The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-02-18

".
Thus under the head of military" the expendi-
lures were:
In 1893 Sl99iGOOO
In 1889 li26G 900
In 1910 (part estimated) / COZ 900
Under the head Of civil" &c they
were
In 1898 rs 6C6 900
In 1889 (shor session of Comgrcss) 1880 900
In 1910 $40 900
And under the head Of naval" they
were
In 1898 $5,9il 900
In 1899 6,225 900
In 1910 6,l60,O00
For the year 1871 taking the table of estimate, a
still further reduction Is proposed under the head Of
s y p %hs a q af ln% d%a he
under both the other heads
The table Of estimates stands thus
For military rs, $50, 900
For civil, &c. 3t50GO0
bor naval 5,il5000
These figures show how handsomely in the opinion
in the civil and naval department; but 1t has taken
him full + ur years to make the discovery
But seeing this great saving Of several millions in
the Total amounts proposed for 1871 compared with
the expenditures of the last and previous years, the
inquiry naturally arose, how is all this Is the
try less broad and extensive than il was Are not its
interests various and vast DO not our limits ex-
tend far in the direction of the Resook and in the
merIy Is not the Briton still our Northern bor-
der and the Indian still on our Western border Is
not the Seminole still in Florida Arc the seas
and over which commerce spreads itself
wide as ever 2 Has the civil list been cut down
Docs not our army number as before ? Have we
fewer ships and men 10 keep aioat than formerly 7
Nothing of the sort that can find.
But the Secretary does tell us that he has himself
in his own Department, commenced some rctrench-
ment out Of sixteen hundred officers in the custom
house department he has dispensed with the services
Of d few subordinates he has reformed the revenue
cutter service; and he has knocked out eye two
among the light-houscs--al very beneficial to com
merce. ma doubt but he certainly has not saved by
all this those millions which his diminished estimates
would indicate. No: but these millions-they are
saved to be sure, in another way and here have
the secret
The Secretary says in his report (and the President
echoes the joyful sound }
II il believed that the ordinary expenses of 1871
ought 10 fall some millions below those in 1910; as
the pensions have diminished by deaths fewer Indians
remain to be removed several expensive public build
nrs have been mostly finished and hostiies with the
Seminoles must be nearer to a close
We'll sir observe that all this is proposed as reduc-
ing the estimates for S4lthis present blessed year
and as reducing the amount some millions. Was the
Secretary dreaming Compare the estimates for 1871
with those for 1910 and look at facts. How much
speculation docs the Secretary make out of the deaths
Of pensioners lie proposes appropriation for this
year less than that of the last by 350000 But will
death relieve him TO that aKountl No what with
old appropriations standing over, added to the new,
and to be applied to pensions the saving apprchend
will not equal one half Of that sum.
In the Indian Department, very large sums are
standing to fall the Treasury in 1871, and the
new appropriations proposed for the present year
scarcely $50 900 less than those Of the preceding year
venture TO say the actual expenditure will be greater
in this department this year than last.
As for the Public Buildings, the great saving in this
quarter is told The custom house in New York
is supposed to he out Of the way. There appro-
pratcd TO this building last year SslS,743 To three
public buildings in this city last year 1880 600 were
appropriated understand that the estimates Of The
architect the present year FOR all buildings in this city,
amount to 100000 We shall find no saving here
going very far towards making up the Secretary s
some Millions
And, finally, to the last particular named by the
Secretary under which this some millions was TO
be saved, namely that hostlitics with the Scmnoles
must be nearer TO an end" Well, Mr. Chairman; |
should have great doubt Of the fact Of this being
nearer 10 end than when it first began if did not
rccoect that this Administration Is to end,
But TO have great saving in 1871 not because
this war is actually to end in ISlli hope il may-but
because, in 1871, the must be nearer 10 an end
than in 1870 That, sir, is cyphcring and logic
worthy Of the Secretary.
But really 10 talk of expenditures account Of this
Florida business being less tins year than last mock
cry OF something worse With outstanding indebted
ness on account Of volunteers and militia to the amount
probably Of $500 600 the paymaser General decla-