New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-01-24
ADMIsIsTR ATIvE ECONOMY

r-''-T--F
1t is an unfortunate feature u our political econ
omy that we can have no radical, permanent reform
of any existing evil or abuse. If we succeed in
establishing an improvement in the conduct of any
branch Of public affairs, it is forthwith either
carried to an extreme far beyond proper limits, or
extraneous conditions are imposed which render it
nugatory, Or perhaps make it greater than the
original evil. 10 use phrase more expressive than
elegant, everything is !" run into the ground and
hisdspostion appears to be national characteristic
rather than studied intention on the part OF our
legislators and public officers to do nothing right and
everything wrong. X. A.sw Hgts.5.# t,s JAZZ
Endeavoring to proceed upon the correct principle
that wise economy is the chief nourisher Of national
prosperity, army Of about fifteen thousand men is
organized for the defence of the Republic when fifty
thousand would find their hands full in fighting the
sayages along its vast frontiers Badly paid, and,
until within few years, badly provided, it might be
supposed that this mockery OF national force costs
the country no great amount Of money; but that
would be mistake. Almost constantly in active SER
vice, carrying scattering Indian warfare at hall
dozen different points, constant OUTLAWS are neces-
sary, and the shrewd managers Of Uncle Sans affairs
contrive to make every contract yield somebody a
golden harvest, reaping in return reward Of some
kind for themselves. So with our navy. While our
commercial marine exceeds that Of any other nation,
and finds its way to the most remote seapors of the
globe, we may find ports comparatively near home in
which an armed national vessel does not unfurl our
flag twice in the year.
Our great and increasing prosperity causing the
Golfers of the treasury to overflow with surplus of
many Millions speedy means are taken to get rid of
the large sums thus withdrawn from circulation.
deserts, the sheeppastures and briarpatches Of
neighbours homestead, are purchased at an enormous
price an important political canvass comes on, and
the party holding the purse strings mandates the
country with documents and rantng stump speakers;
certain sum is allotted to influence voters in GER
tain State and certain is declared necessary to
carry certain other State and so on and the money
is given and the States generally carried but the
source whence these sums derived is matter few
persons care to trouble themselves about. To aid
in the laudable task of restoring to the circula-
ton Of the country the vast sums absorbed by the
treasury the contractors called in, and furnished
with opportunities for perpetrating the most mon.
strous and barefaced fraudsede the stonework con-
tract for the Capitol addition where items of 81 500
were set down at So 900, observing that exceed
ngly small increase Of per centage and profit through
or interested member Of the national legislature made
an expose Of the iniquty no further notice was taken
of it We trust to memory in this matter, but we be-
eve we are correct in stating that this honest and
conscientious contractor demanded / 900 per cent.
upon his work, and that he obtained it.
1t would seem logical to infer that the reflex of
this strain after economy which produces lavish
expenditure for unlawful and dishonest purposes,
might place finally in the position of making lib
eral expenditures resulting in actual economy but
whatever reforms may be effected in the admnistra
ton of affairs fear that the custom of making free
with the treasury has become too firmly fixed to be
easily abolished before it be done away with it
will become, we think like the Danish Sound Tolls
time-honored nstitation- because Of its
antiquity.
An excellent illustration of the tendency we have
mentioned to carry to an extreme far beyond utility
what might otherwise prove actual reforms is the
present condition of the Post0fice Department
DESTROYS of extending to the people the benefits of
low rate of postage. and believing that reasonably
low rates would prove profitable to the, Department
legislators, few years ago, made great rednc-
ton thereof and everybody was highly pleased with
the arrangement.
But behold the present condition of our postal de-
partmen and the abuses with which it is encountered
or rather which through it are inflicted upon the pub
| lc At the present time. in these days Of railroads
and faststeamboats, our mails occupy in transmission
an average of about twelve days from St. Louis and
| Louisville, and eight or ten from New York. OF
course the state of the weather ard the condition of
highways, railroads and rivers afford the necessaryex-
for this, but physical obstacles of an ordinary
nature can and should be overcome when liberal pro-
vision is made for them There is another cause,
however, far more important which mail contractors
should in fail to urge in defence of failures
With the reduction of postage is coupled fIanking
privilege, extended ad infnitum to Postmasters,
Congressman, etc,and the extent to which they avail
themselves of it is truly imposing and wonderful
The United States mails carry gratis to all parts of the
country every conceivable paper and document that
the wisdom of lawmakers and the wit and ingenuity
oflawyers contriye. Patent office reports by the
Million scientific reports, reports of surveys legisa
tive reports, bank statistics, reports upon commerce
and navigation, Land Office reports speeches, fnan
cal reports law cases. census reports, messages and
political speeches. ETC., etc., make up grand total to
be computed in bushels cartoads and tons, and all
carried for nothing and to purpose often, too to
the exclusion of readable newspapers and valuable
correspondence. Is it a wonder that with such an
abominahle and senseless clog our mails are frequently
days and weeks behind time !?
1t is really desirable that all postal ranking prlyi
leges should be withdrawn except those that encour
age the dissemination Of intelligence; for nobody
of course, will pretend to believe that the masse:
derive any benefit from having documents of tht
character above named broadcast over the land
But sudden reforms in the administration of govern
ment cannot be expected. Errors and inquitic
which men delight in and profit by cannot be Gu
down in their vigor they must be allowed to ripel
and rot until they become nuisance, intoeraLle i,
every sense.
TRANSFER OF THE HERMITAGE TO THE UNITEl
SrArEs--The Legislature of Tennessee, at its las
session. passed act authorizing the Governor of tina
State purchase FIVE hundred acres of the Hermitage
including the mansion Of Gen. Jackson and the tom
where now repose the remains Of the ustrious her
and patriot and those of his beloved wife, and to max
tender ofthe same to the General Government, pre-
,Inlo lnFy II