The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1870-03-24
FACTS FOR woRKINoMEN.

FACTS FOR W0RKINGMEN.
The workingmen of this country devoted
to the Republic and the safety of the Union
which constitutes us nation, were willing,
while the Union was in peril to sacrifice
property, life, everything which we hold
dear, for the preservation ofthe Federal Gov
eminent But, after the war was ended,
they had reason to expect that the govern
ment would be restored to its old founda-
ton, as regards economy after it was re-
lieved from the shock of war. They expect
ed it would return to habits of a careful use
of the public funds, and that it would relieve
the burdens of the people by reduction of
taxation, so far as it could be done without
injuring the national credit. But in this we
have been most grievously disappointed, as
the following facts will show. We institute
a comparison between 1860 and 186a--tho
first year of Gen. Grants Administration.
We begin first with
TAXATION.
In 1860, as shown by the census, the popula-
ton of the Union was 81, AS, 059. We call
it 81 800 900, for convenience. The only
revenue of the government was raised by
taritf,-by duties on lmportations 1t amount
ed, in 1860, to S53, lS7, SOP. Divided per
capita among the people, it was 1869 for
every man, woman and child. To this sum
fifty cents more may be added for state,
county, and municipal taxation, making
PIG per head. That included all the taxes
imposed upon the people in the last year be-
fore the war was commenced
In 1869, the first year OF Gen. Grants adj
ministration, the taxes of all kinds, including
Tariff, Internal Revenue, and direct taxes,
levied by the National Government on the
people, were $3.50, 943,7S7. Estimating the
population Of the country at 100000,
which would be allowing an increase of
nearly one-third since 1860, and the taxation
would be 1927 per head. The state and
municipal taxation averages about 50 per
head which, added to the national taxation,
makes Sll27 per head for every man, wo-
man and child in the country.
Taxation per capita in 1870, s1l.27
Difference, S9.0S
Thus the people, to-day are taxed more
than four times as much as they were in 1860,
Can it he wondered at that they groan under
the heavy burden? 1t is matter of surprise
that industry, in all its branches, should be
embarrassed by this heavy drain upon its pro-
ductlye energies Remember, all these tax
cs come primarily from the hand of labor.
Labor produces all value, and therefore, la
Dor pays for all There is no truer maxim
in political economy than this.
EXPENDITURES
We now make similar comparison be-
tween the years 1860 and 1870 with regard to
expenditures. The following are the expend-
lures of the National Administration in 1860
for all purposes, viz;
Civil service. s7223,15l
Navy Department., IL, 515, 64G
Army Department, 16,4T2,202
Pensions and Indians, 1901 1926
Interest on the public debt. 3,1H, 62C
Miscellaneous, 2O,7OS,1 Ss
Total $685. 155, TBS
Deduct interest on the public debt 3,1A, 62O
Leaving for ordinary expenditures, s6o,o11, lOs
In the first year of Gen. Grants Admins
tration, the expenditures, as given in the Re
port of the Secretary of the Treasury, are az
follows, viz:
Civil service. s5e,473,O6
Pensions and Indians s5,519,54
War Department, 1891 80
Navy Department. W,0O0, 10
Interest on the public debt 130, 694 "a
Premium on $50 Treasury notes, 10000
Total, 1921 400, 50
Deduct interest on public debt and
premium on Treasury Notes, $130 1894 "a
Leaving for ordinary expenditures, $19) 1861
Expenditures per CAPITA including
interest on the pubic debt in the
first year of Gen. Grant, $50
For the expenditures in 1850, IT
Expenditures per capita under Gen.
Grants Administration. S6,2
or more than four times as much as in 1860.
Now, the national expenditures should no
increase in greater proportion than the pop
ulation of the country.
In 1860 the expenditures of the Gen
cral Government, exclusive of in
terest on the national debt, were, SGO011 10
Allowing that the population of the
country has increased One-third
since, 1860, the national eXpendi-
lures for ordinary purposes should
be increased One-third, or $20,003, 70
Thus, the ordinary expenses of gov
ernment in 1869 should not now
exceed, $3.50, 01S 81
But they were, during the first year
of Gen. Grants Administration, $3.50, 796 81
Deduct what they should be, S00l3 81
S1lO, 7s2, 81
Thus, the present corrupt and prot1igat
Congress and Administration expend ON
HUNDRED AND TEN MILLIONS of dollar
of the peoples money every year more tina
they should expend, and which should be az
piled to the payment of the national debt {
left in the peoples pockets by a reduction
taxation. The civil list, the army, the nav,
should be reduced in numbers, and curtaile
in expenses And all corrupt contracts a,
thorized by Congress, and the fraudulel
claims and largesses to corporations voted
that body, and shared in by some of its men
bers, should be stopped.
WHAT SHOULD BE DONE.
We will now show in conclusion what m;
no od 10 ba naOn1a N apnlipI to the