The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-05-01

~ r. 49, IN ~ 4 ~ IL ~
NJ .T Il same department, a its eftcrt
70 nationalist the railroads, wasted
81, 125, 090, 900 IL the operation there.
of, for most Of which the present Con-
gress IS called upon 10 appropriate.
"The same branch has on hand, un
der the control OF the Secretary or
War, 81 600 ,Gan, 600 worth Of various
materials bought for war purposes
much OF which Ii unprotected and rot
ting-which II refuses to put upon the
market and Sell, although the market
price Of some OF 1t is now more than
twice what it was at the time It was
bought. A sale of this property
would do much to reduce the present
high cost Of living, about which the
Democratic press has had much to say.
Only the feeble-minded or demagogue
would even suggest that the present
Congress has anything to do with the
high cost OF living No well Informed
man OF either political party has ever
suggested the remedy for the high cost
Of living Ia in Congress. Congress Is
not grand jury; 1t is not a prosecut-
ing attorney; 1t is not law-enforcins
body, and there are adequate laws
upon the statute books for the purpose
OF prosecuting profiteers. Have We
heard of any convictions! Congress
las appropriated millions OF dollars at
the request of the Department OF JUS
tice, to reduce the high cost OF living.
but no results have obtained.
.aThe same branch, during the war,
contracted for $4,000 saddles and II
000, 900 sets of harness, yet 1t had only
391 900 horses for army purposes. It
would have taken 100000 more hides
THAI the entire take.of in the United
States to have filled the orders. More
than 1O0,O00,000 people would have
been left without leather for any pur
pose, except by Importation.
"The same branch spent $S1S,OO0, 1000
In the construction Of cantonments,
camps. etc, during the war, and yet al
lowed our soldiers to die in those
camps for lack OF proper heat ana
proper care. Enough time and money
we're wasted in the construction or
those camps to build others equally
as large and good.
1.-THE same branch bought 10000 mo
tor vehicles after the armistice was
signed at a cost OF $500, 000, 900, ship.
ned 1000 of them to France after that
date to an army, after the greater part
of that army had been brought home
and demobilized, and practically every
dollar expended in the transaction was
wasted.
The same branch, after the arms
tice spent s7,O00,0O0 in the construc
ton of buildings at Hampton Roads,
upon land to which the government
did not have scintilla of title, by pur
chase or otherwise, all Of which was
wasted.
"The same branch kept great
army of American boys along the
Rhine for months after the armistice
at a cost of 0O,OO0,000 day. 1t now
has $1,000 American boys there at a
cost of 100000 day. All OF them
ought to have been ut home more than
year ago.
1.-The same branch kept 5000 Ameri
can boys starving, freezing and tignt
ing people in Russia, against wnom
no war was ever declared by that
two years. at a cost OF 100000 day.
"The last Democratic Congress ap-
propriated in two years, 1928. the
stupendous sum Of $46,000,000,0 600.
This is many billion dollars more mon
ey than was appropriated by all Con
crosses for all purposes from the foun.
dation of the government up until the
time Woodrow Wilson first became
President, although during that period
of, time the country had fought three
wars with foreign powers, many IN
dian wars, and had gone through Tour
years of Civil war.
ayes, ; Republican Congress Is ap-
proprfating an immense amount or
money. The appropriations are re-
uuired by the foolhardy acts, the silly
contracts, the waste, and the extraVa'
CANT manner in which the Democratic
executive branch Of the government
handles the public's business. 1t Is
easy to make the statement that Re
publican Congress to spending SlS,-
100000 per day, but what facts 40
those who make it give the public
such expenditures?
"lf the country had Democratic
Congress instead OF a Republican con.
gress it would pay next year-because
these amounts were demanded by the
Democratic executive branch OF the
eo aFor army purposes, S2,oOO,coo IN
stead of $376,OO0,000. ..o 49,.
"For naval purposes, $647,00o, 900
instead of $425,000, 900. aoo
"For Notifications, $117000,00O In.
stead Of $1S,000,000
"For diplomatic and consular ser
vice, s11, 00O,O instead Of 5000, 900.
"For agricultural purposes, $39,OOo,-
900 instead of $32,000.00O.
"For Indian affairs, $170o0,0OO In
stead Of S13000.000.
"For legislative, executive and judi
cial purposes, $122,OO0,OOO instead or
sThese bills have already passed the
House of Representatives, and have
been reduced below the estimates In
the amounts herein indicated. This
is the work of one branch of Repub.
lican Congress, and it has not finished
its mark yet"