Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-08-13
Democratic Abuses Exposed by Dem.
ocratic Representatives.

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the Territories is a thing Of comparatively very
recent growth, but it is running now to very
alarming extent. 1t seems to me that it is time
the House should look to the facts as shown by
the public documents, and, if possible, put stop
to appropriations of this kind / have table
before me, prepared by the Secretary of State, in
answer to a resolution of this House, showing
the appropriations which have been made for
the Territories of the United States, in their leg
isative executive, and Judicial capacities, in one
column the appropriations made for public
buildings, in second column; and the sppropri-
atoms made for military and other roads, with
in the limits of the Territories, in a third col
umn. desire to call attention to the time at
which the appropriations for public roads and
buildings were introduced into these territorial
bills, and also to the annual expenditure, as as
certained by this report, to demonstrate how e.
Enormously largo these appropriations have
grown within the last ten or fifteen years of our
existence. Tsr7
Ohio remained in . territorial condition fif-
teen years, and the appropriations for executive,
legislative and judicial purposes during that en-
tire time amounted to $4,000. Nothing was
appropriated for public buildings, and nothing
appropriated for public roads. The next Terri
tory on the list is Tennessee. She remained in
territorial condition from May 2e, 1870, to
June l., 1896; and she received $22, 900 for leg
islatiye, executive, and judicial purposes; moth
ing for roads, and nothing for public buildings.
The next is the Territory of Mississippi. She
remained in territorial condition for period Of
nineteen years, and the appropriations for exec
utive, legislative, and judicial purposes, during
that whole PERIOD were $14S399 S9 There was
no appropriation for the erection of public build
ings but then, for the first time in the history
of Territories, commenced appropriations for the
construction Of roads. There was an appropria-
ton of $40 900 for that purpose.
Indiana was the next. She remained in
territorial condition sixteen years The appro-
priations for legislative, executive and judicial
purposes amounted to $117,750. There was
nothing for the erection of public buildings, and
but $4,000 for the construction of roads. The
Territory of Louisiana was next; 1852, ,298 were
appropriated to her for legislative, executive, and
judicial purposes; nothing for public buildings,
and $6,400 for roads, Then comes the Terrific
ry of Michigan. The appropriations for the leg
islative executive, and judicial purposes for that
Territory amounted to 1862 ,703 80 nothing for
the erection of public buildings, and the appro-
priations for the construction of roads run up to
$235, $40 The territorial existence of that Ter
ritory was for period Of ,hirty-two years.
longer period by far than any of the others
The Territory Of Missouri had $113,700 appro-
priated for legislative, executive, and Judicial
purposes; nothing for the erection of public
buildings, and nothing for the construction of
roads. Illinois had $685. for the first named
purposes; nothing for public buildings, and 3d.
900 for the construction of roads. Alabama had
14,433, with $40, 900 for roads. Florida, which
remained in territorial condition for twenty
two years, received 1856, ,436 55, for executive,
legislative, and Judicial purposes; $172,612 for
roads, and $4,000 for the erection of public
buildings. This was the first instance in which
an appropriation for the erection of public build
ings in 8 Territory was made by Congress-
Since that such appropriations have been made;
down to the present time, and they have grown
with an astonishing and alarming rapidity.-
Wisconsin received for public buildings the SUM
of $40, ,000-twice the amount appropriated to
Florida. Besides that, she received $4,000 for
roads, and $S47, ,473 for legislative executive, and
judicial purposes although her territorial exis-
tence was only for period of twelve years. /
owa received $284,9Os for executive, legislative,
and Judicial purposes; $60,500 for roads, and
900 for public buildings-$6,0Oo less than
Florida, and $35, 900 less than Wisconsin.
Well, now we come to the present Territories.
Here is the Territory of Oregon. 1t was organ
lied on the 18th of August, 1913. 1t has re-
ceived for executive, Legislative, and judicial pur
poses, in the short period of eight years, $249,-
5s2 69 for public buildings, $l2l 900, and $780,
900 for public roadsl Then comes Minnesota,
organized on the Sd of March, 1910. 1t has re-
ceived $2O4, $50 for executive, legislative, and
judicial purposes 76 500 for public buildings and
$3.50, 900 for public roads. fo.
Mr.. RICE. That is too little.
Mr.. LETCHER. They have received double
as much as any other Territory with three times
the length of territorial existence, and yet the
gentleman says it is too little.
Mr.. RICE That is less than we have received.
Mr.. LETCHER. Well, how much have you re-
ceived.
Mr.. RICE. About 100000 f 7s
Mr.. LETCHER. thank the gentleman for
the correction. The Secretary of State says that
they have received $150,00O. The gentleman
says they have received 100000. Next comes
Utah, organized September 8, 1850 That Is
not quite six years ago. This Territory hes re-
ceiyed $199,159 16 for executive, legislative,
and judicial purposes; $50, 900 for public build
ings; and $25, 200 for roads. New Mexico, or
ganzed on the same day, has received $203, ,395
for executive, legislative and judicial purposes
SAC, 900 for public buildings; and $4,000 for
roads Washington, organized March Q, 1868,
three years ago, has received $76, 500 for execu-
tive, legislative, and judicial purposes; $4,000
for public buildings, and $4,000 for roads
Kansas was organized on the 30th Of May, 1854,
two years ago, and has received SIC, 200 for ex-
ecutive, and judicial purposes; $4,000 for pub
lie buildings and 100000 for roads.
Mr.. DUNN. They have received $25, 900 more
for public buildings.
Mr.. LETCHER. Well, then, $4,000 for pub
lie buildings in two years. Nebraska was or
eanized at the same time, and has received $72,-
l25 for executive, legislative, and Judicial pur-
poses; $4,000 for public buildings, and $4,000
for roads.
Now, desire to compare the expenditures
in the early years of this government for these
territorial purposes and those of later days.
Here is the Territory of Ohio, that existed as a
Territory for period Of fifteen years, and the
whole amount of the appropriation, for all pur-
poses required, was $66, 900 for that period Of
fifteen years-a little over four thousand dollars
per annum. Now, take the Nebraska Territory,
which has existed for two years, and has receiv-
ed S36. 900 year for legislative purposes, $685.
600 wear for public buildings and $4,000
year for public roads
Now. sir, take another CASE Take the case of
Indiana. Herterritorial existence continuedfrom
the 4th of July, 1900, until the 18th ofDecember,
1916. o period of over sixteen years and she re-
ceived for legislative purposes $117,750, with
not one cent for public buildings, and only S6,-
600 for public roads The territory of Illinois,
which had territorial existence for nine years,
received 500, 800 for tho tirst-named purposes,
IS 600 for public roads. That is about seven
thousand dollars year for sustaining the Terri
tory Of Illinois during her territorial existence;
while it takes $4,000 year now to manage the
legislative, executive, and judicial purposes Of
Territory in 1855, with almost the same amount
for public buildings, and an amount far larger
for public roads. ask, then, if it is not time