Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-05-06
(The Atlanta Journal News Bureau)
623 Riggs Building.
ny THEODORE TILLER

By Eh6Oo01&6 AAoo11S
WASHINGTON, May 4.-Rising to
his full six feet in height and strok-
ing meditatively the gray toupee
in winter time, Senator Charles S.
Thomas, of Colorado, announced to
the senate that he intended Ito adj
dress myself briefly to the taxpayers
of the United States"
A senate engaged in voting hun
dreds of millions = in appropriation
bills paused long enough to remem-
Der that there was a class in the
United States known as taXpayersI,1
just plain ultimate consumers. fel-
lows who wonder why everything
from baby shoes to AUTOMOBILES ana
potatoes keep going up In price.
Then Senator Thomas commented
not briefly, as announced, but to the
extent of several thousand words.
He spoke of chronic absentee1sm In
the senate, the present orgy OF spend
ing the consideration of great ap-
preparation bills with less than a
score of ninety-six senator's present,
the frequent inability to get
quorum and the imperative need that
taxpayers wake up and inquire where
all the money the government Is
spending is coming from and where
it is going.
Senator Thomas asserts that al
HlOSI every CldSS CASCPI CiO pOOA
old taxpayer is organized and rep
resented in. the Hobbies Of the capitol
building. From Egyptians to peace
leagues and militaristic leagues, and
from plumb planners to prohibition
lists, the Colorado senator asserts
here, and most Of them have eyes
upon the United States treasury and
it's vaults.
Governments Financial Predicament
Then Senator Thomas, Demo
cratic member of the senate finance
committee, presented a rather alarm
ing survey of the present financial
predicament of the government. In
creased federal pensions, soldier
bonus legislation, postwar expenses
and eXtravaganc and the mount
ing interest obligations and national
debt of the United States were con-
sidered in turn and the taxpayer was
Unless he does, Senator Thomas says,
we are in for century of taXpay
ing, frugality and stooped-shoulders
Pending bills for increases in pen
sion, soldier bonus legislation, civil
service retirement and the running
ments: Senator Thomas shows, make
it difficult to estimate now how far
finances next year: A modest esti-
mate, he said, is that we face the
approach of the next fiscal year with
Despite efforts of frugal members
Of congress to cut down here and
there, Senator Thomas said, "the
spirit OF extravaganza on the one
hand and of indifference to the pub
lie fiscal conditions upon the other
was never more apparent in legisla-
ton than at present."
Claims of cuts in the estimates,
Senator Thomas averred, but tenn
porarily divert attention and meet
the situation: These claims are to be
OFFSET of later j.. BY the presentation and
bills, and the huge totals eventually
will pile up just the same.
Scores Senator'S Indifference
Regarding Indifference to fiscal
conditions, Senator Thomas said:
The fact is strikingly illustrated
the final vote on the peace treaty
on March 10, from which date, with
one or two exceptions, two roll calls
followed by instructions to the SER
geant-at-arms to request the pres
ence of absent senators have been
necessary to secure quorums for the
transaction of public business. Alb
senteeism has synchronized with the
consideration of great appropriation
oliiS literally carrying hundreds of
mlll1ons, to which so little attention
is paid that quorum calls are avoided
lest they result only in needless de-
lay;
sion rates passed the senate. by
vote not TO exceed twelve for and
less than half that number against
it. The bill adds $65,OOO,OO0 to the
nat1on's permanent annual disburse-
ment. During consideration the at
tendance seldom exceeds twelve SEN
ators. Its Importance was apparent
ly too. trif1ing to arouse even a Ian
guild interest.
Yet a few of us believe the bill
TO nave been an indefensible one. 1t
estapllshes horizontal pension in
crease without reference to the in
dlVldual needs of the beneficiaries
and in disregard of the fact thai
soldiers homes, supported by public
eaAatlon, nave literally thousands of
empty beds and more than enough
Tor all veterans needing the hospi-
tallty OF their ample and generous
accommodations. -"
but between the alternative of
soo,9O0,O0O of public money and the
ftb1s us Of the Grand Army of
lore the election, the line of least
resistance was obvious. The taxnaver
seems easily placated by mutual 10
uuncIdtlonS Of party eXtrava canoe.
the resentment Of the disappointed
Pensioner is not to be so easily Al
=, Senator Thomas said estimates of
me governmental needs for the next
nscad year a range from $4,000, 900. 900
to $4,000, 100000. The smaller lint
ne said, is beyond the probable puhjic
revenue, with prospects of further
deficiencies! 'h0i