Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1870-07-01
vigilantly as they watch over the private

ivlgllantly as they watch over the prlVat
iPurse.
We are rapidly approaching speci
payments. The power and value Of ou
currency has increased fifty per cent
since the war, and all the necessarie
and luxJlries of life have diminished j
| the same ratio. The profits Of the farm
er. mechanic. and Iaborer have recedet
to the old level. A million soldiers havl
| laid down the muslzet and REINFORCED
the workers in all industries and pTofes
sions, and the result is a great reduction
of salaries all over the country. in
sist. therefore, that this is not the proper
/ time TO increase the pay of Government
| employees or double the salaries oi
Judges whose term Of Office IS for life
and for whose retirement in old age
Congress has already made ample pro
vision.
It is, l repeat, not only not the proper
time to do it, but It is absolutely wrong to
10 it; and if this House consents it will
violate the solemn pledges made by us to
the people in the resolutions of every con-
vention, and reiterated in every school
district of the land
The building which the Senate pro
poses to commence, and toward which
it appropriates 5000. 900 is designed to
accommodate ultimately the State, War.
and Navy Departments. It viii when
completed, cost not less than So, 900, 600,
and if we concur in the Senate amend
ments to this bill, we agree substantial
ty 10 enter p1a work at this time
which win increase the national debt or
The national taxes to that extent. The
War and Navy Departments are now
very well provided for in buildings
erected especially for their use. The
State Department, at moderate rent, oc-
cupies a building owned by private par
les. 1t viii be well at the proper time
to erect a permanent and suitable build
ing for this Department, and under IA
vorable circumstances / might not feel
inclined to oppose the construction of
even the magnificent ediflce proposed
by the Senate, but we can do with
out it for the present. JUST as we have
done without it in the past; and,
in view of our immense debt and oner-
Gus taxes, this is of all times the
most unfavorable for beginning such a
work.
Still greater objections might be urged
against the proposition to extend the Cap
bered 68Z and 588. This improvement
would cost in the end not less than 81
ooo, 900 there is no present or press
ing necessity for it. / would, it is true,
add greatly to the beauty of the surround
ings of the Capitol, but the Government
when out of debt and able to make the
failed to do so. 1t may
be done in the future If thought desira-
Il g.
ter, in my opinion, to use money which
the contemplated addition to the Capt.
tol grounds would cost to sustain the ma
Of the national debt, and better still
to leave it in the hands of the taxpayers
for use in their private business.
The proposition to send out one or
more expeditions toward the north pole
c )ntenplates a much larger expendi-
lure than the proposed appropriation of
800, 900 will cover II is intended TO
detail public officers and Government
vessels for the enterprise. These yes
sells must be fitted out for a voyage of
years IN duration, and would necessarily
return from such an expedition worn
and comparatively worthless. The sal
aries of the officers and crews must be
paid during the whole time, and the en-
ire cost of the expedition would exceed
s., 900 900, and probably reach s.. .ooos
300. The country, l submit, IS doing
very well without any definite knowl- |
sdge in referenee % the north pole,
1t may be thar oar speeHlsetieHs sf9
his subject are Preferable to an absolute
of the facts; at any rate, |
he north pole will keep, and until the
who favor the project are ready |
o. accompany the expedition shall de- |
sline to vote for the appropriation asked.
t might, indeed, afford some small graf
fcation to them to know that some
where on Gods footstool there is re-
yion more frigid. barren, inhospitable, |
Ind worthless than the territory Of Alas
"a, for which they paid S7,ooo,ooo in
gold but beg to assure them the in
ormation would yield no CLEAN Of sat
sfaction to the taxpayers of the coun-
ry who furnished the money.