Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1839-02-28

In Executive. Territorial, Judicial
and miscellaneous expenditures s30.0OO
$22 .32D, ,406
Our naval and military expenses have
heen greater since 1929; The former owing.
in part. to tho uncertainty, al nne rimr. of
our relations with France, and the latter
to Indian wars. But our expenditures
have heen, since then, increased in every
branch by augmentation Of The amount Of
commercial credit, which adds to the cost
of all our supplies.
The Legislative expenses of the Fcde
raj Government for the first ten years were
annually, on an average, about SSl7l 900;
the appropriations for the year lS:'S were
1882, A part OF this has arisen from
the increase in the number of members Of
Congress; but the most exlravaaant in
crease has occurred in The contingent expen
ses of both Houses. In The first ten years
these did not amount TO more Than 9l0.-
600 annually; while the appropriations the
past year were 1878, ,960. Although under
the immediatc observation and coutrol Of
Congress, there is no branch Of the public
service where there has been more abuse
and extravaganza. Thousands of docu
ments, in many instances no importance,
are annually printed; aud the contingent
funds of The two houses have been. for
some years past, charged with the expense
effurnishing members with books. There
has been, and sill remains to be paid, on
two contracts Of this character, S7Sl ,023
:37, not only TO supply those who are actu-
ally in Congress, but others who have not
been members for many years past
Should such expenditures be continued,
this will very soon become an important
item; aud in anv event, large amount
will still be required 10 fulfil contracts for
books in no manner belonging TO the le-
climate contingencies Of either House of
Congress.
The expenditures of The Executive De.
partment were, in the ten years after spe-
cifc appropriations were made, about Sl95
200 annually; the appropriation for 1898
was S795,0G0. This item has steadily in.
creased with the growth Of our country and
its various establishments, requiring Exc
cutive agency and superintendent. Some
thing would probably DC saved if there
were one contingent fund under the control
OF the Secretary, for all the Offices OF each
Department. Our complicated system of
accounts, too was established many years
ago; and more judicious organization of
the Departments might introduce greater
simplicity and economy. 1t is impossible.
however, TO avoid uniform increase in
this branch of the public expenditure,
while we continue TO multiply our laws at
every session, which must he carried into
effect by the Executive Departments; and
while we rapidly increase. as VIC have
done of late, the number of fresoluious in
both Houses, calling for Information, and
frequently involving great labor and ex-
pense.
These appropriations have been, and
must continue TO be. very unequal among
the States. The Union has IA common in
terest in but few ofthem. 1t may have in
those running through or in the neighhor-
hood of our public lands, which add value
to the common properly. But it is GER
tainly unjus, to apply the money collected
in some States to mere local improve
mcnls in distant quarter of the Union,
simply because they appertain to the CON-
mercc Of the country. II every improve
ment of harbors. rivers, and creeks, and The
building ofpiers,is to be considered national
in its character and benefits, it is dlficultto 10
define any limit whateverto TO The juridiction
of the Federal Government. or 10 say to
what purpose the common fund of the Uni
on mayRot be applied. The distribution
made during the last thirteen years among
the States, proves, ircontestably, the injus
lice of these expenditures. The whole a
mount appropriated and invested is l2.300,
600 dollars, Of which 100000 dollars has
been granted to district of country no,
one hundred and fifty miles from the Capt.
tol. Wi,hou, inquiring into the impor-
tancc Of the works patronized by the Fed
eral Government, i, is sufficient 10 remark
that the most of the States have heen, at
the same time, employing their own mon
ey and credit on improvements infinitely
more useful and profitable, and better cal
cuIated to extend the commerce Of the u.
MON. Some Of the States have not par
ticipated at all in these Federal appropria-
lions, while four yStales only may be char
gcd with G,760, 1000 dollars out of the l2,-
100000 dollars, and some of the most ex-
pensive works remain to be completed in
these States. If it is intended to make
this system permanent, justice requires
that some more just rule Of distribution
should be adopted.
This system. if permanent must also ve-
ry soon prove seriously detrimental to our
naval and military establishments. and'de
feat tho main obiec, Of our confederation.