Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1838-07-12

This sum is subject small variations on the set
tlemem OF tue accounts otihc Treasurer.
Note.-Ihc above Sims include payments for
trust funds aud indemnltics which, in 1887, were
a5,6l0,d0A So.
The honorable Secretary himself evidently IL
shamed oil the last years heavy expenditures; aud
hence he sppends explanatory observations
The fins, oithese is, that this immense sum is sub
ect to small Variations" &c. but lie does add thar
these "variations are much likely to increase
than to diminish the aggregate amount: the second
is, that the paid, in 1897 "tor trust funds aud
,ndemnlies" amounted TO upwards of 81 millions of
dolars-but why did he Tot tell us the amounts APP
proprated for like purposes in preceding years Ii
he had done this, perhaps the inference which il is
very evident he intended to be drawn from this
mark, would have been shown be entirely unfound-
ed, IA, least to be SO weakened as not have JUS
tlfed the specific mention of general rutc as if i,
we're an ercePtton-singlns out object of expen-
dnuie for particular year if it common
TO every year But suppose we deduct this 81 mil
ions from the expenditures of the year 1897 what
then! 1t still leaves an aggregate expenditure OF up
wards OF 80 millions OF doars-tllree millions
than that OF the last and extrayag,nt year
his :. ilusrIons predecessor" and largely than
double the amount which had ever before been ex-
pended in single year, under any administration ex-
cept during period of wa, How are we to ac-
count for this Unprecedented increase in the
expenses OF the Government, and OF course in the
bunhens of the people! The Administration party,
forgetting that they themselves repudaied this mode
OF argument when they organized Committees of
Retrenchment expose the lavish pronigacy of Mr..
Adamss administration attribute il 10 the extension
H.
Won, and the increased demands upon the public
Hcasury consequent upon our growth as a nation
They utterly denied when these things were urged as
classification ola very insigncan, increase public
expenditures during Mr. Adams's time, tina, this argu-
men ,had either relevancy or weight. We believe, how
ese, now, said then that ithds but certainly not
the Immense influence which is ascribed TO it. -
The increase in the amount of public expenditures,
.or example, ought not certainly to be in an equal
ratio with the extension of our limits and the aug
mentaon OF our population; yet they have far out.
stripped both: for ii will hardly be contended that
from 1854 when the annual expenditures were a.
oont l8d millions Of dollars, to 1887, when they
upwards OF 80 millions, the number of square miles
and OF population in the Union have been more than
doubled. So, too, in relation to the extraordinary
calls for public money during the last two years,
quent upon the state of our Indian relations Deduct
these, aso and we have still an excess of expendi-
tutc over and above the common average, which
calls loudly for real Retrenchmcnt and Reform.
The truth is, public officers have been unncccs-
saryly multiplied, aud their salaries have been in
some cases Improperly increased, and system of
tavotitlsm has prevailed, and there has been gene
raj want of accountability aud responsibility, by
which, we have reason TO believe, the peo-
pie have been most numerically plundered. Look,
for example, at the manner in which the public
money has been squandered in Florida. The out
II, Of one officer, engaged in the for shon
period, 1--WE are told BY Mr.. Bronson, friend Of tho
administration, in a speech in the H. of R. amount
ed 10 about S40O, and this amount made up OF
such items as these wine, CIDER porter, cork
screws, chewing tobacco cigars, and sir bottles Of
cologne acater A pretty fellow tllis,-a periumed
and wine drinking dandy ,-io fight Indians! Again:
We are told, in a late Report from the Committee
cost OF transporting Az men from ST. l. ouis TO
tampa Bay, was 1874 45-and THAT losing their
"otses ON the way, government had to pay them the
'arther sum OF $4,000 And, after all this heavy
expenditure, when they reached Tampa Bay, the
'eeent was toundto betoo large, andl 80 Of the All
men were discharged, and paid Sl9o59 16,
were allowed $50, SIS for their horses lost and had
p'e''o"s'y received Sl9,942 O9,-n,aklng in all
'o'oio 70, expended without the beast possible
''"'"' 10 the country, What wonder tina, th. az