Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1931-12-25
Mr.. Hoover's Expensive Luxury"

Chairman Fess in his keynote speech at
the recent session of the Republican Ma
tional Committee explained that 1t was
the duty of the organization TO place Mr.
Hoover in the minds of the public where his
stupendous efforts and brilliant leadership
Justify II this is done. said Mr.. Fess'
there will be no doubt about The results Of
the contest next November"
II would seem that the public ought to be
fairly well informed about Mr.. Hoover's
capacity for leadership after having watchsd
his performance as President for nearly
three years. during which time he has had
a large majority Of his own party in both
houses Of Congress. and therefore had the
opportunity to demonstrate to the fullest
extent his capacity and that OF his party
TO govern wisely. well and economically.
The peoples estimate of this perform
ance has been rather stIikinely illustrated
by the circumstance that in all OF the
elections since 1928 the verdict has been
AGAINST the administration and fair index
Of this is the evaporation Of the Senate
majority almost to the vanishing point
and the substitution for the Republican
majority of 1903 in the House OF an actual
Democratic majority.
It is no light task Mr.. Fess sets his col
leases to convince the people Of the United
States that they are all wrong as to Nj.
Hoover's genius and efficiency as the helms
man Of the Ship Of State.
Ii is rather noticeable that in explaining
that the Republicans are not responsible for
the Treasurys greatest peace-time deficit
in the country's history. and their admira-
ton for the Presidents plans for balancing
the budget. that they carefully ignore the
fact that the Republicans have been In COM
plete control Of all the government financing
for the past ten years. They talk lot about
the necessity for economy and Mr.. Hoover
MESSAGES that bristle with expostulation
aaainst extravagance and vociferate the
demand for retrenchment. And yet under
this Republican control the expenses Of the
government have been increased to the
extent Of about three billion dollars year
In the two years Of Harding the appro-
priations were $7.647.000,000. In the
two years divided between Harding and
Coolidge they mounted to $40.000.00O
more and Coolidee's next two years sci
them up another billion. CoOlidee's CLOSING
years taxed the people an additions
$500. 900 900. and Hoovef's first biennia
period lifted them billioL dollars more
So the government expenses in the Rsca
years Of I93O-3i amounted to the eranC
total Of Sl0.249.Si9,2i5.
Perhaps Il would be fairer to the Presi
dent TO cite the Department Of Commerc'
figures, over which department he helC
exclusive dominion during all this perioC
until his advent 10 the White House. rsthe
than adduce the figures OF the administra
lions Of which he was a member. WheT
Mr.. Hoover took the Commerce Department
IL was running along on an appropriation
of approximately S20.000.O0O a year
When Mr.. Hoover leftit the annual cost wal
apotoximately $40.000.00O a year. and
incidental to this he had built for lis
accommodation sl7.5O0.O00 palace. three
blocks long. $50 feet longer than the
CapitoI. and seven stories high The bust
ness world is the best judge Of whether
N.Aas been served commensurately with
aOOOO.O 900 year additional expen-
n-te.
rhe treasury deficit means that the
Jury is paying out more than its income.
hps the present shortage Is not alto
Ier the fault Of the lavish expenditures
, The last three Republican administra-
lions. but il is certain that 1t would be
Of vastly less consequence had there been
less talk u ECONOMY during these admins
-o,iaos and more Of the real thi"e
pD1 eli The Grey