The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1865-03-11
SATURDAY, MARCH II, 1866.
Public Economy.

One of the most lamentable of the evils that
follow in the train of war and the consequent
imitation Of the currency, is the reckless public
extrsvagance Shoddy and Petroleum have sud-
denly overwhelmed some of the less prudent and
sensible of our citizens with SO much money,
that il makes one stop in amazement at the SUBJ
lime reckessness. with which they throw their
Greenbacks TO the wind. We heard OF a party
given in Washington the other day by some poor
fool--poor in the strongest sense of the word,
which cost about 500, 900.
This spirit of extravaganza has crept into Con-
gress Although plank in the Baltimore plat
form demanded that the government should be
administered with economy who has heard
Congressman of either party even hint at a re-
form in the heavy and needless expense of the
government Is there ever a measure opposed
because of the expenditure it involves? When
members talk Of cutting down the expenses by
curtaiIing salaries and taxing the incomes of
those by whose sufferance they hold place, has
any person ever heard one of them propose re-
ducing his own income, or putting tax on his
own salary Some of them have an idea that ii
is all nonsense to grow punctilious about the lit
tie sums, ''the cheese-parings and candle-ends,"
and that matter of a hundred thousand or so
is unworthy their dignifed attention. Gentle
men, 'many little makes mickIe,' was the
profound remark of wiser and better man than
most of you, we fear. As the N. Y Tribune
wisely remarks, fthe principle aud precedent are
worth far more than the amount actually involv-
ed" The same paper goes on to show where
there could and should be public retrenchment,
as follows . assn aT
Discharge half the army of sub-clerks, door
keepers, messengers pages, &C., now crowding
the Capitol. Abolish the franking privilege and
the publication Of endless volumes of dry and
useless reports, which are now scattered over the
land by tons, and used to kindle fires or sold at
cents pound to the rag man. Paper is too
dear just now 10 be squandered in this way
A public document that is worth anything at all
to man, is worth the postage on it. The silly
custom of making a respectable mans Library
sort of lumber room for the receptacle of Con-
gressional Reports, Messages and Documents,
which he never thinks threading, ought to cease.
1t is a nuisance. Amend themileage law, which
allows member eight dollars for every twenty
miles travelled, going to andreturning from each
Session of Congress. By this law members from
the Pacific coast, get $40, 900, to $l2, 900 every
year as "mileage" often for journeys never
made. When members had to travel over hor-
rible roads, in stage coaches or BY private con-
yeyance, at the rate of 40 miles day, there was
some excuse for such a law. There is none
with railroad fare at three cents mile This is
one Of the most shameless gOuges that Congress
In its patriotism and magnAnimity inhicts on
the people. With taxation cutting US to the BORE
how can our Congressman come home and look
their constituents in the face, without having
made an effort to remedy these abuses
Abandon all the ornamental foreign missions,
consular and commercial agencies, which are
now drawing so much of specie for their sup
port 1t is important that our nation be repre-
scented at the leading courts abroad, but in times
OF trial and peril like these, we can't afford to
keep up an agency at every petty European cap
ital, merely for show, at a cost of ten or twenty
thousand dolas year in Gold.
Look into the Indian service, The Judiciary
and Public Land systems, and you will be aston
ished at the fearful leaks that are draining the
Treasury without bringing it any return, with
the vast and increasing Indebtedness ofthe coun-
try staring them in the face, members of Con-
gress assess an income tax on every body else,
and coolly talk Of exempting themselves Then
it's proposed to increase the pay of the thous-
and needless government parasites that hang
about the Capital. agEaat
The time is coming, Messrs. Members Of Con-
gress, when questions of economy and retrench-
ment will be in order, nay when the weight of
public burdens will compel their consideration.
Better make yourselves popular at home by an
tieipating the emergency.