New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-04-02
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEBT

RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEBT
The statements made by Mr.. Garfield of Ohio
in the House, regarding the accumulation OF
the National Debt, have so much the merit of
extreme clearness that we have endeavOred to
condense them for ready reference. In his
speech on the Deficiency bill, made on the 14th
inst, Mr.. Garfield in refuting the assertion OF
Mr. NIblack that eff the glory of the war be-
"longs to the Republican party, then 1.-THE re-
"sults of the war, the expenditures of the war,
" and the burdens laid upon the people in con-
sequence of the war; fall also to our share"
Admitting this to be in part true, Mr. Garfield
forcibly says that if in 1861 "every Democrat
north of the Potomac and the OHIO had followed
"the lead of Grant and Douglas, and Dickin-
son and Tod and all the other great lights
"of the Democratic party" the war would have
lasted but little time, and the cost of it would
have been comparatively signifcant-indeed,
Mr.. Garfield is of the opinion that it would
not have exceeded $10,OO00OO. The Rebels
were persistent in prolonging the war, because
they relied upon the assistance of the Demo-
cratic party of the North This is as well
settled as any historical fact can be. The pro-
fuse promises of aid and comfort which were
made by Northern Democrats WERE 1t must be
admitted, most inadequately kept; but they
were none the less made because they were
partially broken, none the less discredltable
because they were false. none the less nOxOus
in their influence because they misled men al
eady sufficiently deluded by their unbridled
passions. Mr. Garfield thinks if the lead of
Douglas had been followed "there would
" have been no debt no blood, burden"
This may be stating the rather strongly;
but wiser and more patriotic course would
have saved the party from a bad record and
the public disrepute into which it bas fallen,
and apparently forever
But Mr.. Garfield not disclaiming the re-
sponsbility of the Republican party for its
management of the National finances, goes on
to show that, under any circumstances, they
have not been mismanaged Under the last
Administration, for the fiscal year ending June
80, 1867, the expenditures of the Government
were S346,000000. Next year, they went up to
S377, 000, 000-an increase of S31,000,O00. The
first four months Of Gen. Grants Administra-
tion ending June 80, 1869, showed, for the
year, diminution of Sj6,000,O0O. The year
closing on the 30th of June next will show a
diminution, according to Treasury estimates,
of nearly S30,000000. If the exigencies of the
public service, under Republican Adminstra-
ton, required the creation of great War
Debt, another Republican Administration is
paying it off, and that too after the heavy
burdens imposed by Andy Johnson's misman-
agement. "From the time of Mr.. Johnsons
"apostacy" says Mr.. Garfield, "to the close of
" his administration, the expenditures were
constantly increasing. From the hour of
"Gen. Grants Inauguration till now, they have
been constantly and rapidly decreasing"
Again, without an increase of one cent in the
rates of taxation, we have increased the rev.
enue S26,OOO0OO ii. e., from $3.50, 100000 to
S39G,0OO0O0). No party which ever before held
power in this country show such n record.
Mr.. Garfield Calls attention to two or three
specifications which are interesting and instruc-
tive Take the whisky tax for instance With
a duty of % per gallon, Mr.. Johnson collected
during the last half of the fiscal year Sl3,5000 900.
With the tax reduced to G5 cents, Gen
Grants Administration collected S24,50O,0 600
an increase of 100000. So much for i'm
provcment and the Suppression of distillery
swindlingl in the whisky revenue service. SO
much for having the tax honestly collected.
No wonder that under Gen. Grants admins
tration the national credit has gone up. :" 1t
:" is but just to say" admits Mr.. Garfield,
IT that the new law is better and more judi
ciOus but the great fact remains that there
has been more vigorous and honest admin
istration of the law"
Another part of the speech of the member
| from Ohio is devoted to the neiliciency of the
services in the public offices and their expen-
sivo character. The civil service is costing too
much. Hear Mr.. g.:
81 believe am right In saying that half OF all that
great army OF clerks employed In the Civil Departments
engaged in the business Of copying not In the
OF judgment nor expert knowledge OF business nor
the application OF the law to the adjustment Of ace cunts
but to the mere manual labor Of copying. fling, or
| counting"
These men, according to Mr.. c., we are
paying at least twice too much. Read the fol-
| lowing instance, which is a little drOll
Take the service In these various Depart
| ments. l saw "a In OF the Departments thls
morning whose whole business Is to sit at door and
open 1t when people come In and shut II when they 40
ou. ana occasionally to into Office few feet dis
tant Under laws these messengers get 300 year
and II they 10 to any business man in this city
they could get half the money from him for tho same
kind Of service"
The fault of this condition Of things rests,
not upon tho President, not upon the Secre-
taries. but upon Congress. we mako tho