The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-02-14

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Boun,ies PAID several states ............ 2issis
Construction q pubic buildings, nc tss
ltnsons PAID .s...ss.s..... itlsss3
ror,inestous 2es. tss
Contrasting rosds 1887
Rivers and naf bors. $685.
New steam vessels sssst..ssss.. $500
NavsI ordnanse. s.,epments Sc ..... sssl sas
The Mint estAblhhment. ................... oi3asT
r,a.i as a. sas
deduct inns raie iron, NE sessn,, one nioss
paid from the Treasury during the year gugkton,
elusive q payments Account II tne pubic dchf,
rny men,s in Haas ,xeosyc Of public dsbl 81 sssiso
Payments mol oreeAble 10 current exicnzes 1897 500
curcn, expenditure. sSS ssi Sii
In applying ,be pruning Katie IL reirsschnsul. Toe 70
CARDS OF congress AN have ~ be turned chiefly 10 The
greater part Of tn sixteen nJs q extraordinary ap
preparations which Nc have scheduled above-say eight
mlious-cai ~ be hoped "a without crrc-
mony; but should sill have sixty millions left.
and 4 must chiefly be among the nens comprising
$50 GA we bsye above eliminated that tn objects II
Now II seems 10 us that the Informal committees hat
have been commissioned ny meetings II members TO
rather illustrated chow rot 10 do what they we're
doing. Economy, like charity, ougat TO begin II
at home; for that economy most iudcous which
is exorted details with which persons pTsctsag
most familiar. For instance, there vould BE- evi-
dent Improperly In legislators exering Their skin IN eco
nomy too exclusively the salaries and pay OF naval
and army officers, many OF whom bufctng with hard
ship and privation the solnies Of the
desolations Of the plains II Is well known tna the
talents and learning produce other walks OF LIE higher
compensation than received by these officers AMI Is
notorious that they accumulate nothing old age
growing families from their pay Educated 10 their pro-
fessions they thereby untitled for the avocaons OF
civil life, and cannot therefore, resign positions which
tail perjury upon Them 10 engage IN the pursuits of civil
lfe There seems indeed, TO be peculiar harshncss aud
injustice in applying the pruning knife too trenchany TO
the salaries OF the officers Of establishments which
founded by Washington, and which only be discarded
when discard the wise maxms OF prudence that lac
grated upon the policy Of the country.
1t that II members are sincere In their pur
pose OF institung sound economy In the public admns
tralion, would be best manifested they commenced
in their own department Of the government II seems 10
that the subject Of Congressional expenditure presents
most interesting department for tho exercise of the
pruning knife The expenses of federal legislation com
pared with those which attend the legislation Of tho
States, present most striking contrast Take single
exampehat Of one OF the States nearest the seat Of
the federal government.
The Virginia legislature which consists of two hundred
members, expends in year about hundred and fifty
thousand dollars including all incidental costs aud charges
Of whatever name and character. Measured by this
standard the expenses Of Congress, which consists Of
three hundred members, ought to be, including all
pgences about two hundred and seventy five Thousand
dollars-certany not more than double that amount
$560,0o0 They were, however, during the fiscal year
1864 moderate year-as folows:-
Pay, mileage, and contingencies. SO, SIS, 523
Cost Of the Thanking privilege to the Post Office
Expended on the Capitol ...............l 900 900
Total s., osa, 52s
Deduct expenditures if double the Virginia
standard. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. $4,000
Margin for retrenchment 81, 6a3, s2s
To descend from the general single particular; the
pay and mileage Of two hundred Virginia legislators for
session OF one hundred and twenty days. is SiO60 600
Double the length of the session and mako the average
distance travelled ten times great for three hundred
members Of Congress, and their pay and mileage
standard would be s43S 600 We therefore deduce
the following statement
Actual pay and mileage Of Congress for a long
What would be if on the virginia standard 600
Margin for economy .. .sIi2i OILS
We are not to be understood recommending such a
system Of retrenchment We only applying OBJ
vous reflections the subject that portion Of the
public expenditures with which members personally
most familiar.
1t seems to us that Congress has been very awkward
from the beginning Of the present session in conducting
its policy OF economy. Une Of the first decisive things
which of its branches did, pass the Pension
bill, which il is variously estimated will draw of the
treasury from fifty to hundred and fifty millions of dol
lars creating an annual charge the treasury of eight
Of $4,000 900. One OF the next decisive things
the same body did, was to pass a Homestead bill
granting away the public lands to all settlers,
completely stripping them Of market value, and dssi-
patng Of revenue to the treasury which
equal during the last twelve twenty years average
sum of $4,000 600 per This income represents
another funded capital of 500 900 voted away and
thus have the remarkable fact Of branch of Congress
sns season ~ voting away at one @ dash
COO, and then turning with microscopic zeal upon the
monthly pay Of subordinate officers and clerks of the
is calculated to excite especial wonder
We glad to Observe however, that JUS, views
OF what constitutes economy and more just conception
of the proper ways and means Of ectng retrenchmcnt
are beginning to assert their sway and
TO believe that the legislation of the session will yet be
appropriate to the exgences of the country
From the Washington Union.l
THE MoRMoNs, THE WAR AND THE ARMY CON-
TRACTORS.
The NEW YORK HERALD, after commenting upon the
civil government Of Utah and the difficulties incident to
the exercise Of the authority of the United States,
presses the opinion that much Of the strife which has
heretofore prevailed between the Mormons and 90
has arisen from the ntrgues Of army
tors This is rough way Of overslaughng the Of
history for few years past, and method
should say of doing injustice both to the administration
and TO the very energetic and upright gentlemen who
have been and engaged transporting military stores
for the army. II may not be amss, under the circum
stances TO refer to some leading facts in this connection
1t is understood that the War Department has
Congress q communication covering a proposition from
Aeesrs. Russell, Majors Wadde army contractors, To
surrender and abrogate their agreement to transport
tary stores for the government.
II is due to the parties connected with this matter that
the circumstances attending the should fully stat
ed The contractors, under various FORMS have
gagged in the army service for more than eleven years
They gentlemen Of high character and have command
cd the confidence of successive administrations including
that of Mr.. Fillmore. When the government determined
TO adopt to enforce the laws Utah antcpat
ing large increase Of transportation the plains adj
vertsed for proposals. in the usual way took special
pains TO invite various parties 10 put in bids 10 do the
work required After every exerton Of the department
none were found willing to undertake the immense
vice, requiring as did, outlay Of than two mil
lions OF dollars. Under these circumstances tho depart
ment closed an agreement with Messrs. Russell, Majors
and Waddel, the old contractors at rates such az
were deemed fair and Just to all parties These gentle
men, by universal consent executed the duties assigned
them with all energy promptncss despatch and fairness
They have commanded the confidence Of the Quarter
masters Department and Of all persons connected with
the service Their OUTLAWS have been immense, and their
profits II is believed larger than what justice and
dealing would have awarded them. Under previous
contract. In tho first expedition TO Utah, running from
peace into war; they had suffered the total destruction by
the hostile action Of the Mormons Of three trains, entail
ing loss upon them Of about three hundred thousand
dollars for which they have received no reimbursement
Very much Of the efficiency Of the armyat one time It's
safety evcndepcnded upon the energy and fidelity Of the
parties engaged in moving it's military stores and IL Is
greatly credit Of tho latter that they have boon able
TO command the approval Of the entire service. They
prompt in the OF every duty assigned