The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-02-12
How the Nations Resources are
Wasted.

Wasted.
While our country is engaged in the
most costly war that history has ever re-
corded, it is humiliating to read Of the
fearful waste and peryersion, if not abso-
lutte fraud, connected with the use Of the
vast resources Of the nation. As q single
instance, which might be multiplied by
thousands, take the following, from the
Washington correspondent of the New
York Commercial, which is radical jour-
nal and cannot be accused, in publishing
such a fact, Of being actuated by hostility
to the government:
The !" contingent expenses" of the House Of
Representatives for the present fiscal year will
amount to the enormous sum of $110, 902 10,
which is $15, 900 more than was ever appropri-
ated for this purpose before. One item Of this
is for folding documents, for which $40, 900 has
just been asked as q deficiency" of which-so
the Clerk of the House states at least S24, 900
DiA bereqaired during the Presidential campaign.
!" AT least $4,000 will be required DUR
ing the Presidential campaignl" This
means that the Clerk is to expend that
enormous amount in the work of folding
campaign documents, which will be ranked
by Congressman, and sent through the
mails at even still greater expense to the
country. We have reason to believe that
the same reckless squandering prevails, to
a great extent, in all the expenditures of
Congress. 1t is only asday or two since
that friend, in this city, OF a person lately
appointed to position in the gift of one of
our Senators, told us that the appointee
had written that he had got =" a frst-rate
situation that his salary was 'six dol
lars a day, with nothing to do, and two
men to help him" What adds to the dis
grace Of such a statement was the exulta-
rion with which it was made, as if it was
a thing to be proud of, that he had actually
swindle the government ard the people,
in pocketing such an exorbitant salary for
no services whatever. aI
There ere many people who seem deter
mined to shut their eyes, and to stop their
ears, to all such revelations, lest the adj
ministration should be brought into disre-
pute, and be, held accountable for them.
Such persons are not dealing honestly with
their own .consciences. Imagining that
the resources of the country are boundless,
they appear willing that any political
favOrite may enrich himself at the expense
OF the people, if tie country can only stand
such plundering, and still prosecute the
war. But the country cannot stand it.
There is q limit to our resources, and that
limit will be found much sooner than they
expect. The appropriations made by the
Thirty -seventh Congress (n6t the present.
for the war, foot up in the aggregate
to $2,12s,399,2 200. This figure, the New
York Journal Of Commerce. says, exceeds
>one-eighth of the total amount of the true
value of the real estate and personal prop
erty of all the States and Territories, which
according to the late census is $16,159,-
6l6,06S. Deficiency bills to meet the in
adequacy of many Of the appropriations are
now the order of the day in Congress, and
if what is asked is voted, and we take into
account the pensions and war claims yet TO
be paid, together with State and local dis
bursements the expenditures on behalf of
the war up to September last will benearer
$4,000 100000 -one-quarter the amount
of the value of the country = than
$2,OOO,O 100000.
The Journal of Commerce forcefully
says: 8 No mere eloquence of words can
add to the force of this summary 1t tells
of the devotion of the people, and the Free
dom with which they have lavished their
treasure for the maintenance Of the ma
tons life. If the results produced have
not correspondent to the means furnished,
this.is certainly no reason why those who
have confded such treasures to the hand
of authority should be defrauded of their
just honor. If the truth ever comes to
light, there will be fearful reve alton of
waste; perversion, and aud connected
with the use of these vast resources; and
this betrayal of conf lence will stand ont
on the page with blacker hue, in striking
contrast with the generous trust # those
who have emptied the nations purse l. to
the lap of authority"
Military Matters.
A letter has been received from Lieut..
Rose, lately appointed to Majorship in