The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-11-03
SPIRIT OF TzxH PRNss.
x dI,or,nI opinions OF the Leading Journaas
Ipou Current tTODics-Compiied every
nav for the Evening Telegraph
WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION is


EroDt the ~ Y. Times.
While the critics of the administration are
deeply immersed in statistics showing how
many, drives General Grant takes, how many
dinners he eats, and how many cigars he
.woles. another class of statistics, from an
Stber source is from time to time put before
the nublic. also bearing on the same question
of the presidents policy. The critics, how
ever. are so intently occupied with the horse
d.cioar question that they naturally have
little time for the other matters which only
roIate 70 public retrenchment and reform
lei ms look, however, at these latter statis-
lies a moment. In the first place, we
have an official announcement from the
Treasury Department, that during the month
of October seven millions more were taken
from the national debt making total de-
crease for the eight months andless of Grants
administration of more than sixty-four mil
lions This is pretty good for a start,
nsneciallv from an administration which is as
sailed by its opponents as 'neglecting the
public interests Let us hope that it will go
on ''neglecting' them in the same way
through the remaining third of the year.
In the next place. we are told that the ex-
hibit of departmental expenses before Con-
yress will probably show that they are all Gun
less possibly the Interior) keeping within the
marrow limits of the appropriations made
last wear. while the Navy Department has
confined itself thus far to its unexpended
balance. and has not touched it's appropria-
lions for the current fiscal year. These ap-
propriations are only about fifteen millions,
at any rate, and during the first quarter of
4he year saving of $300,000 over the first
quarter of the previous year was effected
This is the department about which we have
heard so much, in connection with the alleged
f'mismanagement' and general Ignorance
of Admiral Porter and Messrs. Borie and
yva mi mi of a
kind of ''mismanagement' in other quarters?
But the War Department exhibits the most
remarkable figures, to show what the admins
tration is doing. This was the department
most narrowly watched at first, as General
Grants personal influence and responsibility
were supposed to be here most conspicuously
manifest. WE'LL the army expenditures for
The first quarter of the last fiscal year were
SS27, SOC, PA; those of the first quarter of the
present fiscal year were $15, 141, ,262-leaving
differnce to be passed to the account of army
economy of $12, 754, 9S2 in the first three
months, Making all allowances for relative
decrease in the ratio of savings in other
quarters, there is yet no reasonable doubt
that, with peace continuing, the department s
expenses will fall short of $50, 600, 900 this
year: and this, contrasted with the $50, ,000
900 of last year, gives gain of $50, 200, 600.
The reduction of the army by Congress, the
change in our Indian policy under Grant, and
the discharge of clerks and other civilian en-
ployes, are the secrets of this gain. ''It is so
perlous to peace" we are told, "to put a
soldier at the head of affairs"
Finally, in the Post Office Department, the
expense of the mail service has been reduced
over $40O, 900 already, and, we are assured,
t'this department will be very nearly if not
quite self-sustaining during the current year.
In the general civil service, we are Informed
that the cost of collecting the internal rev.
enue has been reduced by fifteen per cent,
as compared with last year, while by the dis
charge of superfuous clerks, in the Treasury
Department alone, saving of 5000, 900 pei
annum has been effected
Upon the whole, we are inclined to think
that the administration ''neglect, which its
critics complain of, very strongly resembles
what, in private affairs, we are accustomed
to call activity, prosperity, frugality, and
reform