The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-06-20
MISTAKEN ECONOMY.

MISTAKEN ECONOMY.
From the N. Y. Times.
The great body of the people are, without
doubt, exceedingly anxious for the most
rigid economy and retrenchment in the ad-
ministration of affairs by Congress- and will
earnestly applaud every proper expedient in
that direction. While the general sentiment
is decidedly averse from anything which
tends, even remotely, towards evading any of
our national obligations, or even towards
a niggardly maintenance of our national dig
nifty, yet the conviction is very strong that in
many ways Congress might tighten the gene
raj burden without impairing the efficiency
of the public service, or violating in any way
the implied or expressed faith of the nation.
Scores of abuses are easily to be found in the
various departments at Washington, involv-
ing the expenditure of millions of dollars,
which might be made legitimate subjects of
Congressional action, with benefit to the
public service. Some of them have been
pointed out in these columns, and Congress
has been urged to give its attention to the
general subject.
Undoubtedly great deal has been done
since the present administration came into
power in looping off unnecessary expendi-
ture, and in correcting ancient abuses which
had almost imperceptibly crept into exist
ence. In doing this, however, there seems
to have been an unfortunate propensity for
the creation of new expenditures almost as
fast as old ones were checked, and in many
instances barshly assailing certain branches
of the public service in way which involved
not only breach of public faith, but which
has justified the charge of cruel ingratitude.
We refer particularly to the various schemes
which have been brought before Congress for
the reorganization of the army the forcible
retirement of faithful officers, and the reduc-
tion of pay-schemes which, happily, have
not been entirel successful, and with which we
are convinced the people do not sympathize.
Congress may rest assured that the mass
of its constituents have hearty respect and
grateful appreciation for the regular army,
and that they are disinclined to bring it under
the same stringent rule of retrenchment
which it would willingly impose upon other
branches of the public service There is a
very general feeling that the men who have
deyoted~their lives to the military service of
the country have just claim. upon the
liberal care of the Government, regardless of
the immediate military necessities of the
time. They are the reserve defense of the
country, liable to be called upon at any
time, and always ready and adequate, as was
demonstrated in the recent war. There is no
disposition to treat them harshly or unjustly,
and those members of Congress who have,
during the present session, seemed to act
upon different hypothesis, have made a
great mistake.
Especially is this the case in the assault
which has been made upon the three highest
grades of Generals The people have not
yet lost their feelings of admiration and
| gratitude towards Sherman, Sheridan, Meade,
| Hancock, and the other worthless whom the
new Army bill SO pointedly assails. The
| general disposition is to resent it as an i'm
| piled rebuke, and as an ungracous manifes-
tatjon of en- economic spirit very nearly ap-
preaching meanness. 1t is no balm to those
men to be told that their positions and pay
are not to be affected SO long as they live,
| but that when Sherman and Sheridan die
their rank will be abolished, and the door Of
promotion to their places will be closed to all
| the other veterans of the war. 1t is detrac-
| tion from the present honor and distinction
of those two highest grades, and rebuke to
their subordinates; and it will be all the more
| keenly felt since it comes under a specious
pretense of economy from body which has
voted away many times the paltry sum to be
saved, in salaries to civil employees in depart
ments, and to partisan diplomatists-to say
nothing of the millions which have been
squandered outright in the shape of public
lands subsidies, and worthless public docu-
| ments.
''THE PILGRIMS S PROGRESS" IN SOUTH
CAROLINA.
Al