The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1858-06-15

| 50 with mall contracts, with public buildings
and in short with every thing. There is hun
~~v swarm Of desperate plunderers hard upon
track Of this decaying Administration, ab
sorbing every cent in the Treasury and running
the Nation in debt at fearful rate. Money
has been expended tor the current year to the
enormous amount Of Ss5, 5000, 900! whilst the
revenue cannot, from all sources, exceed $50,
coo 900. The Executive has exhausted all hi.
power, his patronage, and bankrupted the
Treasury in a vain effort to carry Lecompton
Never was corruption SO rife at W ashington a,
during the session just closing. Never va.
money so proiusely lavished. And We behold the
result in national debt, created in time Of
peace, growing at the rate Of $4,000, 900 pc,
| per annum.
Extray0gance and Corruption of the
GOvernMemt.
We are a rich and liberal nation, and can af-
ford to maintain our State and National govern.
ments generously. And We do it. There is nc
country where the expenditure of the public
money is subject to less scrutiny. We do no,
feel the burden directly, and the millions slip
out of the national treasury with as little notice
on the part Of the people who contribute to
place them there as il money were created by
acts of Congress and the government. had the
secret OF the philosophers stone and could
transmute every thing into gold. This care
| lessness in regard to expenditures from the
common fund is remarkable in people SO sharp
as individuals in looking after 'the main
chance" We spend freely as individuals, it is
| true, but most of us make sure Of our money 8
worth for all we expend. We do not throw
money away in mere wantonness. We should
apply the same rule to the government; let the
public expenditures be generous, but let US
make sure that We get our moneys worth, or
| something approaching it.
But as things are. official plumber has come to
be considered as matter of course. When an
appropriation is made by Congress we look at it
as inevitable that large portion of it should
lind its way without adequate return into the
pockets OF the partizans who hang upon those
in power. This is accepted as a matter of set
tied custom, but if the exact figures could be
obtained, and the country could see how large
proportion Of the money expended by the
government goes to satisfy these ieeches OF the
treasury, and Is neither returned in services
rendered nor property accumulated, there would
be no little surprise and Indignation. In late
debate in the Senate Mr.. Toombs of Georgia
said
I'VE speak Of the corruptions OF Mexico, of
Spain, Of France, and other governments with
great deal Of truth, according to all accounts;
but from my experience and observation, which
have been somewhat extensive, do not believe
to-day there is as corrupt government under
the heavens as these United States"
Mr. Hae-"Nor either"
Several Senators-"I agree to that"
Mr. Toombs-"And most or all its corruption
is in the legislative department"
We fear the senators correct in these opin.
ions, extrayagant as they seem at first sight, and
glance at the current expenditures OF the gov
eminent will give some idea OF what the various
corruptions, executive and legislative. cost the
people. We find the facts and figures in formi-
dable array in recent speeches in Congress by
Senator Wilson and by Mr.. Sherman Of Ohio in
the House.
During the eight years OF the Polk, Fillmore
and Taylor administrations, which included the
Mexican war, tie annual expenditures of the
government averaged As millions. During the
tour years of Pierce the annual expenditures
were IS millions, an increase OF Is millions an
nuaiiy above tie period when we had tie i'm
mense expenses of the Mexican war to paw Mr..
Pierces administration spent more money than
was spent in the % years OF the administrations
OF Washington, Adams, Jefferson and Madison.
When Mr.. Buchanan went into power there
were Is millions in the treasury, and it was con
sidered a difficult problem to decide what should
be done with the accommodating public iunds.-
The problem has been solved, and the admins.
tration has achieved at least one success in dis
posing of all difficulties arising from plethora
Of the treasury. Says Mr.. Wilson,
mir. Buchanan has collected from all sources |
about s44, 100000; or rather, he has collected
the first quarter $21, 00o 900, the next 81 ,Ooo-
900, and the third quarter $4,000, 900, and it is
estimated that the last quarter will be Ss,0O0,-
poo, making $4,000, 0U0 to be added to the
SIS, 100000, amounting to 500, 100000. We |
have borrowed S20,000Uo0 by treasury notes.
which makes So, o00,00 as the resources of the |
Administration for the present year. The sena- |
lor from Virginia, the chairman of the commit |
zee on finance, estimates, if l understood him, |
hat the receipts for the year would amount to
$50, 100000, and the expenditures to Ss5, 600.
100, which will leave balance in the treasury
'f 100000. Now, We are told by the Secre-
AIRY OF the Treasury, that at the commencement
,f the next fiscal year the $4,000, 900 of trea-
ury notes will be exhausted, and we shall begin
he fiscal year without any money, or with only
III Insignificant sum IN the treasury. The annual
expenditures OF this administration exceed the
expenditures of the last administration exclu.
ave OF the public debt, more than $40, 900 600.
The last administration added $4,000, 600 to
he average annual expenses of the country, and
he present administration adds x20, 900, 900 an.
ualiy over the last administration, which the
Whole country believed 10 be an extravagant
Next year, including the debt incurred this
ear, the government will require about hun.
red million dollars, and at the end of the wear.
here viii be deficiency OF from As to so mil
ons. In time of peace we shall have run in
ebt so millions in two years.
There are appropriation bills now before
ongress that demand an aggregate of 20 mil
on dollars vi this amount over ID million ID
'r the navy and i6t million for the army, and
ct what poor show is made by both for this
sgregate OF 80 millions annually. Halt this
mount, honestly and judciously expended.
ould put us in better state of defense. Tn
} 1910 the expenses OF the government in
reased but little faster than the ratio of the
opuatIon. Since that time il goes far beyoud
lat. In lS40 the pay of the employees of Con- (
ress amounted to S42, 592, in 1887 to 81 o. 900.
lille the number OF persons composing the ,
ongress was substantially tie same. During :
re same period the Incidental and contingent :
spenses OF the Senate rose from SIoo ooo To s
$4,000, those OF the House from $40. 600 to
100000, and those OF the executive from
100000 to 1927 900. In 1910 the expenses {
r the White House ard grounds were ~. los: q
1891, Tor the same purpose, S2l, 200. Can
~ one suppose that these extraordinary rates
increase are legitimate and honest? The
hitting OF the Goth Congress cost So. 4a2 per 8
mum, that OF the sd Congress which re-
aled the Missouri Compromise, over million 1
ID a halt per anhum, or more than $40, 900 a Ii
ar 10 each member of Congressi n
As an instance Of the way in which the gov. :
nmen: lie robbed by means of contracts given
a reward for political services, Mr.. Sherman 6
the case OF the New Orleans custom. D
'usc, and there are thousands of fiat Jobs"
ie it:
I'm lS4s, Congress appropriated Sloo, 600 for D
G construction OF custom house in that city. | :,
on the express condition that the city should !,
mate 10 the government lot Of ground for .
at purpose, and make out clear and valid B
lie. Well, sir, the SloO, 300 appropriated was d
expended in the sinking of the foundation -
building OF untold msgnfcence, never r
hfemplated by those who made the appropl-
on The department again came to Con- Il
eSS tor another aDpronri atm and ro,,.as. | :.