The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1872-08-13

A sfurther cursory examination OF the
financial report submittedsto Congress
by thes Secretary of the Treasery cor.
iirms the opinion expressed in former
article, viz That the expenditures of the
present Administration are far in excess
of those any OF previous one in time of
peace, even allowing for the increase of
popnIation and other causes. 1t is evi.
dent thatsthe fragality promised at the
outset by the Graat, Administration has
not been the controlling feature of tine
government: For example, the Secreta-
ry says In his last report: '.The cost of
collecting the revenue from customs was
S6.560,672 81 for 1871, being three and
eleven -hundredths per cent, while the
cost for the year 1870 was S6,237, ,IS7
%, or three and twenty -hnndredths per
cent. y ssz. -
An analysis Of this bossted retrench.
'ment fthe only instance of economy
shown by himj reveals the fact that
these expenditures for this purpose are
not for the year, but in some instances
for three months, in other cases for six,
nine or ten months.
In the report Of the register Of the
treasury is tabular ssstatement showing
the amount Of moneys expended for col
lscting the revenue from customs OF each
custom house in the United States pre-.
vious to June 80. 1871, not heretofore
reported, etc, etc The district OF New
York reports its expenses from May |.
1870. to February 2S, 1871, ten months !,
Philadelphia from July to December
1850, six months; Boston, April to
December 81, 1870, niue months; San
Francisco, February 81 to June 30,1S70,
four months and eight days; and so on
THROUGH the list
ALLOWING the expenses of the several
custom houses,f for the balance of the fs-
cal1year unreported to bein the same ra-
ito as for the period reported by them
respectively, we must add 81, ,S94, ,9S6 80
TO Mr.. BoutwelPs figures, making total
for cost of collecting the revenue, for
the 6scal year ending July /, 1871 of
SS,455,65S SO, or FOUR AND NINE HUN
pREDrHs PER CENT.
.1kisa mysterious circumstance that
the custom house at Philadelphia should
not be able to render report of its ex-
penses any later than December 81 1870,
Ia time TO be incorporated into a report
rendered 10 Congress December 4. 1871,
and that nearly every other custom
house in The country should be similarly
Ia arrears with its accounts.
sThe same report gives the expendi
tiitures for the War Department at $685..
799,99l 90, but q note is appended in
these words This is the net amount
after deducting Ss,2so,p9S Is, repaid
into the treasury, as the proceeds OF
sales of ordnance, etc. The true expen-
ditures we're S44,0S0.084 95." The
Treasurer of the United States, in his
report, gives Cash paid on account OF
the army $685., ,0SSs S." and cash re
ceived for account of the War Depart.
rnent S22, ,837, ,0e2 04, and She Secretary
Of War Acknowledges the receipt "dur
ing the current year from sales of ord
nance and other sources" of s2l, 1885,
403 OF. 1t Is evident that the real ec
psaditadesc Of the Var Department tcert
35s,637, ,oS3 Sc.
The maximum strength of the army
during the year was 20, 900 men, Allow
ING that the full number Of men we're in
service the whole year (which Is impos
sible) We thus have an expenditure o.
1851 81 per man. So
During the last fiscal year Of Jane!
Buchanans administration. when under
John B. Floyd's direction. as we Repub
licans believed the War Department wa;
reeking with corruption and dishonesty
and the government was purchasing
ordnance and ordnance stores in large
quantities, the War Department expen
ses were SIC, 6,472,2o2 70: the number o
rank and 6le in service 1S,l65-avarag'
expenditure per man 5000 80. .
IL the Grant Administration. would
say, to the country: We cannot stop thi'
food of corruption, this reign Of iavlsf
expenditure and fraud, loyalty to thu
party must be rewarded our country il
rich, prosperous, and can support this
army of office-holders, who are growing
rich upon the spoils, and who ask bu
four years more to satisfy their cormo
rant appetites-they would take an hon
est position; but when it is clear tha
there is perversion, evasion and holding
back, until after election, Of figures tina
initiate against the theory that this ad
ministration is model Of honesty ano
frugality, it is time for thinking Repub
licans to remember that Appomatoz
Court House is not an answer to the re
peated charges made by Democrats o
fraud, dishonesty and incompetency
There is much more in the financla
report which merits observation, anC
concerning which | may address Yo'
again.