Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1842-03-25

trusted with the helm, they would ad-
minister this Government al an amount
Of expenditure not exceeding $l3 900,
900 j hope, If such an assertion was
actually made by either or all these
gentlemen, that it viii never be repeat.
ed again without resor;ing to proof to
sustain it. know of no such position
ever taken by the Wing party, or by
any prominent member Of the Wing
party. Sure ] am that the party gen.
orally pledged itself to 70 such reduction
Of the public expenses-none.
And again say that trust, before
such an assertion is repeated, The proofs
will be adduced For in this case, as in
Others, that which is asserted and reite.
rated comes at last 10 be believed. The
Wing party did promise economy and
retrenchment, and | trust will perform
their promise. deny Gin no offensive
sense) that the Wing party ever prom.
ised to reduce the expenditures Of this
Government 10 thirteen millions Of dol
lars. No; but this was what they said:
during the four years of the Admins
tration OF Mr.. Adams the average a
mount of The public expenditure was
but thirteen millions, and you charged
that Administration with outrageous ex
travagance, and came yourselves into
power on promises 10 reduce the annual
expenditure; but, having obtained pow
er, instead Of reducing the public ex-
penses, you carried them up TO the as
tonishing amount Of near forty millions.
But, while the Wings neve. asserted that
they would administer the Government
with thirteen millions, our opponents,
our respected opponents, after having
been three years in power, instead Of
bringing the expenses below the stand
ard OF Mr.. Adams's Administration, dc
clared that Gfeen millions was the a.
mount al which the expenditures should
be fixed. This was the ground taken
by Mr.. McLane, when he was at the
head Of the Treasury. have his re-
port before me, but as the fact, | pre-.
sumo, will mol be- denied, (orbear to
read from it. He suggests, as the fit
amount TO be raised by the tariff he had
proposed, the sum Of fifteen millions oF
dulIars as sufficient 10 meet the wants
Of the Government.
hope now | have shown that the
Wing party, before they obtained power,
never we're pledged to bring down the
public expenses either 10 thirteen or to
fifteen millions. They we're pledged ,
| admit, TO retrench unnecessary oxpen.
ditures, and TO make a reasonable deduc-
tion whenever it could properly be made
consistently with the public service: that
process, as | understand, is now going
on in both Houses, and trust the fruits
will be seen before the end Of the pre-
sent session.
UnpIedgrd, therefore, as the Wing
party was, as to any specific amount,
the question recurs, at what sum can the
expenses Of the Government be now
fixed?
repeat thnt the exact amount is dif-
fcuIl 10 be ascprtained have stated
it in the resolution now offer at ttoenty'
two millions; and shall soon show how
have arrived at that amount But,
before do that, allow me TO call the at.
tention Of the Senate to the expenditures
Of the preceding Administration; for, in
attempting 10 fix a sum for the future
know OF no course but to look back
upon the experience Of the past, and
then 10 endeavor TO deduce from il the
probable amount Of future expenditure
What. then, were the expenditures Of
the four years Of the past Adminlstra'
tionP
In 1887 the amount was 37,265,037 IS
In 1898 it was 39455, ,438 80
In 1889 376l4 936 Is
In 1910 1926 533 81
Making at aggregate Of $l42,56l ,945 4f
Which gives US an av.
erOge per year Of S35,64O,4S6 3S
The sum have proposed iS only
twenty-five millions, which deducted