The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-04-24
THE FEDERAL SPENDING TUSSLE

The absolute disregard of sound princi-
pies and policies shown by Congress and
the President in Incorporating and dis
sipating the money of the people of the
United States is unbelievable. Contemplate
ing the conditions prevailing in Washing
ton simply floors any citizen with common
sense and prudent judgment 1t is impos-
sible to understand how public officials and
representatives of the people will attempt
to Justify the record that has been made in
Washington and is now being added to
daily.
1t is true the President has made ges-
ture toward economy, and upon careful ex-
animation it appears to be no more than a
gesture. His proposal as picked to pieces
by keen analysts of public affairs IS far
from reassuring and satisfying Even the
little proposed by the Presidents however,
is disapproved by the spenders' block IN
Congress.
Both Congress and the President are re-
sponsible for the governments financial
condition. Every time Roosevelt has asked
for it Congress has handed him blank
check, regardless of the fact that he might
fill it out for millions or billions. OF course
if Congress had not pursued this course,
giving the President almost unlimited
power and discretion in the spending, the
chief executive would not have been in po-
sition to spend; so, in the final analysis,
Congress must shoulder the responsibility
At this time it is generally known among
those persons who keep Informed as to
what is happening in Washington, that the
President and some members of Congress
are disturbed by developments on the
spending front A majority of congress
men, however, are probably still deter
mined to get more and bigger appropria-
tions for every purpose which can be
thought of or devised as an excuse for
spending.
Dozens of cases supporting this belief
are of record For example there is the
congressional purpose to appropriate three
or four million dollars to erect memorial
to Thomas Jefferson If the congressional
block that is equipped with the memorial
wheels can have its way the Jefferson
memorial probably will be only one of a
number of such spending schemes.
Many of the spending proposals are
smaller as to cost than the Jefferson memo
rial, but others are many times as costly
For example, it is said that the President
approves the revived and persistent efforts
in certain quarters to build the Florida
canal. The most conservative estimates OF
the cost of this project place the figures a
around two hundred million dollars.
Boake Carter has directed public atten
ton to most interesting fact in connec'
ton with the canal proposal. He has point
ed out that in order to get proper depth OF
water in this channel, if it is constructed
it will be necessary to extend the canal 9
distance of % miles into the open water or
the Gulf end. This would be made neces
sary by shallow water in the Gulf. 1t is q
miles from the shore to point in the Cub
where the water is the depth of the canal
Carter says that the maintenance of thu!
open channel % miles long will cost tht
government millions of dollars every year
if the canal is constructed.
He bases this conclusion on the fact tina
channel two miles long at Tampa, on'
mile of which is in open water, costs more
than 100000 annually to keep open, clea
and navigable.
Thus we have conflicting evidence as t
the Presidents sincerity in proposing