The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-02-25
An AIarn,lpg Picture.

Nothing that we have read presents in
such brief but comprehensive terms the
fearful extravagance of Congress as the
following article from the Philadelphia Pub
Iie Ledger. Occupying neutral position
In politics. and having no motive to exten-
nate or set down nught in malice, its statis-
tics are always received with great confidence
In their correctness. They are well calcula-
ted to create alarm, If not to:al despair, for
the future of the country, and prove beyond
all dispute that ours Is the most wasteful
end extravagant government on the face of
the earth. The most expensive government
In Europe, with its huge standing army, It's
church establishment, It's royal salaries ard
Its Pensioned orders of nobility, is cheap and
economical when compared with that Of this
democratic and model republic
Towards the payment of thu national debt
Congress is making haste slowly All ac-
knowledge that this desired end is to be re, chei
by industry and economy, national AMI indrvid.
ual. Now what are the facts touching national
economy statemeT has just b-en prepared
ard published, showing the appropriations fer
the contingent expenses for the two branches of
Congress Tor the fiscal yeJr ending June 30,
1876, which aggregates the enormous sum OF
81 2OI ,bJI. Of this amount $G9J 900 was to
the HouHe and S537 1885 to the Senate These
are greater amounts than in any previous year
since the foundation of the Government. These
were only the contingent expenses In addi-
tiOn TO theso the estimated expenses are for the
two Hsuse1 alone, IS 800 GEO. This entire
sum is expended upon the members of Congress,
excepting only about $4,000 which is used for
the Congressional Library. Of this sum over
S73O,OO0 is for the benefit of the seventy two
Senators, or about $4,000 apiece. How this
amount can legitmately and honestly be e1-
pended ia question for the taxpayer. The Con-
gressional printing cost over / 400 600. The
balance, S3,l1O,O 600, is used by the House of
Representatives, the so called popular branch
of the Government. Thus the public funds are
squhndered. Now, what has Congress DONE
or is 1t doing, as effecting favOrably q reduc-
tion OF the national debt 1t has granted and
given away to the several Pacific Railroads, in
land ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY -FOUR MILLIONS
OF ACRES All this in addition to the many
millions in money. which the Government has
advanced, and become liable to pay. There
are now pending in the Senate forty one appli-
cations for railways and canals, all soliciting
Government aid. and in the House thirty seven
such schemes have made their appearance
Some of these numerous bills cover the same
ground And are rival projects for the attainment
OF the same end in different hands. But the
Senate bills cover in all between eight thousand
and ten thousand miles of railway, and ask
land grants in the aggregate to the amount of
two hundred and fifty millions of acres, and
Government subsidy, assumption of interest
Oh bonds, equal to about -FOUR HUNDRED MIL
LIONS OF DOLLARS The amount covered by
the thirty seven projects in the House is cores
Pondingly as much more; or, say, one hundred
millions of acres Of land and three hundred mil
lions more OF money-making i'll all 224 ,O00,-
900 of acres of land and 800 000 900 in money
Thus is Congress reducing the debt
When these facts and figures are calmly
considered the question naturally suggests
Itself, how long can this state of things last
before the government and people are in
Volved In one common, irretrievable state Of
ruin and bankruptcy 1t cannot last al
ways, nor does 1t require very deep fore
sight to predict the day Of wrath and des-
pair. To the bondholder the dark and
gloomy picture of the not distant future is
anything bat pleasant to contemplate, for
when the final crash comes he must relin-
quish his clutch upon the peoples gold and
be swallowed up In the general catastrophe
Who can fathom the depths of Congressional
as we'll as official corruption throughout the
landf That the Congress of the present day
Is as mercenary and corrupt as was the Brit
ish HouFe Of Commons during the time of
Walrole iS a melancholy fact. Men now go
to Congress, not to legislate for the best in
terests of the country, but simply to make a
fortune. Get money, honestly if you can,
but at all events get money!" is their gov
erning rule of action. Congressman who,
ten years ago, were as poor as Lazarus are
now the owners of magnificent residences in
Washington and live in style of princely
grandeur. Their official position has been to
them the wonderful lamp of Aladdin. But
we are promised reform-yes, vigorous re-
form. If Grant can cleanse the Augean
stable by running through it the pent Up
waters of the river Of economy, he will prove
himself to be the moral Hercules Of his
country.