Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1868-02-20
Meanness.

The latest exhibition Of meanness and spite
on the part Of the Radicals in the House Of
Representatives was their vote against allow
ingthe President the necessary number Of clerks
totransact the enlarged and accumulatiug busi-
ness Of the Executive Department. Butler was
the proposer ofthis act Of spite and Suarleyow
Schenck followed suit appropriately, by NOV
ing that no military officer should be detailed
for duty at the Executive Mansion, and this,
too. was carried. Grant as Geueral-ju-Chicf
is allowed eight or ten staff officers, and the
President as Commauder-jn-Chief is denied
even one, though he may often need advice on
military matters.
Th e National INTEL sencer handsomely ex-
poses the pretended economy, this whiting
down Of small expenditures. Il says truly
"The Radical mai,rjties in Congress nearly
doubled their own pay by a mean and craven
trick of attaching the provision for that in
crease to a bill giving bounties to soldiers. by
which its passage was secured. They draw,
besides, ten cents per mile for travel over roads
which do not cost but three OF four, and null
tiply the aggregate by adopting tortuous routes.
In addition 10 these items, they extract from
the contingent fund large supplies of personal
objects for themselves and their families at the
public expense. This system Of plumber has
grown 20 be acryingand notoriousahuse. which
ia disgrace 20 all concerned Yet Mr. Wash
burn could not lisp a syllable on that score, and
his affected zeal was thoroughly exposed by a
colleague. Mr.. Ingrrsoll. who told him
When we have set the example ofreiuciug
our own pay Il viii be full time % talk of re-
ducing the pay OF twelve hundred dollar clerks,
ed ~o' before Is that in order Renewed
laughter
ann in favor Of this amendment, and
am speaking o. il in good faith. II there Is
any necessity f,r econumy Ia this matter. am
in favor Of our going back to $4,000 year
salary
" We hope these sham economists will be
compelled 10 show their hands. and % meet
the question sluarely in regard to themselves
and their own large pay and pecuations The
Radicals have overwhelming maiorities in both
Houses, and can carry whatever measures they
please. II they are sincere, they win 90 back
70 the $4,000 a year salary and cut OF the
plumber Of the contingent fund aud mileage.
The Jacobins whocryout " retrenchment,
while depriving honest men Of their dues, are
those who vote away hundreds If millions 20
support the vast standing army and % fis,en
a military deSpotism upon the country. This
latter is the sort Of economy which they prac-
tice. while the other is the sort which they
preach. They shout over the achievement Of
starving a poor clerks family by cutting down
bis paw. while they freely give twenty thou
sand dollars a year % General Grant, and
maintain an army Of sixty thousand men at
cost Of untold millions in order to swell his
consequence, and T. create military dictator
The country demands that the regular army
shall be reduced to peace establishment and
whoever opposes that reduction is not only no
frisud Of economy. but an uai,ssgised enemy
Of liberty and law. There is no escape from
this conclusion. and the issue must be plainly
and promptly made everywhere"