The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-01-10
w..Aburn. on Gran, and E.y.n.e..

III. III,
ing to the election of General Grant: at is time
mat the Representatives of the people were sd.
monisned that they are the servants of the people
and are PAID by the people that their constituents
nave connoeo 10 them the great trust Of guarding
inner rights end protecting their interests that
their position and their power are to be used for
the beneft Of the people whom they represent
and not for their own benefit and the benefit of
the lobbyists and the gamblers and speculat ~
VINO nave come TO Washington TO make raid
upon the Treasury. The time has also come, in
my Judgment, when public men are to be held to
more strict accountability, to a more strict dis
charge OF their duty, and when their actions will
De scanned by more critical eye.
Much Is expected Of the new administration,
and The public expectation will not be dsap.
pointed, but as much as General Grant can do,
and as much as he will do in his own sphere of
action, 1t Is idle to suppose that he can do every
tning that the country requires to be done, to Sc
cure those reforms in the public service which
are so imperatively demanded. As president
General Grant must have the earnest and cordial
support of the other branches of the government
particularly OF the legislative branch. The respon
siniliry OF this Congress, 20 far as the next ad-
mlnlsuatlon Is concerned, Is complete. The great
masses of our constituents, the bone and sinew of
The country, the men who have no schemes of
plumber, and who desire only an honest admins
tratlon OF the government; the men who fought
the battles Of the republic, and poured out their
blood IN in its defense, require of US q decrease
OF our expenditures and a reduction of taxation.
Regardless of the mysteries of france, they see
that our credit can be improved, the public faith
INDICATED, a return 10 specie payments made GER
tain, reducti n of the interest on the pubic dent
secured, by key ping down the expenditures of the
government TO the lowest possible point. and by
the honest collection of the revenues. IL is for
Congress to keep down the expenditures, aud IL is
for the president TO see that the las faithfully
executed, and that the revenues are collected
but il is for Congress to see. also, that they do
not keep the letters upon the limbs Of the presi-
dent so as TO render 1t impossible for him to faith
fully execute the laws.
After stating, in some detail, the expenses of
the last four years, and the estimates of the Sec
Rotary Of the treasury for the next fiscal year. Mr.
Washbnrne proceeded to the consideration of the
question Of what this Congress'wil De called upon
osppropriate for deficiencies for the present fiscal
year. ending June 30, 1869, and TO carry on the
government for the next fiscal year, ending June
80, 1870. First, as to the estimates made by the
secretary of the treasury Of the additional appro.
priations required to complete the service of the
fiscal year ending June 30, 1863, and previous
years. 1t Is for Congress to inquire rigidly into
the necessity and propriety of voting these de-
hciencies, which the secretary estimates at the
enormous sum Of SOL 900, 600. OF this amount
sl4, 600 are for the army, necessitsted, in a
great measure, by consuming Indian war, which
is entalliDg extraordinary expenses on the gov.
eminent. The next current amount Is the
estimated deficiency for the post office
department of over 81 100000 incurred by
exiIavsgant contracts for unjustfably extended
mail service. Then there is the scandalous est-
mate of nearly s665 goo for deficiencies for public
buildings, when we were promised that the
large amounts we appropriated last year should
finish the buildings. Add this amount of IS 000
DE- manded as deficiency for this fiscal year, to
the amount demanded for the same purpose for
the next fiscal year, of 81 43i 000 makes So 900 600
which We are asked to vote for public buildings
at this session of Congress ; and in the present
state OF the ireasury-or, indeed, in any state of
The treasury-l feel bound to denounce it as the
most extrayagant, unJustihable and profgate ex-
penditure of the public money ever asked of Con-
gress. There are other deficiencies which have
been made, and which we are called upon to make
up, that are without justification, if It be consid-
cred that Congress has any power over the treas
lry. In view OF The state OF our finances, and
1eemng it indisper SADLY necessary to reduce the
expenditures for the present year in every |
way possible, and in full light of all ar |
acts, Congress appropriated given sm0unt, |
Which was s46O,OOO. for the coast survey this |
rear. In contempt Of the action of Congress q |
deficiency in that appropriation of sl60 900 is now
not one dollar of which, | trust will |
le voted. The Columbia Institute for the deaf and
iumb, private institution, in this district which
les obtained nearly half million of dollars out of
he government, was given Sl2,500 for this fiscal
ear, Tor instruction, etc., which was deemed am
lie, and even generous; but with familiarity |
nth the whole action of Congress on this sub.
ect, the president OF this private corporation,
"
Or its action, and demands Of us $500 more as
deficiency for this year. There are other def
iencies estimated fer, which will be scru,inized by
ne appropriation committee before it reports any
III. But one thing is clear. If Congress cannot
cntrol the expenditures of the government: if il
annot curb the executive officers Of the govern.
ent in spending the public money, and if such
Ulcers are to be left, practically, to deter
ne the appropriations, then, / say,
I Congress abdicate, and let the
he 70 q fhn ~ IL.
enslve and somewhat ornamental institution
r. W. then gave the items of the secretary of the
easury's estimates fer the next fiscal year, and
I'D: 1t will be thus seen that 1903 900 900 Is the
mount asked for, and it is for Congress to deter
Inc how much Of that sum it is absolutely neces-
ny to appropriate TO carry on the government.
ow much will ii be F! | will let the permanent |
1propristions stand as in the secretsry's est-
ate, though believe the amount Of interest on
10 public debt is overstated 81, 100000. That
Mount is Sis, $50, GIG. which We must regard as
zed and definite. Then there is the other
mount OF Sl58,Ol4,0ll "a, made up of the items |
set out in the estimate. The question recurs,
Nv much can this amount be reduced without
'ulment TO the public service. Ii is now i'm
'ssible for me to state how much the first item
S45, OOOOO can be reduced, as the appropria-
On committee has not yet proceeded far |
Tough in the consideration of the various
mounts making up the sum, but we shall report
reduction CT more than 500 000 from what was
ked for the expenses of foreign intercourse, ,
ID nearly 81 600 600 from what is asked to 20 !
to the legislative, executive ana judicial bill:
nsions, Indian department and army proper I
1st remain about the same as stated in esti- :
ates. For the military academy we reduce
0 GOO on the estimates for srmory and FORTH. |
tons 81 ,6s4 200 are asked, and believe we can
t along with $l,500000; for hsrbor and rver !
prOvemeDts and public buildings, $S,4S6.O obs, \
It in my judgment $500 900 will be as much !
Congress would wish to appropriate under
tn OF these heads. For the naval establish. I
mt $50 1913 Ala SO are estimated but ia the navy
! already prepared this is reduced to about r
DOO0, OCO, which it is believed will answer every
Tpose. Here are some SIS, 900 900 which it Is !
ought can be cut of from the estimates of the
al expenditures for the year ending June 80 =
~, OF S3O3 COO 900, as 50 omitted by the secre-
y OF the treasury. That will leave for the total
pendlures for the fiscal year ending June 80. = :
Various other expenditures, and we have a
al OF s2SO,OOO,OOO. IL is my belief that =
expenditures can be kept down to that int, y
! that the government can be admi1ist red for :
Z sum ; and If that can be done, as & oup ht to
done, good showing can be made. | have y
de no estimate IN relation to the revenue for :
ne xt fiscal year, but for the present fiscal /"
II, II appears from the secretary's report that | .
actual revenues received for the first quarter y
cunt to S95 1892, and that The secretary est.
ties the next three-fourths at SAG 900 100, max. y
the total estimate Of the secretary $3il OJO.. u
/. But Mr.. Wells, special commissioner of the a