The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1921-10-14

GOVERNMENT EXPENSE IN 1915
sIO-UNDER REPUBLICAN cox.
TROL TODAY $50.
Special News Correspondent.

OpCCidl INGN0 wi pDObNNhAs
Washington, d. c., Sept 24--Presl-
dent Harding declares that the pres
ent orgy of governmental extraya-
gance is the child of the Democrat
and seeks to lay IT on the doorstep OF
the Democratic party II might be
well to briefly review few of the
facts that are familiar to all---they
tell their own story.
In 1859 the expenditures OF the
government amounted to 81 per per-
son: from that time until 1916 there
elapsed Sc years; during 5 OF which
the Democrats controlled al.
branches of the Government at tine
same time. During the remainder OF
the time the Republicans were in a
position to make legislation or pre-
vent it. Expenditures grew so rapidly
in that period that by 1918 the cost
was $40 per capita. The 51st Congress
(1SS9-90) Republican in both
branches, was so extravagant that Il
was called the billion dollar Con
gress and was succeeded by Demo-
cratic House, though the Senate re
manned Republican.
In 1917 the war began and the bills
had to be paid; that Congress was 80
close that the Democrats controlled
the Senate by narrow margin and IN
the House neither party had a ma
jority; the Democrats elected Champ
Clark Speaker by reason Of HIS SCI
curing four out of five independent
votes, and BY reason OF the fact that
the Republicans did not make a genu
inc fight for control; the war was
about to begin and they shrunk from
responsibility. There was not a day
during that Congress that the Repub-
licans could not nave defeated n
wasteful or extravagant appropria-
tion but they We'd with the Demo
Gratis in supporting the wax approprl-
ations and made speeches pointing
out the necessity Of the expenditures
proposed, then in the campaign of
1918 asked re-election on the grounG
that they had co-operated with the
Democrats In every measure to WIZ
the war. They cited TO the votes on
various measures, some OF which
give here:
On Liberty Bond Bill; Denis. 1911
Reps. 1876. Nays 0 page 600 Cong.
Record, April Il. 1877.
On Draft Law. with It's great ex.
pense Dems. 1911. Reps. 20i; Nays,
Denis. ii, Reps. s, Cong Record, page
1877, April Is, 1917
On the WAR Revenue Act, Dems.
2O6, Reps 1871 Cong. Record. mage
2S1S. May %, 1917
Law taking over railroad control,
Denis. $50, Reps. 1853; Nays, Dems ?.
Reps. 4, Record, page 1885, Feb. rs,
1918.
To create War Finance Corporation.
nems. 1872 Reps 49, Nays. Reps 2,
Record. page 3S42, March q, 1918
Purchase of Nitrate Plants. Dems.
1G5, Reps. 149.
The Second Draft-another big ex-
pense; Denis, 165, Reps. l7O. Nays.
Dems. J. Socialist /, Record. page
9506, Aug. "a, 1918,
Revenue Act including Excess Prof
its Tax and Surtax on Incomes, Deems.
177 Reps. 1867, Soc. l, Nays 0, Record
page l0,54S, Sept 20, 1918.
Lastly, the Victory Loan. Denis. 40,
Reps. 1G7, Soc. j, Nays o.
IL these were not necessary and pa
triotic expenditures, why did the he-
publlcans support them2 II they
were wasteful and extravagant, why
did they not oppose them? That was
the last Congress that could be called
Democratic Just before the Armis-
tice, in November 1918, the Republ-
cans elected House and Senate. The
new Congress met May 10. 1919. The
Republicans have had absolute con
troll Of expenditures from u al day I'M
I'll this; they made the appropriations
for the last fiscal year and for the
present one. Instead OF reducing ex-
penses, they have increased them. We
have but two necessary and legitimate
expenses now that we did not have Ia
1916; they are these Interest on war
bonds and the expense OF caring fOl
our disabled soldiers. Taxes have not
been reduced.
Az stated In the beginning OF this
article, the per capita expense Of GOV
eminent in 1916 was $40 Now il IS
$50. The increase OF SIS in Sc yearE,
from 1859 TO 1916, Is not readily ex-
planned on good grounds, but Il was
as slow as a snail compared with the
lightning like leap Of $40 between
1916 and 1921
And is the President giving mucn
personal aid toward economy, though
he wrongly charges the Democrats
with extravaganza? He recently
wrote to the Senate endorsing the
paying of salaries Of $4,000 each to
four assistants TO the general coun-
sci Of the Shipping Board. One OF
these attorneys. on examination in
the hearings on the Deficiency Bill,
admitted that he had never made
more than one-tenth of the sum in 4
single year practicing law
IL the above statements are true,
and they are easily verified. the child
is on the doorstep Of the Republican
party. =" @WWIga