Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-06-30

Es0>~9~oS
son administration In the expenditure
Of funds wrung from the people by
every form of taxation a Democratic
Congress was able to devise. has Al
last aroused even Democratic mem
bers Of both Houses Of Congress
The recent protest OF Senate,
Pomerene Of Ohio. against the
wastefulness of the railroad admin
istration after pretensicns Of econ
omy, has been followed by vehement
denunciaticn Of the War Department
by Representative Quin. Democrat. OF
Mississippi. for expenditure Of $ls.-
000. 600 for purchase of land and i'm
rrovement thereof for a rice range,
since the armistice was signed
FROM an extreme racihst early in tie
war, Secretary Baker has become an
enthusiast for preparedness since the
var was brought to a close. II
there is any plan to spend money for
military purposes. the chances are
that Baker Will be for It. crisicis:ng
tie expenditure Of this $4,000. 900.
Mr.. Quin said:
Before the committee in January
CT February the assistant secretary OF
var, Mr.. Croweli- appeared on this
very item. He had no; bought this
land. He came before tina. COM
n!it,ee and sought advice. We did
70; think he had authority after the
arnlissiee TO go ahead and buy this
land Why. 10000 acres Of land in
Georgia has been purchased since
tie a-mistice was signed. even after
January and February OF this year,
-sIs- That is the reason the mill
tary committee has seen proper to
put On this bill this mandatory pro-
vision 10 prevent any OF the officials
q the War Department from going
out helter-skelter and spending the
peoples money. Thirteen million
dollars On this one projec, after the
armis;ice' tApplause> The govern
Ulent ough; 10 live up TO its con-
tracts. but we can ret afford TO let
every Tom, Dick and Harry con-
necteo with the War Department.
take $4,000 zoe Of the peoples money
after the war is over. three or four
months after the armis,ice is signed.
after coming before the committee on
military affairs and limiting that
they did not think they had author
'ty. out suggesting tina, they had, and
buy lands and erect buildings.
For many years the government.
has owned $4,000 acres of land at
Fort Sill, Okla. which had been
vsed by TIE War Department, for
target practice, rife ranges. and 50
forth. Why did they abandon this
al the close of the war and arrange
for this vast expenditure down in
Georgia:
I do not care if il was in my dis
'racs, I would be agains, It 90
not believe the taxpayers of this
government, whether in my section
c. anywhere else. would think OF al
lowing the officials CT this govern
ment to go here II time OF peace,
after the war is over. and buy land
and put Up buildings when they are
already hurdened TO the limit in or
Ger 10 raise money TO carry out the
legitimate expenses OF this war.
There is no mistake in the
binds ct the American people a.
This time. Do not think for a min
Cte that the American people in any
section Of it are going &c favor such
Useless expenditures as this. The
taxpayers OF this country wan. the
Congress Of the United States to
eurtail the expenses Of the govern
trent as low as they can be instead
OF allowing unnecessary expendi-
lures 10 be carried on. as We know
lave been done in mary instances
The facts are IN plain black and
White as TO not only the purpose Of
these expenditures bu; as to the time
/. was done. They have
done this plainly since the armistce
las been signed. and DO not believe
this Congress ought to vote 70 sus-
tain il -