The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1870-02-10
Professions and Practice.
Radical Economy Illustrated 6y
-ul "a. .lrj u Radical. =gr
,ncisiyE ssEEcH OF mr., DAWES.

1
RddicoI Economy Illustrated Jy
/ -oI .rl .-rt u Radical. iy1
IHcisIVEssEEcH OF MIR. DAWES.
Il In the National House Of Represen-
tatives Tuesday, the bill for the trans
fer Of the Philadelphia Navy Yard to
/ League Island was taken up. -'
Mr.. Dawes opposed It because, un-
der If, the Secretary of the Navy
could sell. s3,0O0000 of property, at
| private sale, of the Philadelphia Navy
Yard, to whom he pleased, and on
what terms he pleased. when he pleas
| ed,i the only obligation on him being
that he should obtain the approval of
! the President, who,. from the nature
of his duties, could pay no attention
to the proceedings; because the
| Treasury was not in funds abundant
enough to undertake the work, and
because, ii being a time Of peace, it
WIS AN enlargementOf of the navy yard.
Mr.. Dawes criticised the estimates
furnished by the Navy Department,
which proposes, besides SS00,000 for
Caghe Island, a total expenditure OF
S3,60F, 1874, against S45l, 900 last year.
The estimates did not inspire him
with much confidence, although the
Secretary promised to effect saving
of S2,000,000 ON the article of coal
4 aipue, which had only. cost rSl50, 900
4 foH the ellast, two years. That was an
achievement, in mathematics which
/ found parallel only in the achieve
ments of the Postmaster General, who
4 proposed to save $5i000,000 a year by
the abolition of the ranking priHi-
4 lege, while; the franked matter would
not produce, 100000. The book of
estimates for the next fiscal year con-
tanned appropriations for public works
of S24ss265,l73, against appropriations
fqr the same objects last year of S5,-
493 000.D The administration, of An
drew J ohnson. had been, accused OF
pEofigaey2 in expenditures, and the
people had tried it on that charge and
found-it guilty, and taken from it the
seeptre Of power, and put it in the
hands Of the Repubhcon party; on its
pro fessions of economy in the admin
istfation of the public service. The
people intended to- hold them to their
PROMISES but what was the first evil
gdenceJthey put,forth to the country of
their determination to- carry out their
pledges? While he knew the ungra-
cious position he occupied, he pro-
posed to speak plainly but truly to his
party friends in the House. He knew
there was, hot much comfort to be
derived from the wound of friend.
Andrew johnson, in the last year of
his administration, had estimated that
he could carry on the government for
-S303, 100000, and that amount had
been cut down over $40, ,o00, ,000; what
| did. our own administration estimate
it would carry the government year
for? $$31l ,096, ,174, an increase of over
$2S, 100000 beyond the amount re-
Fquired by Andrew johnson, and an
increase of s49,62s,537 over the
amount appropriated for the present
year, but this included an error of
over. 81. 100000 in the footing in the
Post Office Department, which would
reduce the increase to $42, 100000, but
he believed that not entering into the
estimate was sugar plum of SSO0OOO
for League Island, and back of it al
so were the millions that would be
added by the Senate to appropriation
bills as they passed the House. In
this House alone the pledges of the
Republican party were to be redeem
fed they could have no aid either at
kthe. other end ofthe avenue or the
other end of the capitol, and he put it
to the Representatives of the people
whether they were<to inaugurate new
public works on the broad estimate of
b$24, 100000. He had right to COM
Fptain Of the other end OF the avenue
that, with all its professions of econo-
my,, and with all the heralding, by
telegraph and1otherwise, of reduction,
there was but one of those depart
ments that did not estimite an in
crease of expenditures over the appro-
priations of last year The exception
was the poor, unpopular Attorney
General, and he hoped it was not be-
cause oil that remarkable trait in his
character that it was contemplated at
The other end of the capitol to relieve
Fhimeffom further public service and
drive him into private live. There
was need OF a post office at New
York, which the architect said would
cost s., 100000, and the granite for
which was estimated to cost 81, ,50O, 900 F;
11GMere, they going on with such expen-
I 8ditpres; were they going to put $3,-
/ 100000 from the old Philadelphia Ma
Wy Yard and $9,000O0O from the
Treasury into League. Island, when
they might as well wait five years p
Two'things seemed to be desired, a
reduction of the public debt by the
ADMINISTRATION, and relief from the
burdens of taxation by this House.
Neither of these things could be ac-
complished without the other thing,
(which both overlooked: q reduction
+ ofoexpenditure. How was it pro-
i posed at the other end of the avenue
Ito pay the public debt, unless the, ex-
penditures were reduced? How did
the House propose to relieve the peo-
4 pie aud enterprise and capital of the
\ country from the burdens OF taxation
j itinder which they are grooming, un-
Hess the expenditures were reduced
He called upon the members of the
House to stand by the committee or