The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-12-13
LAND OF Great WASTE
AMERICA SHOULD TAKE ON
FIT OF ECONOMY
War Left People Legacy of
Stupendous Debt; Senator
Thomas Talks
Especial to Free Press.]

New York, December 5.-"Ours is a land
of waste, and waste is the enemy OF
thrift" said United States Senator
Charles S. Thomas of Colorado in address
sing the Thrift conference of the Associ-
alton of Life Insurance Presidents here
this morning. He spoke on the subject
of Some Present and Postwar Prob
lems"
Some one has said that with our re-
sources the French would have saved
enough since the century began to pay
her own and Britain's war expenses,
continued Senator Thomas. 1.-THE war
has brought us the wisdom and the SIM
plicity of thrift. We should make it a
national virtue. 1t is the best cure for
discomfort, and grows with it's practice.
A thrifty man need make no search for
something to relieve his needs. He has
it. 1t is a fact of the highest significance
that modern socialism discourages thrift.
1t is the foe of disorder virue that be
comes hostage to fortune. Hunger is
a stranger to It, and hunger never breeds
reforms. Hunger breeds riot and blood
she'd"
Turning to the subject of government
al expenditures, Senator Thomas, who is
a member of the senate committee on
finance, said:
Legacy of Big Debt
THE war leaves us the legacy of a
stupendous debt 1t will reach, if it does
not exceed $35. 000, 900 600, or twice rs much
as the combined debt of the allied ma
lions, including Russia, when the war be-
gan. The annual interest ur--1 this stu
pendous sum will be $1,400 600 OOO near
ly twice the net total of the nations an
nual pre- war expenditure. This means a
vastly increased rate and radius of tax
alton. The people must bear the burden:
Ihey will bear it willingly if economy
In public administration anu the applica-
ton of every dollar to the public needs
snail become the policy Of the govern
yIyI1 ,t,-,.
content If the gross extravagances of the
past continue.
I'm 1910, Senator Aldrich declared that
ordinary efficiency in public administra-
6 lion oN would annually save the people $780,
100000. 1t would now save twice that
sum. If the taxpayers of America will
unite in demanding radical revision of
cur public service, a consolidation of dup
Heating bureaus. and the institution of the
budget system in approximations it will
be done. If they will also rigidly super
wise public expenditures, taxation can be
largely reduced. If they fail to do this
our appropriation will keep increasing, for
every demand made upon the treasury is
complied with when political or organized
force is behind it, and everything in these
Gays is organized except the man who
pays the taxes. Moreover. the huge debts
II the nations, however well their revenues
are managed and applied, will always be
fruitful source of disaffection. To those
possessing none of it. yet paying taxes to
meet its fixed requirements. the impulse
toward repudiatiop may ripen into an in
slstent clamor. Once begun, it may spread
IKE the virus of Influenza, from nation to
nation, and from public to private obliga-
lions. Nothing could be more disastrous
TO people than the success of such a
movement. which will inevitably arise
Whatever our policy. It is certain to
materialize if in our financial administra
tlcn we do not at all times amply sound
lrlnclnles to taxation and exercise a wise
and frugal economy in eynendit,,ras
Nothing is more difficult in a repubIic
than this: if public interest is lax or none
existent