Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1838-06-08
EXTRACTS FROM MIR. BONDS

" OHtO, On the TeSOtuttOU 10 COTTeCt ABUSES
IN The public expenditures, and 10 separate
the Government from the press.
Delivered in the House of Representatives,
April, S3S.-Contimued.
The Executive patronage of the press was
one of the great chapters of reform into
which the famous amendment report OF
this House was divided. 1t there stated as
an alarming fact, that the amount paid for
printing and advertising by the Executive
Departments at the seat OF Government for
the [thenl three last years, (lS25, 1926 and
1927 and by the General Post Office, in
two years, was S7l.S30 ST." In the same
report we are also told that the printing for
Congress. the Senate and House included,
from March, 1919, to December, 1877, being
period Of eight years, amounted TO 1871.
$50 81. These were thought 10 be extrav.
agant expenditures. and retrenchment de-
Inanded and promised
beg the House to indulge me few mo-
ments in holding up to their view, and espe-
cially to the gentleman from New York,
(Mr. Cambreleng) who was an active mem
Der ofthat committee, mirror, in which the
practical reform may be seen. II the gen.
teman, or the party, shall find the object a
hideous one can only say the picture re.
hected is the work Of their own hands.
For the six years ending on 3Oth Septem-
Der, 1887, the several Executive Depart
menis, inclusive of the General Post Office,
paid out S340,ll6 81 for their printing. In
order to get three years, so as to compare it
with the term and amount before stated BY
the committee, let us take half of the S340,-
ll6 81, say Sl70,058 IS
Deduct the amount stated by
the committee, 1880 81
Amt OF increase every three
years by the Reformers, S98,227 81
also find that, in six years ending on the
30lh day of September, 1887. the printing
for Congress, SENATE and House,) and in.
elusive OF certain land documents, books,
and engraving amounted TO $751; s4 Ca
Let us deduct the amount reported by the
committee as paid for the same object in s
years by the Administration which was con
demned for its extravagance--that was
1927 1888 81. That operation will show
that the Relormers have paid, in the lcgsla.
tive patronage Of the press, S479.70l %
more in six years than the Wing party PAID
eight years
Having thus shown the amount OF, anC
how this patronage is now used by the Eek
ecutive. il will be appropriate TO see wha
the friends of Gen. Jackson said would b,
the consequence offs such use. The commit
tee, in their report, speak OF the moral me
chanism upon which This patronage acts IA
power that seems irresistible" and say
III III ha, tha,, mad
icate as an undeniable fact, by The employ
ment Of the expenditures OF the contngen
funds OF the departments, a Governmen
press is to all inlents and purposes effectu
ally established, as much so as il there wer
an annual item in the appropriation bill 10
the purpose of purchasing the joint and har
monious action OF one hundred papers II
the uncompromising vindication of those il
power, and in the unSparng abuse OF thos
who are not" And in the debate alread
referred to, Mr. Hamilton, one ofthe reform
ers in speaking Of payment for the service
of the press, observed " When the Gov
eminent becomes the paymaster for thes
services, the evil is infinitely augmented.A
For, what are the services which the pres
: under such circumstances is expected TO rer
der as return for the partial kindness {
the Government Why. to cover all thei
approaches 10 arbitrary power; to defen
eac n measure of misrule and corruption
find excuses aud apologies for every act {
imbeciity, although the interest ard homo
of the country may be jeoparded by ign'
rance apathy, or neglect; but, above all,
subject those who do not think the exlstin
powers entitled to the confidence OF the Pee
e pie to the most unsparing calumny and {
t buse." Mr.. Bond said he would appeal
r the House and to the country il we are M
$ now experiencing daily the practical appl
cation of what Mr.. Hamilton mentioned as
possible state of things. Is not this descrll
T lion of subsidized press in the hands OF III
q Government so graphically true OF the pr
I sent Administration and its press that
e mic ht Justly be conjectured that they sat IL
d the picture2 Every days experience show
g that all who oppose the present Admin
e traton are subjected 10 the most unsparin
It caumny and abuse" Another ofthe Jacl
e son reformers 10 this House, Mr. Floyd
e Virginia, observed in debate here, that II
S Executive influence 10 this Government wa
e very great, and had been exerled TO calun
y Mate members in this House as well as gre
a and wise men out OF the House" He sal
=" it had been attempted TO cut them oil :
dark inuendoes," and that hireling scrl
!. bIers had been paid directly or indirectly f
r performing the task"
# Mr. Speaker, have we not lelt and seen u
e sad reality of all this for the last nine year
b but more particularly since Mr., Van Burt
# undertook "lhe Improvement Of the press
r. and a disnlav of its licentiOus mower in Il