Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1842-04-25
RETRENCHM ENT.

ue various departments oil the government, touch
ing expenditures and allowances. OF this fact
their reports, already made, give abundant evi.
dence. We propose to state briefly the results
as far as the reports have already been published
Military allowances. On the 9TH March the
committee reported Sl03,SS2 TO have been allow
ed on account of brevet pay and emolumens be-
tween 4th March 1887 and Jan. 1, 1912; lists Of
officers not hdring command Of troops who receiy-
cd additional or double returns from 1929 to 1912,
showing ST. 1853 to have been paid in two years
in this way lists OF officers receiving allowances
for more than one Office at the same Time in the
same period, showing S29 ga thus allowed; also
extra allowances of S4,746 and also list orarmy
defaullers. The committee asked leave to sit
during the sessions OF the House and send for
persons and papers, which was granted, and the
Investigations this subject to he continued.
Books and Newspapers. On the o'h of March
the committee reported bill to discontinue pur-
chasing newspapers, periodicals, &c ut the public
expense, for members ct Congress and the de-
pnrtmenis The practice is considered by the
committee MS mn indirect and Irregular mode of
Increasing The pay and pciG,iisi'es of~sr+-s IN Of
6ce. In one yeur The amount thus paid for the
departments exceeded, $500, and for Congress it
exceeded $4,000
Mileage. On the 9Th March the committee
reported bill regulating the payment 10 the SEN
ators and Members for mileage, which reduces
the mileage Of The Senate Sl3504 40, and of The
House $27,s4l G0-saving ga ,435 by the pro-
posed scale Of mileage The committee further
propose 10 reduce tile pay for mileage one fourth,
clakiDg total saving of s77, 1873 30 per nnnntn.
Ffanking Privilege. On the 10Th March the
Committee reporter, bill abolishng The Thanking
privilege as to the members and officers of Con-
Qress. The annual saving 10 the Post Office De-
parment by abolisbing the franking privilege en-
trely is estimated at S350,972. What The sa, ing
would be- by The bill oflhe committee, can only be
guessed Att would be large say $4,000
Agents illegally appointed April L. the commit
Tee reported that the appointment of George Pitt
in 1899 by Amos Kendall as an agent of The post
oflice department TO visit Europe, was made with
out authority Of law. Pitt received So 200 from
the LIST June 1889 to Sept !, 1910, a year md one
quarter. Ph now claims an addition Of S946 Ga.
The matter was never laid before Congress, aud
80 appropriation for this purpose was ever made
Tho money was tuken by order Of Mr.. Van Blu
rem, from the sum appropriated by Congress Tor
transportation OF The mail - The committee
MISC report other abuses of this character, wiz tho
appointment of three young gentlemen in 1899
by Secretary Ponsett, with President Van Buren's
consent, and three more in $780, TO attend the
cavalry school in Saumur, (France,) a, the public
expense.
We have thus summary noticed the reports al
reudy made, and shall continue thus to notice such
sIs shall hereafter he made. Our readers will see
that this reirenchment committee is no humbug
mud doubt will heartily join in the hope
thet they will go ahead and make thorough work
of il, until all abuses exposed and corrected.
"7He american LabOrer." Greedy & McElrath
publishers OF the New York Tribune) haze Just
issued the first number of a monthly papr under
abe above title, in pamphlet forn-32 psges per
number. Price rs cts-20 copies fer $40. 1t is
devoted TO the interests of American Labor, and
advocates Protection, The number before us
contains Sir. Slades excellent speech, Of which
the editors thus justly speak
We earnestly commend to the profuund alien
lie able and convincing SPEECH OF Hon. WM.
BLADE Of W., showing The absolute unanimiIy aud
zeal of every eminent Statesman whom our Cum
try bus produced, in favor of Protecting Dumes c
Industry, the acquiesence and union o. al parties
which ever existed in this Country except the
Tories of the Revouon) in support of this poll
ry, and the imminent necessity which now exists
Tor ITS realoplion and maintenance as essential 10
all interests md all sections of the Country. Mr..
Shades speech is very long Longer than any doc
ulneDt we shall usually pubsll-bu it is in good
par, made up of pertinent aud forcible quotations
from WAsHINGToN, JEFFERSON, MADISON and the
Sages and Patriots OF our Revolutionary era, as
also from our more modern Statesmen, showing
the absolute necessity of Protecting Duties on
Foreign Products 10 our Ma onul lndependence
and welfare. Long as it u.s. there is not para.
graph that we could consent to spare. We en-
trea, the Farmers Mechanics and Working Men
OF the Union to consider carefully lis arguments,
and compare them with the easy flppancy, tho
pert assurance, the irrelevant common places Of
The Free Trade theorists of our day Only let
both sides Ire heard by The toiling millions whose
interests ure deeply involved in the decision OF
this controversy, and we shall cheerluy abide
rheir verdict.