Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-07-31
De,mocratfc Prodigaltty-Anoth Ta-
HE from Omcial Sources.

nemocrntfc Prodigaltty-Anoth a."
BILE from Omcial Sources.
The Baltimore Posrios publishes a table of
~. CONCENTRATIONS made during the first ses-
sion of the 35th Congress, giving circumstan-
tally the items sand objects of each. 1t shows
.b. a,nonnt TO be, exclusive Of the Post Office
.cconus. SCI .067 672 7s. The expenses of
, the r. o. Department, together with the per-
rnanent appropriations-whch are overlooked
in the ordinary computation of the amount
placed at the disposal of the Administration
and che probable deficiencies" make
grand total of something over hundred mil
lions at the command of the President for the
fiscal year ending the seth of next June. The
table goes further, and sets forth the amount
proposed to be appropriated by the respective
Uonses. which shows that the sum of $685.
III. 905 81 was sought to be appropriated by
the Senate When it is remembered that the
Senate is overwhelmingly democratic. the ar
gument that any combination of the opposi-
ton may have run the amount beyond the
desires of the democratic party. falls to the
ground We have not space, just now, for
the entire table, but subjoin the comments of
our Baltimore contemporary, in which the
whole subject is pointedly brought to view.
1t says:
ssThe people of Baltimore in these hard
times are sufficiently alive to the necessity OF
economy. We avail ourselves of the occasion
to show them what the National Administra-
ton has cost and is costing; and this we do
exclusively from official documents.
We invite their attention to table pre-
pared from official sources and by hands alone
competent to do it. exhibiting the course and
results of the financial legislation of the last
session of Congress--which, with the addl-
tion of the permanent appropriations, and the
indefinate appropriations carefully estimated,
and the amounts by former appropriation
bills left at the disposal of the government,
will show the act,mL gross means placed at the
disposal of the government. These last items
are usually overlook or kept out of sight
in such estimates. are touched only cnrsorily
by official documents and are seldom laid
before the public. The people thus almost
always have an inaccurate idea of the actual
aggregate cost of the government.
Another important topic necessary TO
fair appreciation of the conduct of the Gov
eminent, is the objects of appropriation; and
that is especially necessary now to be con-
sidered, because the present administration,
while greatly exaggerating some, have greatly
reduced or entirely expunged others; and it
is of Importance to know that these latter
are those in which the actual industrial
interests of the country are most deeply in
terest d.
The wriggling of the administration under
the enorrnity Of its expenditures is quite sig
nfcant.
They try to withdraw this. that and the
other item from the list; they construe words
sharply to deceive people; they distinguish
current and permanent appropriations; they
shut their eyes to the Post-Office charges. and
vince under the expenditure for public build
ings; but still these are moneys expended, the
Democrats and the Democratic Wings have the
lingering of the money; the people have to pay
the money, and it is quite as well that the
people should know 1t.
l. We propose to show simply what Ia the
actual amount of money placed at the disposal
of the Administration by the appropriation
laws.
2. What amount was appropriated for the
fiscal year lS5S-'59.
3. How that compares with former appro-
priations for other years.
A. The character of the appropriations.
The Report of the Secretary of the Treasury
shows that President Buchanan, in his first
year, spt7t-that is took from the people and
paid away about SIS, 900. 900, or. as the Sec
rotary puts it. actual and estimated. S74, 963,-
O5S4l; but that estimate Omits about Sl4,-
O00, 900 paid by the people for the mail SER
vice, which would bring up the cost of that
first year to SSS 963, O5S.4l.
Now with this first year TO start with,
sample how much has been place d at the dis
posal Of the Administration by their two dem
ocratc Houses of Congress for the expenses
of the Government.
The President approved bills approprating
the following sums, according to the table,
viz: ...r
Sums specified in the bills so7 ,oo7,762 rs
Indefinite appropriations carefully est-
3,8S3
Making ................s $50 45O 600 90
Sums in which permanent laws place
the disposal OF the Government, omit
ting cost of collecting revenue per for
Sums ms appropriaicd by former laws appi,
cable 70 the expenses of 1859. l6 ,5s6.5ss 50
Sums appropriated by permanent laws the
OF the postOiiice dept. IA as $40 60
Aggregate loans appropriated for the
of the Administration, and placed ut
.heir disposal by the last session slO6, l67 1882 81
Pretty good work for one session and both
Houses largely democratic!
How much of this enormous aggregate OF
Sl06.l 67 1882 81 is for the use of the year
ending June 80, 1859.
The only items which can at all be properly |
deducted are the various deficiency bills APP |
plcable to service of the year 1858.
The only items of this sort are in the |
table.
DO. l3 deficiency general for 1883 50 1858, BOZ 50
But of that sum 81, 9l0, 500 is for the army;
and the Quartermaster General said in his |
estimate, by way of apology for this enormous
deficiency, that as TO S3,00I ,9ll 30, "a large |
portion are for necessary outfits, which though |
they must be provided in this present fiscal |
year (IS5S) will be used principally in and
therefore properly belong to the nea fiscal |
year." (lS59.)
They are in fact for the use of the Utah |
campaign now progressing. Ii therefore we |