The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1872-01-11
In 1890.

In 1850:
Post ONCE appropriation included
tnerein. ..---..--.....-...-....S,l s, ,l96 009
miscellaneous expenses proper. 81. .46f .996
1t will thus be seen that proper al
loWance being made for the differing
deficits in the postal revenues, the
miscellaneous expenses of the govern
ment have trebled since 1860. There
can be no explanation consistent with
honesty and economy. Now let us
compare the expenses for the Indians
In the two years:
Indian expenses in 1871. 81 4a6 997
Indian expenses in 1860. ....-.......-.- .T27 655
Some persons might think this diff
ference at least partially accounted for
by the Indian wars of last year; but
this would be a mistake. The militia
ry expenses go into the accounts of the
war department, and the ordinary ex-
penses of the Indians into the accounts
of the Secretary of the interior, whence
we have taken the figures for both
years. ~ 'ss2 =
There has been an increase of 40 per
cent. in the expense of foreign inter-
course, although we have about the
same number of ministers and consuls
receiving precisely the same salaries,
as in 1860. The expenses of Congress
have been enormously increased: -
Congress in 1871 sc $50 675
Some increase in the expenses OF
Congress can be nationally explained !;
but not the actual increase. Three
new States have since been admitted,
and Virginia divided, making eight
additional Senators; and there are ten
more members of the House of Rep
resentatiVes; that is to say an addi-
ton of eighteen members to both
houses whose aggregate salaries would
amount to only $4,000, sum too in
significant to be considered in this
comparison. A more important al
loWance which fairness requires to be
made is the fact that the salary of
members has been raised from $1,000
to $1,000. But this makes difference
of only 100000 year, whereas the
increase of Congressional expenses is
$2,386, ,291 year. The expense of col
lecting the customs has nearly dou-
bled: 1,s4s.e.-. 5e5er.
Collecting Customs in 1911 S6560 6z2
Collecting Customs in 1860 ........-. 3, ,324, ,430
. It is true that there has been great
increase in the revenue from customs,
but that cannot justify the enormous
increase in the expense of collecting
/ If. The number of custom houses re-
mains about the same; the number of
collectors is about the same; and in
other ports than New York there has
been hardly any increase of appraisers
and clerks. D Large additions to the
business of the custom-house by no
means require a corresponding aug
mentation of expense. 1t would be
prepOsterous to suppose that the sal
aries of the additional clerks employ
ed, amount toeven one-tenth of the in
creased cost of collection.
In the army there are more soldiers
than in 1860, SO we win not criticise,
but merely state the difference of ex-
pense, although there is no real need
of larger. army now than then:
War Department in 1871 ............ $44, ,0s0 0s4
War Department in 1860. .-.....-..... Ii, 400 767
Nor have we any need of greater
naval force; and, in point of fact, we
have not as strong and efficient navy
as we had in 1860:
Navy department in 1871 1........... .19, ,43l 027
Navy department in 1856. II ,513 $50
We vouch for the the accuracy of all
these fignres, having copied them
| from the official documents accompa-
nying the Secretary of the Treasury Is
reports for the years 1871 and 1860.
We leave them for the present, to tell
their own story.