Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1849-05-03
Correspondence Of the New York Courier Enquirer
ABUSES In THE ENGLISH GOVERNMENT
and,
GOVERNMENT EXPENDITUREs,

GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURES.
l. Your readers are aware of The extraordinary s now
being made In England to reduce the current govern
ment expenditures, and thus tighten load Of taxation
that presses heavily on the people The recent
depressed state of trade and ind ustry has made the con
try impatient OF burdens, which N prosperous times
it submitted to almost without murmur and this FEELING
of Impotence is heightened BY the fcl that the taxes
they do not suffice for the expenditures
Of government, the outlay of The administration having
the last wear exceeded its ncole BY more than two mil
lion pounds.
The government estimates OF 1913 exceed those of
1885 by one half the public mind is kpenly alive to the
fact and, almost every where, it de nandng greater
public economy. While il is felt that no nconsiderable
saving may be made by the abolition of unnecessary off
ces and grauiiesthe army and navy are regarded as
the great fields for retrenchment and reform Since the
close Of The last with France ENGLAND has expended
nearly five hundred and fifty millions Of pounds ia keen
ing up her fighting establishment and the military ex-
pendltnres have been constantly increasing during the EN-
lire perri As time has made the continuance Of peace
more and assured, England his made her martial
array and more formidable. The military and ne val
expenditures for the five years ending in 1925 averaged
fourteen millions and half for The last three years they
averaged more than twenty million.
The English army consists of about 1888 COO men
though only one-hird as large as the French army il
Gusts twO-thrds as much. Many causes contribute To
produce this dSpr purtlonae eNpense-bui among Ne
most effective are the unnecessarily large number Of
perior officers, ana me extent 10 which jubng spec
ulang operations have been carried in furnishing sup
plies for the army. The astocraic influence Of which
spoke in former letter, has perhaps exeed itself no
where more successfully than in making the army The
great pasurage ground of the young stock of the nobility
Most military commissions are purchaseahle ensgncy
sis e $50 ieuenancy f700; and captaincy sflSOO
Ia the majority OF cases no previous military service Or
military educa ZION of any kind is required; family nhu-
and hard cash all that Is necessary This system
operating IN conjunc"n with the prodigal besowmeut
OF general brevets. has occasoned very great multiple
ily a" ifcers. Besides field mar,hals the Brush ar
my has 2o4 generals and lieutenant generals and l025
culones and lieutenant courrl. Many of these officers
enjoy perfect snecures Ia fact, every infantry regiment
has coones, Of whom never sees it, and has no
care whatever, except TO that is supplied with
clothing, which business always pbbed and ordinarily
yields profit TO the lionel Of ihausand pounds annt
ally. The highest dIgpilaries do scrupe TO benefit
themselves by the sinecure culonelces. Prince Albert
the Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of WELLINGTON
though the first Two are field rshas, and the last COM
mander-n-chef. are snecure cuonels Of different regi-
mens. and besides their regular salaries as much, Of
81 ,20O they annually receive considerable sums by the
sale of commissions.
But multiplicity Of officers is not the only bad prdu.
IN the army Of arsocratic influence There are many
corps, such as the Life Guards the Hurse Guards and
certain grenad'er regiments. which made up almost
exclusively Of The younger Of the nonili,y st of
these regiments IN in Iondon; they are spendly
mounted and equipped. but hardly man Of them has ev-
Fl smell glnpowder ever in his dreams Their principal
NEEDS o action are opera boxes and billiard ropns, and
their campaigns seldom extend beyond the 1aIrersa or
me Derby and yet they paid twice high the :
hard working oders in the regular rank and file Of The
army. Yet these carpet knights Differed nuner
pusiv each single literally Ghost in hun
self" regular infantry regiment has % Officers the
Scotch Fn~;leers ~; and the LIST Life Guaias 20
The officers of The army are extensively rcctuted ym