The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-11-18
FRIpAY EvEN7NG, NOVEMBER Is. 1871.
REPUBLICAN STEWARDSHIP
HERE has been much partisan pickering

HERE has been much partisan pickering con-
corning the amount Of estimates for federal ex-
ptnses, the amount Of appropriations made, etc. but
the real test Of the Republican record will be deter
mined by the treasury reports showing actual cash
spent. There can be no camouflagins thai. AS every
body knows, the Federal fiscal year ends June 80.
-.The Democrats were in full charge Of Expenditures up
March 4, 1921, OF for eight months Of the year
ended June 30, 1921. The Democrats had not only
tpent the money for eight months Of the year but they
had made contracts and commitments covering the
whole year. The Republicans, therefore, cannot be
held accountable for any Of the expenditures for that
Z year. But for The year beginning July !, 1921, and
ending June 30, 1922, the Republicans will be a-
eUuntable, except that. Of course, they cannot avoid
paying indebtedness incurred by the previous admin
istration.
A national debt is binding regardless of the political
party that incurred it. We have, for instance, ar an
flal interest charge of approximately one billion dol
lars which the nation must pay for a number Of years
to come. whichever party is in power. The amount
of this payment is something that the Republican party
cannot be held accountable for, for it was the Demo
cratic party that managed the business Of the war. The
fighting in Europe was non-partlsan. but the letting OF
contracts. the adoption of fiscal policies. the purchase
Of supplies, the erection Of buildings, the transportation
Of troops. etc, were kept closely under the contro! Of
partisan Democrats or Wilsonites Of some other party
af~iliasion. The payment Of debt or the interest on
the debt. or the payment of obligations left over from
the Wilson regime. cannot be charged 10 the present
Administration. That is so plain a proposition. that
no one will dispute ii.
What the country can. should, and will hold the
Republican party responsible for is The management
of the nations business 90 fa- as It relates to normal
Administrative affairs. Back 10 normal" was one Of
the Republican CAMPAIGN cries, and the party can PRO
perly be keld responsible for the speed with which il
aecomplishes that desirable result. No ono could ex-
pect or did expect, that the ration would be brought
back to normal in a day or a month or a year. II
would be th,c utmos. folly 10 disband every var
agency instantly, leaving many records in a tangled
mess. That IS what some Democratic bureaus and
Commissions would like. for then it would be imPO,-
sible ever to check up on their management Of sffAip
or to ascertain how much money they spent or how
they spent it. To dump the records in storage boxes
with no system Of filing, would be an encouragement
TO other administrations TO conduct business in the same
grossly wastcfuI and inefficient manner thai the Demo-
erAs conducted it for eight years. One Of the bes,
guarantees Of good management in The future is t.:
demonstration that no political party can waste gov
Fernment funds and go uncxoosed and unpublished.
The fiscal year 1921-22 will end next June. 30,
four months before the Congressional elections. There