New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-02-10
CAN MONEY RE uAyRDs


and candlc.ends AS are now possible. But
the mistake here is in measuring ths value Of a
reform by the bare amount OF saving therein
effected; whereas tho principle anil precedent
are worth far more than tho sum directly in.
volved. If, for example, the present Congress
should, by resolute. determined effort, reduce
the current expenditures by Five Millions per
annum, there would incidentally but necessarily
result, saving Of at least twice that amount
in tho obstacles interPesed 10 tho success OF the
schemes and projects whereby those expcndi'
lures are constantly augmented.
Can snch rctrcnchmcnt be madof
We say it can, provided Congress is duly i'm
pressed with its importance to tho stability Oft the
National Credit, the solvcncy Of tho National
Finances. If Members did not realize the
salutary influence which such reform would
exert, with the difficulty and the vital confe-
auence Of sustaining tho National Credit, 1t
must be that they could, VTon yet, devise and
enact the needed cutalnent Of our annual out.
goes.
But whcrcin1
We will instance O few items that occur to US,
with no details Of tho Civil List n. hand, but
with a lively sense of the enormous extent to
which il has been swellcd within the last ten or
fifteen years:
|. Contingencies Of Concross.-Every men,
Der knows that half the amy of employees now
crowding the Capitol are totally usclcss-arc
in fact, in the way. Cut down the number OF
sub.clerhs, sub-doorhccpors, fircmen, messen-
gers. pages, &C.. &c, onc-half, ard either
House would be better served and attendance
on it more comfortable than now. Abolish the
Franking Privilege, and stop tho distribution
Of dry as dust reports, mos ages, &c. &c, by
scores Of tuns to light the Kitchen iires OF Min
neso;a, Utah and California. Paper is too dear
at present to be squandored as it Is; and if Con-
gress really wants to reduce the price. let 1t
stop spelling il by the hundred thousand dol
lars worth. We firmly believe that this would
do more for the relief Of the publishing interest
than taking off the twenty per cent duty.
Print no more documents than those to whom
they are sent will gladly pay postage on, and
the saving in this item alone must amount to a
Quarter of a Million per annum.
III. Miieage.-This is not moro ntrocioua than
other swindes, bat it ia n little more glazing
Every man knows that the allowance Of Eight
dollars for every twenty miles" traversed in
going TO aud another eight dollars for every
twenty miles travelled in returning from each
session OF Congress, is not what 1t should be-
The basis for computing the probable cost OF
Congressional travel was fixed when steamboats,
and railroads were yet undrcamed OF, when
stage coaches that traversed forty miles per day.
over our most exccrablc roads, did very well.
and when the cost Of travelling per milo was in
money four times and in time ten times what
it now ia. The usually Travelled route'-from
Kentucky TO Washington, for instances twice
as long as it formerly was, though it can be
travelled in a quarter Of the time and at a third
of the expense. Every one feels the iniqulty
of paving Members from the Pacific coast
$40, 900 to Sl2, 900 each per annum "a mile
age"-olten for journeys never made. Every
one knows that Congress would correct the
abuse if Congress did not profit by it; and
public faith in the integrity as we'll as patriot
ism Of Congress is impaired BY its default.
Members realize the iniquity Of this gouge, else
why is the Mileage schedule 80 carefully hidden
from public scrutiny' We could not procure
it for publication to-day without pains-taking
finesse and effort; we could not publish it,
however markedly, without being suspected by
at least twenty Members Of malignant intent
to damage their individual regulations. How
can public men cling to an abuse which they
confess themselves 30 thoroughly ashamed of
The evil does not stop with Congress. Every
messenger who bears the Presidential vote OF
State to Washington insists on being paid the
Mileage Of a member and no one dare gainsay
him. We presume at least S25,OOO have just
been taken out of the Treasury to pay the Mile.
age Of the threc messengers who brought to
Washington the eleven Electoral Votes of Cali
fornia, Nevada and Oregon, though $4,000
would have paid generously for the service, and
$1,000 would have been eagerly accepted by
worthy, responsible men. Why must such
glaring abuses be endured in these days Of tax
alton that cuts to the bone
III. Diplomatic and Consular Serriee.-Wc
know that our country's need Of representation
abroad is far greater now than in time of peace;
we know that Missions and COnsulates may
justifably be maintained where they were
purely ornamental five years ago; yet we insist
that the business is both overdone and overpaid.
1t is very right to have Commissioners in Hayti
and Liberia; it is monstrous TO pay them 81, 500