The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-12-12

Tolal."..r."....v",.....
The receipts for the same period, estimated
on the present basis of tariff aud internal taxa
tion, are as follows:- ..t IL !
From Customs. 10 900 600
From Internal ReVenue.....-..........2 200, ,OO1O0O
From Sale of Public Lands.."..."...... l,0O0OO0
From Miscellaneous Sources..........." 3O,OOOOOO
Total receipts 1881 goo 900
Deduct 872OOOOOO
Leaving surplus of.........""......... S9OOO,0OO
Such are the figures, and they are truly
formidable to contemplate. But Mr.. Hooper
has introduced into the House of Representa-
tives a resolution instructing the Committee
on Ways and Means to report bill so modify
ing our present system as to reduce the annual
receipts to the maximum of $500, 900, 900.
Such measure will of course be worse than
useless if Congress is to continue its present
system of reckless appropriations. So long as
Mr.. McCulloch has untold millions at his
command, and full authority to expend them,
we need look for no contraction from that
source. AS general rule, it is not only mex
pedientl but unsafe to adopt such theory as
that advanced by Mr.. Hooper. Yet the prin-
ciple underlying it is the only one which will
relieve the stagnation at present prevailing in
every branch of industry throughout the
country. Economy is the great desideratum,
and the only remedy for our financial distress.
And here arises the question as to how this
economy can be inaugurated. In the first
place, the measure proposed by Mr.. Fessenden
in the Senate yesterday should receive the
hearty endorsement of both Houses. It pro-
poses a general overhauling of the roll of each
House. with the view of reduction in the
number of employees, and general decrease in
the expenditure of the contingent fund. But
a trife will be saved by this, it is true, but
millions are made up of trifes, and if economy
is infused into all the multitudinous branches
of the Government the result will show
largely in the aggregate. Not only the two
Houses of Congress, but every department o.
the Government, must be brought within the
rule. In this connection, we must ex
press our unqualified condemnation o.
the scheme to increase the salaries Of
the employees of the different offices
at Washington. It has received the high
sanction of General Grants endorsement,
much to our regret, as the country has been
led to anticipate different course on the part
Of the General of the army. If such measures
for swelling the national expenses are to re-
oeivs his support, his commendable action in
cutting down the expenses of the Department
of which he has temporary control, will be
more than counterbalanced.
We understand that another measure i;
soon to be presented to the Senate which will
forward the movement towards economy. Il
is proposed to subject the diplomatic and con
sular system of the country to genera
revision, and in doing so, Congress will hav'
an excellent opportunity for making consider
able inroads upon the $5l, 100000 at whicl
Mr.. McCulloch has placed the estimated ex
penditures of the civil list for 1869. Their
are a great number of highly ornamental bu
altogether useless missions maintained by u
abroad, for the especial benefit of aged an
decayed politicians, all of which, including tn
incHmbents themselves, can be safely an
prOftably abolished.
Included in these reformatory measure
should be the real estate agency which MI
Seward has established in the State Depart
ment Alaska has been fairly and squarel
bought, and it must be as fairly and a
squarely paid for. The stipulated 81, 200, 90
belongs to the Russian treasury, and not t
our own; and the sooner the House of Repre-
sentatives completes the arrangements 70
transferring the amount, the more credit vii
they reflect upon the nation. st. Thomas
however, is different place. While th
former is frozen up, the latter is generally SUI
posed to have been drowned out. AS 10,
bergs are able to hold their heads above waite
they can be put to some use; but sunken
blazing island would prove an ineumbran
to Mrs. Toodles herself. After all, st. Thorn
might eventually prove of some value, but
will do no harm for the Senate to pause al
carefully examine the subject before conhrr
ing the treaty. The proverbial rottenne
which afiicts the kingdom of Denmark mi
possibly extend to all Its dependent islands.