New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-26

Is the effect mischievous, but their or
canned machinery is a source of great
ano unnecessary expense to the people
OF this country.
we need to reduce our cost of gov
eminent as one means toward reduc-
me only remedy. 1t may be difficult to
indicate any particular remedy to
achleve this much desired result but
certainly anything that exacts an un-
uSual money demand for government
is calculated to raise the cost of the
NECESSITIES of life.
w nat we need is to have the govern
ment stop its extravaganza as an eX-
ample to individual thrift. Just now
we need to practice economy in all
things This may sound like mockcrv
10 the man or woman whose all is con-
sumed IN the struggle for existence
but ITS application is 10 those who are
eNpending unnecessarily, for their
waste is the cause of want to those
VINO have not enough.
Republican Pledges Kept
when the Republican Congress
elected in 1918 came into control of
the Legislative branch Of the govern
ment it did SO on a pledge to reduce
9"e cost OF government and to stop
extravaganza and waste. That pledge
mas been splendidly kept, and this,
too. in the face of determined and per-
ssistent efforts by the party in power
IN the administrative branch of gov
eminent to maintain its saturnalia Of
eXtravag ance.
The Republicans of the 66th Con-
gress passed the eight supply bills be-
low the amount they had carried, as
prepared and presented by the former
democratic Congress. This saving ag-
gregated nearly a billion dollars. in
addition, the Republican Seth Con-
gress passed no new public building
! bills, nor has there been any sort Of
pork barrel legislation.
Notwithstanding we were assured
under the League of Nations that we
were to be spared from war, the Adj
mlnlstration's estimates for national
defense, including army and navy
tortlfcations, totaled 81 ,74S,35S. 6O4 so.
The. sum was cut in two DESPITE the
uny1eldlng attitude of the Secretaries
of War and the Navy. We believe in an
adequate navy and for an army of
ieasonable proportions. but we shall
insist that these establishments shall
be economically administered.
IT the Administration had been as
soilcltous in preparing for the in
evitable conflict in the first years of
the war, we would have been spared
large part Of the efforts to prepare
for the conflict after the declaration
of war in April, 1917. No explanation
ever may be made, because the Adj
mlnlstration knew we could not escape
involvement.
That neglect was premeditated, and
the American people who are now
forced to meet the Overwhelming costs
OF that neglect have a just reason to
mold the Administration to account for
the resultant cost, which staggers
imagination and imposes burdens that
must extend to generations vet to
come
No Thought of Aloofness
"The Democratic party came into
| power eight years ago upon the prom
Use to reduce the high cost of living.
Well, l submit they haven't succeeded
every we'll. However, extraordinary
conditions have contributed to adj
vance prices and profteering has
added its ;rritations. Some people have
locked to Congress for remedies ia
help the situation. Congress carefully
considered all possible means and ap-
piled the one available remedv-the
reduction Of expenditures. 1t did more
however; it sought to repeal the war
time measures, that the government
might once more function as the franz
ers planned.
There is another thought which is
suggested by our neighborly relation
and common interest. Our lands are
adjoining, GUY ambitions are alike
Let us maze the application in the
wider sphere Nobody mas a thought
of American aloofness to the world
nobody would tolerate the thought of
American failure to make full con-
tributior to world progress. main
tanned peace and preserved concord.
But. frankly, doesn't our sphere
I tor the greater and more helpful in
fluonce lie in our natural partnership
on the Western Continent, in the pan
American comfy, much dreamed about
hut SO little realized? Here ought tc
be mutual trade interests, mutual
friendship, mutual helpfulness, not in
isolation from the remainder of the
world, but in the frank spirit OF con
tlguous cooperation.
ut would be better to cultivate
waiting opportunities on friendly soil
in the New World than chase a phan-
tom amid the envies and rivalries OF
the Old"