Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-09-28
SEEKS TO LAY
CHILD AT FEET
OF DEMOCRATS
Harding Charge in U. S.
Spending Orgy Brings
RetOrt.
BY WALLACE BAssFORD.

BY WALLACE BAsSFORD.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 28-President
Harding declares that the present orgy OF
governmental extravag ance is the child
of the Democrat and seeks to lay it on
the doorstep Of the Democratic party. 1t
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 Govern
ment amounted to 81 per person; from
that time until 1916 there elapsed Do
years; during of which the Democrats
controlled all branches of the Govern
ment at the same time. During the re-
mainder 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 1916 the cost was
$40 per~caPita. The 51st Congress (1SS9-I
G0) Republican in both branches, was 80
extravagant that It was called the bill
lion dollar Congress and was succeeded
by a Democratic House, though the Senate
remained Republican.
WAR BILLS HAD
20 BE PAID.
In 1917 the war began and the bills had
to be paid; that Congress was so close
that the Democrats controlled the Senate
by q narrow margin and in the House
neither party had ma iOrity the Demo-
Gratis elec q Champ Clark speaker by
reason of securing four ont Of FIVE
Independent votes and by reason OF the
fact that the Republicans did not make a
genuine fgbr for control. There was
not a day during that Congress that the
Republicans could not have defeated a
waetcful or eztrava CANT appropriation.
but they We'd with the Democrats in sup
porting the war appropriations aud made
speeches pointing ont the necessity Of the
expenditures proposed, then in the cam
paicn Of 1915 asked reelection on thel
ground that they had cOoperated with
the Democrats in every measure to win
the war. They cited to the votes on vari-f
Gus measures, some OF which 1 give
here:
On Liberty bond bills; Democrats, 1of,
Republicans, 105. Nays o; page 600 Cons
gressional Record, April IA, 1917.
On draft law, with its great expense,
Democrats. 191; Republicans, 201; nays,
Democrats II, Republicans 8, Congress-
slonal Record. page 1857. April ., 1917. +
On war revenue act, Democrats, 200;
Republicans. 191. Congressional Records
page isis. May q. 1917.
Law taking over railroad control. Dem
ocrats, $50; Republicans, 1888; nays, DEM.
oc-ats >, Republicans 4, Record, page
2s35. Eel IS, 1918.
To create War Finance Corporation,
Democrats. 1872; Republicans. 173; nays,
Republicans ., Record, page 3s42, March
y. 1918.
Purchase Of nitrate plants, Democrats,
163; Republicans. 149
The second draft. another big expense,
Democrats. 165; Republicans. ITO; nays,
Democrats ]. Socialists I, Record, page.
9JO6. Aug. -. 1915
Revenue act. including excess profits
tax and surtaN on incomes, Democrats.
IL; Republicans, 1877 Socialists /, nays
0, Record, page 1054S, Sept. 20, 1913.
Lastly. the Victory loan, Democrats,
10; Republicans, 1G7; Socialists. Ii;
nays O.
REPUBLICANS IN
CONTROL SINCE 1919.
II these were not necessary and pa
triotic expenditures. why did the Re-
pubIcaus support them? If they were
wasteful and extravagant, why did they
not oppose them? That was the last
Congress that could be called Democratic.
Just before the armistice, in November,
1918. the Republicans elected House and
Senate The new Congress met May 10,
1919 The Republicans have had abso4
day until this; they made the appropria-
tons for the last fiscal year and for the
present one. Instead Of reducing ex-'
penses. they have increased them. VS.
bave but two necessary and legitimate
expenses now that We did not have in
1916; they are these: Interest on war
bonds and the expense Of caring for our
disabled soldiers. Taxes have not been
reduced.
As stated in the beginning Of this ar
tcle the per capita expense Of the Gov
eminent in 1916 was $40; now it is $50.
The increase of SIS IN ffty-six years,
from 1883 to 1916, is not readily ex-
planned on good grounds, but it was az
slow SIS a snail compared with the light
ming like leap Of $40 between 1915 and
1921.
And is the President giving much per-
sons1 aid toward economy, though he
wrongly charges the Democrats with ex-
travagance? He recently wrote to ths
Senate iudOrsng the paying Of salaries
Of $4,000 each TO four assistants to tho
general counsel Of the Shipping Board
One Of these attorneys, on examination In
the hearings on the deficiency bill, adj
mittcd that he had never made more than
one tenth Of that sum in single gear
practicing law. -
IL the above statements are tTiS, and
they are easily verified, the child is on
the doorstep of the RepublicGn party.