The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-03-25
THE WING REFORM COMMENCED.


accomplished single measure of reform which
should entitle them to the everlasting gratitude O
,he---tax payers of the country.
They, have after muure dellberaon, and dali
ly discussion of the subject Tor two weeks, actual
ly abolished the offices held by two clerks of the
House at salary of S 4 200 per year-$2 400 dol
lars Is thus saved TO the country. llurrah! But
STOP let US see how much it has cost the country
to abolish these offices. The Wings have been
wrangling about it for IA days, at an expense of
5000 dollars per day-whch amounts ,othe clev-
or sum Of SAP, 000!! in other words, at an expense
to tar payers of FORTY-TWO THOUSAND
DOLLARS, they have abolished two offices which
cost but lpenty3four hundred dollas. lIurrah
for wings and reform, IT'S reform backwards,
like all their other acts. Promises and profess
sons how cheap
While upon this subject we must alludc to the
expose made during the discussion on the general
appropriation bill, making appropriations for the
civil and diplomatic expenses of the government
for 1872 Mr. McKeon, Of n. Y. moved to a
mend one of the sections of the bill by striking out
an item Of $780, 900 for stationery, fuel, printing
and other incidental and contingent expenses in ad-
dlon to the sum already appropriated" Upon
this motion he made the following remarks and
statements of facis-.Ncw Era
Mr. McNeon said that there had been so many
and loud professions of economy from all sides,
that he trusted there would be on this occasion
some evidence that these professions were 10 be
carried into practice. lie had listened day after
DAY TO the debate on the reduction of the clerical
force of this House, and he had come to the con-
cuson that there was not much prospect Of a grea!
saving on that point, We were about to consume
lin time, by debate, more than a sufficient amount
to pay the salaries of the clerks proposed to be dis
banded In moving to strike out the appropriation
of $50, 900 fer the contingencies of this House, he
supposed there would be presented an amount SUI
fcently large to test the disposition Of the commit
tee towards practical retrenchment The amount
Of contingent expenses of his Government was
enormous They were great sources OF uhproht-
able expenditure. After examining the bill now
before the committee Mr. Mex. stated he had made
an abstract Of the items charged as contingencies
and miscellaneous, and he found the amount of
these charges exceeded million of dollars i was
necessary that the committee should examine the
whole ground before they could properly decide on
this single item. The item alone might not seem
t large when taken by itself, but when the commit
tee examined it in comparison with the large IL
mount asked of us by the Executive branches Of
the Government the absolute necessity ola rednc-
ton would become apparent.
Mr. McKeon then read the following abstract:
! Contingent funds aud miscellaneous items in civil
md ljDlOmaiic uDprOpTiutOn bill,
House Of Representatives, $4,000
For Senate, $4,000
Printing and binding, ordered during
It 26th Congress, 21,2S2 GS
, Printing and binding, under order of
1896 and 1887, l2,25o
Deficiency in appropriations for con-
lingencies Of 10Th Congress, $685. So
Library contingent expenses. 500
= incidental Expenses of the State Depart
mcnt, 2o,0Oo
> Contingent expenses OF Northeast En-
ecutye Building, l,5oO
TREASURY DEPARTMENT..
Secretary of Treasury's office, 1880
FIRST Comptroller 1000
IL First Auditor, 600
i Second Auditor, 1900
: Fourth Auditor. 1000
h.. Fifth Auditor $50
IS Treasurer, 1000
Register, 1000
Solicitor Of Treasury, 200
: Commissioner of the General Land
! Office, 1850
Contingent, expenses of Southeast
: Building, $4,000
- DEPARTMENT OF WAR.
Secretary of Wars Office, 5000
- Office of Indian Affairs, 1900
Pension office, 2,0I
; Commanding General, 800
Adjutunt General 900
Quar,ermaster, l,oOO
Paymaster, sOt
Commlssary General Purchase, 4,0iC
! Commissary General Subsistence, 5000
h Chief Engineer, 6,65C
Surgeon General 1850
Ordinance Department. 500
/ Typographical Bureau, l,7s;
= Expenses of Northwest Executive Building, i,5Ot
- NAVY DEPARTMENT..
e Secretary of Nays Office, 5000
= Navy Commissioners Board $500
Contingent Expenses of Building 1885,
rosr OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
k Contingent expenses of Postmaster Cen
Il erals Office, including fuel for An
dltors Office! 6,50l
Contingent expenses for Auditors Office, 400
For Miscellaneous, SO ,00C
> UNITED STATES MINT AND BRANCHES.
Incidental expenses of Mint at Philadelphia, 30 SOC
Do do North Carolina, l,J0'
Do do Georgia. 90t
= Do do New Orleans, l5,00t
TERRITORIES.
= Wisconsin including those of Legislature, 35'
Al Iowa, do do 35'
Florida, do do 33'
JUDICIARY.
i Contingent expenses Of Attorney Generals
Office, SOC
Delaying expenses of Courts, Sc, $4,000
Discharge of Miscellaneous claims 10
" be settled at the Treasury. 1900
FOREIGN INTERCOURSE.
q r. j.