Freeman's champion., 1858-07-22
Government Extravaganza -Kanzas

An extract from Washington let
ter says;
"Under its present Dem ocratic or
ganizaLion, the House has become
but an echo of the will of the Adj
miuiStration and the Senate. In fact,
when appropriation is asked for, it is
only necessary that the leader of the
House should cause letter from one
Of the Secretaries advising its pas
sage, to be read to the House, to
bring the majority to its rescue with
out whimper. Buncombe speeches
npon retrenchment and reform are
made for the country, while millions
upon millions are voted at the de-
lnand of the departments, notwith-
standing bankrupt treasury and in
creasing public debt. A few thous-
and dollars are cut off here and there,
principally from the just claims Of
some private individuals to whom the
Government is indebted, and the
most praiSeworthy speeches are re-
corded in the Globe, showing the care
ful guard held over the public spigot,
but in order more eilectually to di-
vert attention from the reckless and
extravagant waste at the bung, From
careful scrutiny of estimates and ap-
preparation bills already passed, |
cannot figure the expenditures of the
next fiscal year but triAe less than
500, 900, 900, Where it is coming
from no one can tell Our public
debt is rapidly accumulating, and to
the $20,0O0, 900 of Treasury notes al
ready issued, is to be added the loan
of $15,OO0,000 already asked for,
which will be granted. Both Of these
are for deficiencies.
"On the 1st Of July, the COM
mencement Of the present fiscal year,
there was a surplus of $l7,710,l14
in the Treasury. This has been spent,
and $20,000,0 900 more of Treasury
notes, which makes an aggregate de-
hcicncy Of $277lO,ll4 in a single
year, By careful estimates it will
be seen that tho Secretary will have
to cgll upon Congress for $42, ,OOO,-
600 to meet the deficiencies of the
nert fiscal year, or the one upon which
we are to enter the first Of July. To
that enormous amount will have to be
added $4,000, 900 to pay the Treas
ury notes which will become due,
and one million or thereabouts for
interest, which will make the snug
little sum Of 1868, 100000 of national
debt contracted in brief two years
of an Administration entering upon
Office with promises Of reform, and
while the nation is at peace with the
world, If to this there should hap
pen to be added the expense Of war
with any foreign power, our national
debt would be sweled to gigantic
proportions. The truth is that the
most reckless extravaganza charac-
terizcs all branches Of the Govern.
ment. The most outrageous swindles
are practiced under the very eyes Of
the legally constituted guardians Of
the public Golfers, During the first
twcaty gears of our national history
the aggregate expenses did not reach
$76, 900, 900, while for this single
year they have overrun 1888, 900, 900,
and the next bids fair to touch thc
round sum Of one hundred million OF
dollars. The President, the Cabinet,
both Houses Of Congress, down to
the army Of supernumary clerks who
labor from three to six hours per day,
and extending over the country, en-
bracing all the land-ofIices, custom
houses, and every nook and corner
accessible to the hand Of plunder,- --
in all these this increased expenditure
ia visible. While the Constitution
expressly provides that the salary Of
the President shall not be increased
during his term Of Office, yet the sim.
ple provision is avoided by appropri.
ations for his household expenses. -
lIe is furnished with an executive
mansion, splendidly furnished, and
tho salary has heretofore been deemed
sufficient to keep the establishment
without trenching upon the private