Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-07-04
Congressional.
kEpoRT OF THE Minority or THE Co51sIIr
TEE o.: RErRENcHNIENr.
(Cv!ffiHucd)

THE EXPENDITURES OF TIE EXEC UrTYE
DRANCH TIE GOVERNMENT
1t has already been observed that this head en-
braced for the year 1926, expenditure OF $ 49,
T76 07-beng about one iItteth part OF the aggrc-
gate expenditure OF the Government. 1t consists
oil two parts first, salaries and cOmpcnsatiouS
tab!ishcd by law, including the salaries OF the Pre-
sident, Vice President, Heads OF Departments, and
the subordinate officers oil Tie Departments, down
TO the messengers oi the Offices. The payments
thus fixed by law, and which can neither be eX-
cceded nor diminished, amount 10 more than four
hundred thousand dollars The residue, say for the
wear 1926, about $4,000 dollars IS for what are
termed contingent expenses, the nature OF which
will require but one word Q! explanation. There
is no uncertainty cOntingc to The naCessi-
~ of these expenses ioi tie public service. The
Departments must he provided with fuel, slatlone-
~, furniture, books, and whatever else is wanted
iof the business Of the Nation. They are uncer-
tain and contingent only 10 the amount, and be-
cause the respective items cannot be estimated,
with perfect precision, in advance. The great
bulk Of them IS however, absolutely indispensable.
a small portion may possibly be liable 10 some off
ference OF opinion in the Judgment OF different men,
according to the views they inclined by tenn
permanent or habit TO take. 1t would be very
large allowance TO suppose that one-tcnth part
could he subject to debate question, with
those whose notions Oh such points are most rigid.
But, for the present purpose let il be assumed that
one tenth part is debNedble. Then the case Will
stand thus:
The total expenditure in the
year 1926, debt included,
being s2i. TO-. 500 le
The expenses Of ibc Exccu-
tive Department., including
the Staff of the Army, arc
l5Otb, or lso.77G o.
The expenses termed contin-
gent are hot quite I-Gti
part of that sum, or, say $4,000 CO
And OF these contingencies
j. supposed for tic present.
that there may be I-i0h
subject TO dispute, rs before
stated 5000 90
Which latter sum may be considered as furnish
Ing the field Of Ierenchmcnt.
Then, the expenses OF the Executive Depart
Inent being l-JOth Of the whole expenditure, and
the contingent expenses l-Gth Of the expenses Of
the In eruiive Departments, they are i-@OOu part
Of the whole; dndihe dcbatcable part of the con,
tingent expenses being put -lOtn part II amounts
10 bur 9th of 81 lh part, or 3OOOti part Of the
whole expenditure hatlstO say, l-"Oih part Of
one per cent.
This statement is made simply tot the purpose Of
correcting any vague and erroneous notions tbat
may prevail upon he subject Of this branch Of ex-
penditurc aud 10 slew how very Incorrect must
he the opinion that any serious retrenchmcOt
IN il is required or pracucdOIe or that any lorfu
dable extravaganza Of dbu,e can there prevail
From the attention witch has Of late been bestOw-
Ell upon Ibis subject one might be led to conclude
fhlt the Treasury was supposed 10 be grieyousy
birthened by 10, aud That some senHble fehci
might be had by reduction at that point. And yet
il appears, when examined, 10 be 50 minute, as
6pon the largest allowance, not TO exceed l-5Oth
part of one per cent. II is exactly the same as
Tie annual as vcudUrr Of one dollar Is TO an md
yidual whose whole eXpcnces amount TO three
thousand dollars year II, instead Of al abundant
rsvenle, untouched resources, freedom ironi tax
y ion, an adequate provision for the rapid eIin iou
Ut The public debt and state Of progressive pros
p1iiy--which happily Is our actual condiuon-the
revenue were inadequate, the debt stationary or
Increasing, and The public burthens heavy, itmusl
be admitted that a reduction Of expenditure wsulc
ls necessary But what reduction could be ci-
iscted within the limits Of I.30h ofcne per cent
or i.3O00tb part Of the wholc2 Iu such circum-
stances, aud wi,h such views, thc utmost saving
that CO '3 ~ ,H.clrH ,uil rot pay the expense