded the Southern planters who paid
in Civil War times. TWO Of these bills demand $685.
100000 each for this purpose while the third asks for
such sums as may be necessary" Senator Fletcher,
Of Florida wants S40OOOOO combat disease which
affects the orange trees Of his State, while Congress-
man Harrison OF Mississippi. wants S20OOOOO for the
same purpose For hsh-hatcheries. monuments to
lead Democratic leaders, extensions to public parks.
public buildings, government workshops and other
purposes equally frivolous and needless but all calling
Tor Federal money be spent in the South various
Southern Democr Is are clamoring for a total OF
nearly S10OO0O0O Senator Tillman wants t1.OOO-
300 for a government plant This makes nearly
5000 100000 which Southern Democrats asked from the
Treasury the first day OF the session.
Their Northern brethren modest, know
ng. doubtless that they have few rights in the party
organization which is offcered almost exclusively
rom the South. Yet Northern Democrats. the first
day Of the session. forward with varied list OF
demands for pork" ranging from annual OF
s40OOOOo-for military training camp in each state
down TO $4,000 for commission TO investigate com
missions
And yet it is good betting that the next Democratic
platform like the last, will have a resounding planl
n favor Of economy