The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-28
The Senate and Retrenchment.

From the Herald
The Senate of the United States was at one
time body distinguished as we'll for its dignity
and talent for its probity and high-toned sense
of personal honor. But it has within few years
taken long leap in a contrary direction, and,
instead of acting as a check to the wild extrava-
gance of the lower house, now only serves as a
wheel horse to the Iobbing cart of that proligate
body. When the subject of increasing the COM
pensation OF members sixty per cent. came up
the other day, not voice was raised in opposi-
ton; but, on the contrary, the principal diff
fculty seemed to be TO ascertain to what extent
the salaries OF the employees ofthe Senate Cham
ber could be raised ar the same time. Not
word was uttered about the uniitness of thus in
creasing the public expenditures at a time when
the people are groanlng under a mountain OF
taxation.
Not word was said about the numerous Jobs
Congress had put through during the session.
involving an unnecessary expenditure directly
from the Treasury aud Indirectly from the peo-
pie of two hundred and fifty Millions But
while thus piling on the public expense, they
with GOODNESS particularly refreshing with the
thermometer at ninety-siX, appoint committee
to see wnere retrenchment can be effected in
other departments OF The Government For
themselves they retrench by cutting down their
mileage fifty per cent and raising their pay sixty
per cent. They are content to take only twenty
cents a mile for mileage-constructive
and otherwise-when every one knows
any part of the country, except, per-
haps the Pacific coast, does not exceed five
cents per mile. Numbers of Senators also have
a wrangle about the pickings and stealngs of
the Sergeant-at-Arms, who is on the one hand
accused OF speculatng IN Pennsylvania avenue
and Wall street, and on the other is defended by
an honorable Senator who had known him for
quarter of century, ana never knew him to
commit dishonest act The gentleman was
probably acquainted with the Sergeant.atArms
before he went to Washington from the West,
ard spoke from knowledge of his character up
to that time But If the Congress does really
mean retrenchment-for we hardly think it
would both tie and steal IN the same breath
let the Committee go to work at once upon the
Treasury Department. Let its retrenchment
committee account for the thirty million def
cheney under ex.Secretary Chase's admlnistra.
tion. Let them investigate into the honesty and
the morality of the Treasury officials. Let them
find out who are the confederates Of gangs of
counterfeiters, Let them explain how enormous
commissions have been given to outside parties
for work that ought to have been performed by
the regular Treasury Department offices. Let
them demonstrate, ii possible, the necessity oil
having any Treasury Department at all If the
most essential part of the financial business OF
the Government is to be transacted by ire
sponsible and greedy outsiders. If Congress
requires its retrenchment committee to invesG
gate these things and show them up in their
true light before the country, 1T will do some
thing TO Justify strike for higher wages.