Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-01-21
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furnished by the Navy Department, which |
propose, besides 100000 for League Is
land, a total expenditure of 1857, 1914,
against $451, 600 last year, and the esti-
mates did not inspire him with much con-
fidence; although the Secretary promised
to effect saving of $4,000 in the
article. of coal alone, which had only cost
81, 500, 600 for the last two years. That
was an achievement in mathematics
which found parallel only in the
achievements of the Postmaster General,
who proposed to save $4,000, goo year
by the abolition of the franking privilege,
while franked matter would not produce
$500, 900. The estimates for the next fiscal
year contained appropriations for public
works of $24, 625.173 against appropria
tions for the same object last year Of
So, 493, 600. The administration of
Andrew johnson had been accused of
prOfiigacy in expenditures people had
tried it on that charge, found it guilty,
and taken from it the scepter of power
and put it in the hands of the Republican
party, on its professions Of economy in
the administration of the public service.
TIE people intended to hold them to their
promises but what was the first evidence
they put forth to the country of their de-
termination to carry out their pledges!
While be knew the ungracious position he
occupied, he proposed to speak plainly,
but truly TO his party friends in the
House. He knew there was not
much comfort to be derived from
the wound of friend. Andrew
johnson, in the last year of his admins
tration, had estimated that he could carry
on the government for 1908, 900, 900,
and that amount had been cut down over
$40, 600, 900. What did their own adj
| ministration estimate it would carry on
the government year for { $311. 097, ia,
an increase of $28, 900 beyond the
amount required by Andrew johnson, and
an increase of $40, $685. 37 over the
| amount appropriated for the present year;
| but this included an error of over 81, 000,-
| 000i in the footing up of the Postoffice De
partment, which would reduce the increase
| to $42, 100000 but he believed not enter
| ing into the estimate was a little sugar
| plum of $500, 900 for League Island, and
back of it, also, were the millions that
would be added by the Senate TO the APP
| preparation bills, as they passed the House.
In the House alone the pledges of
the Republican party were to be re-
| deemed. They could have no aid either
| at the other end of the avenue, or the
other end of the Capitol; and he put it to
the representatives of the people whether
| they would inaugurate new public works
on the broad estimate of $24, 900, 600.
He had right to complain of the other
end of the avenue, that with all its pro-
LESSONS of economy, and with all the
heralding, by telegraph and otherwise, of
reduction, there was but one of these De-
partments that did not estimate an in
crease of expenditures over the appropri-
ations of last year. The exception was
the poor, unpopular Attorney General,
and he hoped it was not because of that
remarkable trait in his character that it was
contemplated at the other end of the Capt.
tol to relieve him from further pub
lie services, and drive him into private
life. There was a new pOstoffice at New
York, which the architect said would cost
$40, 600, 600, and the granite for which
was estimated to cost 81, $780, 600. Were
they going on with such expenditures
Were they going to put $4,000, 600 from
the old Philadelphia Navy ard and
$500, 600 from the Treasury into League
land, when they might as well wait five
years! Two things seemed to be desired
the reduction of the public debt by the
administration, and relief from the bur
dens of taxation by this house. Neither
of these thing could be accomplished
without the otherthing, which both over
loOked-a reductiOnOf expenditures. How
was it proposed, at the other end of the
/ avenue, to pay the public debt, unless the
| expend lures were reduced? How did the
House pUTpose TO relieve the people and
the enterprise and capital of the country
| from the burdens of taxation under which
they were groaning, unless the eXpendi-
| lures were reduced! He called upon
members of the House TO stand by the
| Committee on Appropriations in the
| pledge which it now gave to the country,
| that it would cut down these estimates
below the figures at which the country
| took the power from Andrew Johnson,
and that they must foTegO any private
interests and private imaginary political
gain in certain localities, by the expendi-
ture Of money. They must rise above
these considerations and look to the gen
eral results, and then the fingers Of
industry would again ply their works,
enterprise would gain courage, the
country would go on in prosperity and
in development, and the nation would, in
the years that were to come, build navy
yards at League Island, and at New Lon
don, and amplify those at Boston and
Portsmouth, and all over the country. If
that should be the policy, there would be
a reduction of expenditures so that there
by the people might be relieved from the
burdens Of taxation at one end of the
avenue, and the public debt might be
paid at the other. It was with this view,
and because he believed it to be test
question, he would move to lay the bill
on the table, and would, on that motion,
call the yeas and nays, so that the peO-
pie might know who would stand by the
Committee on Appropriations in its at
tempt to curtail the expenditures Of the
Government.
1t is worthy Of notice that the cores
pondent of the Cincinnati Gazette states
that 'EMr. Dawes did not determine to make
this exposure till he had visited the various
departments and urged revision and re-
duction of the estimates, and it is under
stood he even went to the President and
talked with him about the matter The
inference is clear from this statement,
which bears ''by authority air, that Mr..
Dawes met with no encouragement at the
departments or from the President,
hence his exposure. Grants adminiStTa-
ton has already broken eyerypledge upon
which he was elected. So fragrant has
it become in its extravaganza and corrup-
ton, thus early, that a leading member of
the party that placed this administration
in power has been constrained to expose
and denounce it from his seat in the
House of Representatives. If such is the
! beginning of the administration Of this
"second Washington, what viii be its
ending!
THE Washington correspondent of the
Cincinnati Enquirer states that the Demo
cratic members Of the House of Repre-
sentative met in conference Wednesday