The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-06-09
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

ton In Appropriations but One.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.
Washington, June 0-tSpecial J.
The contest that has been going on
from the time Of organized parlia-
mentary governments with power over
the purse Is developing in connection
with our vast expenditures for war
purposes.
1t Is a contest between those who
spend money and those who appropri
ate money. No official who spends
money of the government, SO far as !
have observed, has ever attempted to
cut down appropriations. On the con
trary, every official tries to increase
the expenditures Of his Office. From
the heads OF departments down to the
humblest o~fiiccholder who makes a re
port the cry is for more clerical help
and larger salaries.
In these times 1t is almost impossi-
bile to deny the executive officials any
thing they ask. They make their de
mands on the grounds of war necessi
AAtN- anu ihA~t WIZ AOAt A#Rtlte hAt
charged with lack of patriotism if they
do not respond TO the call
But There Are Watchdogs.
But these appropriations do all 20
through without criticism ami protest
In fact. things are said IN congress
which show that quite a number OF
men believe that extravaganza Is run
ming riot these days and that office
holders are being multiplied altogether
too rapidly for the good Of the govern
mcut.
There are watchdoes OF the treasury
now, as IN times past. They growl Il
great deal. bark at times, but when
they bite they cannot hold fast They
are like the puppy clinging to u rag
they have to let 20 after awhile, und
the bills go through as planned.
A Noted Exception.
There Is one noted exception TO the
statement that officials never ask for
reduced appropriations. The p%ostOtlice
department. once asked for "A reduction
in the amount appropriated for rural
INAiifS. anu t0itEl0GH AGNHbANltd bN III
creasing the sum several millions. But
the rural routes are mighty factors in
the politics Of many congressman.
Talk Of JOY Rides.
In n of the recent bills was n pro
vision for $2J0.o0O for automobiles for
one bureau. OF course that caused nj
luslons 10 joy riding. particularly as
the bureau operates far and wide
throughout the country. There win be
much pleasure riding In connection
with the work that bureau performs In
the mountains during the summer
A Strange Idea.
II has seemed rather strange to the
ordinary observer that men from the
far west should vote fer the conc rate
OF postage. They did So when they
voted 10 make the rate on first class
postage . cents in cities. while 1t Is
3 cents IN country districts, and again
when they voted to increase SO large.
If the rates M second class mail. The
SO called drop letter rate in cities is of
no benefit 70 the country people or TO
the people In small towns, but means
a vast difference to the big business
and residents of cities. The O II rate
on second class mail means that the
people of the far zones will pay more
for their papers and periodicals or 90
without them. So 1t is rather curious
that men from the west should vote as
they did on these items IN the revenue
hill.
Two Speakers Didn't Know.
Former Speaker Cannon speaking in
the interest of economy one day told
the house that the government owned a
large number of buildings on land ne
quired for new public buildings, but
was not using them, IN the contrary,
was renting other buildings.
Speaker Clark interrupted to ask why
IA certain valuable tract of land that
had been bought when Cannon was
speaker had not been utilized. "Why
10 they not build on lt?" asked the
present speaker.
search me-" responded the former
speaker.
And Clark pursued his inquiries fur
Their showing that the government own
ed plenty of land and yet did hot put
up buildings. And no one was able 10
cell why.
Hamilton Knew.
The subject OF ~cottonseed mixed with
flour came up for considerable discus
sion in the house. Congressman Young
of Texas told n lot about the use of
c%ottonseed for food and said:
"Two-thirds of the weight in cotton.