Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1868-07-10
HEPTBLIC.E.rEX

We call the attention of those advocates
of prudence and economy in public expen-
diture whom the prevalent cry of extrava-
giant expenditure by the party now in pow
err has made iorgetful of the past to the ex-
position made in Congress by Mr.. Blaine
of Maine in his recent speech, 1t goes far
to show that the republican party can re-
form its own evils, and that it is not neces-
sary to change the party in power to bring
back the old scale of government expendi-
lures We quote the leading statements of
Mr.. Blaine, and commend them to all
readers -
lie called attention to the importance of
distinguishing between those expenditures
which were discretionary and under the
control of Congress, and those which were
the inevitable and unavoidable consequence
OF the war In the latter class he incl uded
the interest on the war debts, the pensions
and the bounties to soldiers The interest
amounts to sl29 900 900, the pensions to $780,
100000, and the bounties to $50 OOOOO0
making in the aggregate nearly $3.50 10000.
or nearly two-thirds of the entire expendi.,
lures. These expenditures cannot be avoid
ed, unless we repudiate our obligations to
our public creditors and turn our back on
the brave men who risked their lives that
the republic might survive. The ordinary
expenditures of the fiscal year on which
we had just entered, he said would be as
follows: Executive, Legislative and judi
cial, embracing all salaries and expenses,
Sl7,4sOOOOi for the army, 3,0sl,0l3; for
the navy, 81, 100000; West Point military
academy s SS2 1900 OoOi for post Office depart
service, 81 ,206, 434; for Indian bureau,
treaties, ETC., s2,5OO,OOO; for rivers and
harbors, 81, 100000; for collecting the rev.
enue, s9,969,OOO; for civil expenses of the
various departments, s6,020, 900; miscela-
neous expenses of all kinds, including the
cost of certain public buildings, expenses
of reconstruction and of closing up the
freedman's bureau, $1,000, 900; DEFICIENCIES
in appropriations, S2,56O,000 total, slOs,-
Az. The same class of expenses in Blu
chanan's time amounted TO over $4,000, 900
per annum in gold coin. At that time the
entire population was less than 80 000, 900,
while to-day it is well nigh 40, 600, 900. Add
ing 40 per cent premium on gold TO bring
the expenditures of the two eras to the same
standard, and IL will be found that one year
of Buchanan's expenditure would amount
TO sos, 900, 900 in the currency of to-day, and
if we add one-third of the increase in popu-
lation and consequent legitimate increase
of expenditure, we find the total of one year
of Buchanan's rate of expenditure would
be $3.50, 900, while we spend less than
Sl07 100000. The economy of to-day was
even more apparent when the details of the
expenses of the army were examined. For
example, during Buchanan's four years the
army cost SS7 ,0O0, 900, nearly go, 600, 900 in
coin each year-and that, too, for an army
of only 10 regiments, or at the rate of more
than 81 ,000,0 900 year in gold for each regi-
ment. To-day, with an army of go regi-
ments, Gen. Grant asks for only S33, 900 900,
or little more than $500, 900 for each regi-
ment Under the democratic regime, it
cost nearly twice as much in gold for each
regiment as 1t costs in paper under Cen
Grants administration OF army affairs
The disparity in naval expenditures is
equally striking. This year we should
spend little over Sl7 900, while under
Buchanan the average expenses were over
$l3,0OOO 900 year in gold. Considering the
difference in the size of the navy at tho two
periods, the Buchanan scale of expenditure
would to-day make an outlay of well nigh
$40, 600, 900 for the naval service. In the
post-ofIice department the difference was
equally striking. In the three years pre-
cedng 1861 the treasury was called upon
for an average of s., 900, 900 a year, one year
running up to s7,0OO,0O0, TO make up for
the deficiency from receipts for postage.
The republican administration has not av-
eraged more than an expenditure of - ,O0O,-
900 year, with vastly extended service
in remote states and territories.