Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-10-30

ministration announced placidly and
mistakenly to be psychological de-
pression--and only the world needs OF
a world war saved us from economic
disaster at that time.
'"They went into Office with pledge
to establish governmental economy
| and they broke faith with an exhibit
ton of the most profigate and in
excusah'e waste of public funds which
the world has ever known.
/ Il do not refer to the expenditures
necessitated by the war. We do not
tesrudge a cent of the money proper
ly spent to aid in winning the war
We recognize that in this great strug-
gle it was not always possible to JUS
tify all expenditures or to measure
reeds and apportion funds wisely.
Government Cost Leaps.
But it is fact that from the very
moment the present administration
took the reins of power the cost of
government began to increase by
leaps and bounds. And the cost of
living went up step by step. and leap
ty leap. in company and in sympathy
and in the face Of that psychological
depression to which l have adverted.
I'm 1912, under a republican admin
istration. the total expenditures of
the government totaled 1854 1000. 900.
In 1916 they had risen to $742.000.0 900.
and in a time of practical, if not tech
nioal. peace-we find this administra-
ton asking for appropriations for the
current year of 1924 100000. That
enormous. Unprecedented sum would
have been expended if republican
Congress had not scaled down the esti-
mates. The present administration
can make no promise to reduce the
cost of government in the coming
year if continued in power.
I'm 1912 they demanded in their
platform a reduction in the number
of government Office holders. I be-
lieve that demand was justified. The
republican administration. then in
power. had started an investigation
with a view to bringing about this
reform, and had published the partial
result of that inquiry. and it's inten-
ton to act upon 1t.
Continually Add to List.
THE new party government found
$500 civil service employees on the
rolls of the government. Instead of
reducing the number from the very
start there was a continuous addition
to the civil list
THE last estimate Of the Civil Serv-
ice Commission indicates that the
number ts approximately 657 900 and
the best Information is that the esti-
mate is more than 100, 900 short of the
actual number, and takes no account
of the almost limitless boards. COM
missions and specialists and faddist
officials.
II want to be fair. OF course our
world-war machine created the need
for more help in nearly all depart
ments. but since the war the civil
list has not shrunk even approxi-
mately to peace basis. The admin
incapable of getting back to a peace
time basis of organization, admins
ration and expenditure
This not only indicates an unnec-
essary expenditure of public funds,
but it takes out of the ranks of pro-
necessary employe and adds to the
cost of living.
THE amount asked for the execu-
tive departments of the government
this year means tax of $50 for
every man. woman-and child in the
country-approxima $3.50 for ev-
cry family of five
mo one but the pauper escapes
paying his share in one way or an
other.
These are home issues. which af-
feet every one and which need no
foreign interpretations. They con-
Germ you. each and all. my country
men. as vitality as tomorrows break
fast. or the winter coal, or the price
of shoes and clothing. They are. in
fact, a part of the cost of each of
these items of the bill of existence
in this land of ours.
Take up the question of govern
ment in Any phase and we find upon
the part of this administration the
same incapacity or ineptitude. the
same want of foresight. the same lack
of practical comprehension of BUSH
ism may be used in the formulation
Of policies. but the application OF
policies and their transportation into
actions is business and business is a
matter of systematic administration.
War Entry Inevitable.
You know. beyond all question.
that four years ago the public dis
content with the conduct of affairs
was already so great that the party
in power would have been driven out
of office except for the appealing
statement that the President had
kept us out of war And yet at
that very time the administration
knew definitely. absolutely that our
entry into the war was inevitable.
yet with that knowledge. concealed
from the people. withheld from Con-
gress, the campaign of false pretense
was continued. No steps were taken
to prepare for our entry. no hint of
our necessities given to those who
must in the end supply them.
"If the administration had been
plunged into the war as Belgium was;
if there had been a conspiracy. in