The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1870-05-31
The Corruption aud Extrava.
gance Of the Grant Administra-
ton.

The press friendly to the Grant Ad-
mlnlstration, the progenitor and author
of the Great Gift Enterprise, often tell
us that it is exceedingly economical, and
is entitled to public confidence and sup
portion that ground. There is in this
assertion degree of hardihood that is
not often met with, even in the case of
the most shameless and abandoned crlm-
inals. Mr.. Dawes, Republican mem
Der of Congress from Massachusetts,,
tells US, in his speech on Tuesday, that
"for the last ten years the average ap-
preparation for the navy Excluding that
of the wary was less by S2000,000
than the same appropriation in this bill,
and yet the Department wanted $4,000
900 more" Nothing can be said by us
which will add to this fearful accusation
1t tells the whole story of the Admins
tration's corruption and prohigacy, which
is to an extent never before heard. Of
1t is not in the Navy Department alone,
we have a right to presume, but extends
to all branches of the Government. This
Republican member went on to show
that ''eyery vessel in the British Navy
cost annually $4,000, while in that of
the United States it is required $685.
ooo, year to keep each one Of q ..i,lem
adoat." Inis Is exactly twice as much.
If the comparison is made by the amount
of tonnage, the difference is more than
two dollars to one against the United
States, and if the standard is by men, it
is ten times as much, or 5000 year here
TO $50 there. 1t costs for maintaining
and repairs nearly S7,000,000 here to
less than S4,000,0O0 in England per an
NUM- These are extraordinary facts, but
those stated by General Logan, of Illi-
nois Republican, are still more remar-
kable. We have one officer in our navy
/ for every six men, and the pay of the
one-sixth S5,000,000, to that of tue FIVE
slxths s2,000,00O." This .exemplifes
the wonderfully aristocratic character of
the whole department. Of the 1,400
tofiicers, half of them are on shore doing
no business but to receive their salaries" "
Well may General Logan state that '.there
are enough officers in the navy to man
navy sufficient to make war upon the
strongest naval power in the world, and
but few men," Why should this swarm
of officers be kept up without any neces-
sity for them? We 6onot observe that
any of the friends of the President, Oh
of his practical Secretary of the Navy,
Admiral Porter, attempted to answer
any of these facts or statements. They,
by their silence, admitted them to be
true. There has been great profigacy
undoubtedly, before in the NAVY, but il
was small compared to the present, when
in consequence of our vast debt and
heavy taxes, there should be reduc-
ton in the expenditures. The navy is
feut specimen, as we have said, of the
whole Administration. In the Treasury
Department it was charged, ,and not con.
tradicted, by Mr.. Beck, of Kentucky,
that there we're sixteen hundred more
employees than were authorized by law
and six hundred more than were employ.
ed last year. Ii is thus, right under the
eyes of the law making power, in the
Treasury of the Nation, that it is set al
defiance, and the Grant Administration
adds millions of dollars to the National
expenditures. What say the people Of
the United States to these facts