Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1838-06-23

speech by coplous citations OF the COM
plants urged against Mr.. Adams Admin
istration, OF favoritism and extravagance;
and then proceeds to show that not only
have Van Buren,, Benton, Buchanan, and
so-forth, failed to fulfil their pledges to the
People to retrench expenses and correct
abuses, but that they have increased the
one and greatly extended the other.
Mr.. Benton in his famous Retrench-
ment Report of 1895, gave a list Of all the
officers, with their salaries, at the custom
house in the city ofNew York. The num-,
was TIA, and their aggregate pay $ll9,'
$50 80. Benton exclaims-"A formula
BILE list, indeed formidable in numbers,
and still more so from the vast amount OF
money in their hands. The action of such
body of men, animated by one spirit,
must be tremendous in an election" Mr..
Benton continues at length to expose the
dangerous tendency Of the patronage at
the Presidents command, and to show the
necessity of checking it. So much for the
precept.--Mr. Bond shows that the num-
Der of custom-house officers has grown
from 174 to Ala! and their compensation
from $ll6,62O SO to $409,669 80! be-
sides extra pay allowed for the year 1886
of $53,OOO! Further: Mr.. Swartwout
was recently turned out Of the office OF
Collector for protesting anti-Sub- Treas,i-
ry opinions, and new Collector-a sup
pie acknowledgement in his stead
A few days ago this new Collector dischar-
ged one hundred Of the officers--Conserv-
atives and Wings, and gave their places
and pay to men who will do more work
for the party at the next election. Great
complaint was made in 1928, on the score
of Executive and Legislative patronage
of the press. The Retrenchment Report
states that in three years Of the admins
tration of Mr.. Adams, the Executive De-
partments paid for printing and advertl-
sing ST., $50 81. Mr.. Bond shows that
| in three years of the Reformers, the same
Departments paid for the like purpose,
Si7OO58 II! The committee pronounce
extravagant, the expenditure during eight
years preceding December, 1897, for
printing for Congress, the sum OF $27l,
883 81. Mr.. Bond shows that in the sia
years preceding September, 1887, there
was paid for the same purpose, the enor
NOUS sum Of 1851 ,584 sc? In sir years
the Reformers expended nearly three time
as great sum as the Wings did in eigh
years.
OF the reform which has occurred ii
the Executive Departments generally, Mr.
Bond makes full exposition. We ex
tract from his remarks on this head llber
ally:
Precept.--The committee reported tina
"the privilege Of newspapers to the mem
bers ought to be abrogated;" and "that the
practice too often INDUCED in by the House
OF voting to themselves copies of books
ought TO be discontinued. The privilege
and practice continue, and without res
traint.
Precept.--The contingent expenses o
this house were reported to be extravagant
During the year 1898, the last Of Mr.. Ad
ans administration, they amounted t.
$4,000.
Practice.--During the year 1885, the
last year Of the Jackson reform admins
tration, this item was 100000! And, du
ring the year 1886, being the first year o
the "successor,' who promised to "treat
in the footsteps of his illustrious predeces
sor," these expenses are 100000! This
must be the "magician's way" of working
: in the rule of reduction-it was certainly
unknown to old Thomas Dilworth.
Precept.-The committee Of which q
gain repeat, the gentleman from NeV
York, (Mr. Cambreleng) was o member
reported that they had obtained iniorma
ton by which they were satisfied shat .!
a iudicious system of reform, Instituted ..
the Executive officers themselves, at leas
one third of the Ohen) present number Q
clerks in the departments might be redu
ced with safety TO the public interest"
Practice.-The number Of clerks ma
not been reduced in any one Of the depart
ments, but, on the contrary, there ma
been considerable increase, | will prov
il. The State Department, in the yea
1928, included the Patent Office, and IN
whole number Of clerks was sixteen; tn
salary and compensation Of the Secretar,
and all his clerks and messengers, amour
ted to $27,750.
The whole number Of clerks now en-
ployed in the State Department ana th
1t Patent Office is forty. The joint salarle
&c and compensation amount 70 $66,5l6H
lie The Patent Office in 1898, was manage
r. by Superintendent, with salary
s. 81 500, and two clerks and messenge
Mt whose joint compensation was $3,7oo'
II is now under the charge OF one OF lne -
C. formers; the title Of 'sSuperintendent"
d. exchanged for that Of commissioner
r. and with the change Of titles' comes y
ke change Of salary from $1,000 to $1,000
Tho nunnhcr of clerks II increased Lro