Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-01-24

There il a proposition in Congress ~ cut down
the pay Of the officers Of the army and navy
about one-half. We favor the reelection Of our
national expenditures by wise and rigid econo
my. but We think that retrenchment should first
commence in other quarters, We see no propo-
siton to cut down the pay and emelunents of
members Of Congress, and tie Executive branch
Of the Government There is where the work Of
reform and retrenchment should begin, and es-
pecially nj time like this, when tie Govern
ment Is struggling, like strong man bound, for
all other expenditures for the maintenance of the
TIE Government are reduced to the lowest point,
we would not take dollar from the compensa-
ton Of the men who risk their health and lives
IN fighting the battles Of the Union. Ii does not
sound very we'll for gentlemen. like our distn-
guished Senator. Mr. LANE. to explode heir pa
triotism. and express their Willingness to make
all sorts of sacrifices put down this rebellion.
then to drop upon m elegant cushioned chair. in
chamber which in its adornments, rivals orr
entail Splendor and tnse, without making
serious effort to check the corruption which
stalks through every department Of the Govern
ment- La the language of Mr DAWES, a Repub
lican member OF Congress from Massachusetts,
"A strong man, in an air exhausted receiver. il
not more helpless To day than is the treasury Of
this Government beneath the exhausling process
TO which j; is subjected" Truer words were
never spoken. Everywhere We see, hear and
will soon feel. the ELECTS of this exhaustng pro-
cess, and 10 again use the language of Dir.
DAWES. Instead of Congressman exhausting
themselves in rhetorical fourishes, "their press
Ing duty now is to protect and save the treasury
from further wholesale other system of plum
dering." Our distinguished Senator, Hon. HIN
ny 5 LANE. in a a speech in the Senate the other
day, said:
HE would carry on this war until every indi
vidual was bankrupt-he would give the coat off
his back, and even lie in a pauper grave and be
buried by the hands of charity, rather than close
the war"
We should like to see Mr. LANE illustrate this
patriotic ieryor. If the Government is carried on
few months longer as il has been for the past ten
Mr.. LASk's remarks may prove fancy sketch.
"Providence." says Mr. DAWES. "before six
months will dispose of the war or He will dis
pose of u.s." Mr.. LANE. and the Congressman
who express themselves like him, will inspire the
country with confidence in their zeal and sincerity
if they put a brake upon the exhausting process
towhich the Treasury is subject By beginning at
home. by cutting down their pay from the IS. 900
to $40 900 they are now drawing per annum to
at least one half that sum. Say nothing about
reducing the soldiers pay until the compensation
of those who fill the ciOa Offices in the Govern
ment retrenched. AT the same time stop the
frauds. the enormous leaks, which Mr.. CH.sE
estimates at about one half Of the war expenses
thus far But unless there is reform. unless cor
ruption and extravagsnee at once checked,
the rebels will only have to keep at bay for
six months longer. and the exhausting process to
which the Treasury is subjected will accomplish
their work for them. But in economzing let the
pruning knife be applied last to the officers of
the volunteer army especially, who have de-
voted their time and means in the first place in
the raising of forces for the war, and who then
encounter privatious and sufferings ia prosecuting
il. risking all the disasters of a sanguinary
conflict.