New-York tribune., 1873-12-15

were maze laSt setsOh
and also, the works now under way which can be
suspended without serious detrimen to the interests
of the Government. When this information is OBJ
tained it is proposed to pass bill repeating the
laws authorizing the works not begun and covering
the money back into the Treasury, and directing the
stoppage of operations those of the other class
These public works embrace Notifications, river and
harbor improvements, and buildings for custom
houses and poSt-ofces. IL is believed that in this
way S2,000,000 or 33,0O0,000 at least be saved
If the departments do not revise their estimates in
accordance with the resolution of the Wavs and
Means Committee, the Appropriations Committee
will no doubt scale them down TO the extent of
Sl0,0C0,00O or Si2,0C00OO
Thus it will be seen that the two leading Commit
tees of the House are in full accord. Mr.. Dawes
Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, has
held very free conference with Mr.. Garfield. Chair
man of the Appropriations Committee, and with Mr.
Sherman of the Senate Committee on Finance. All
of these gentlemen are agreed that economy must
be the first order of the day. and that increase of
taxation must he made until every means has been
tried to escape the present difficulty without it.
Thus far, Mr.. Richardson seems to stand almost
alone III favor of the unpopular measure.
Senator Sherman, Chairman of the Finance Com
mittee, has called upon Secretary Richardson for
consultation in regard to the present state of the
finances He called the Secretary's attention to the
great necessity, not only of revising the estimates
for the next fiscal year. but of Immediately stopping
all expenditures that are not absolutely necessary to
carry on the machinery of the Government. He
cited to the Secretary the course pursued by the Dem
ocratic Administration after the panic of 1851 BY
an Executive order, every possible expenditure not
made mandatory by law, was stopped and the order
covered very wide range involving matters per
tanning to every department. Large unexpended
appropriations for public buildings and public
works of various kinds were retained, the works not
begun were abandoned and many partially under
way were at once suspended When Congress met
after that panic, it still further reduced expenses
and ngidly cut down estimates Still, the deficiency
so great that later in the session the 220O0OOO
loan which the present Congress is preparing to take
up was authorized.
The Secretary who seems to be utterly helpless
under the present trying circumstances, and who is
surprised that the Committee on Ways and Means
should express any doubt that the bills he sent to
them last Friday could not be Immediately passed
under call for the previous question, seems not to
have thought that economy was ono of the possible
things but when 1t was suggested, expressed the
most decided opinion that if the heads of the de-
partments will now hold on TO the unexpended
appropriations 30 far as 1T is possible, and If
Congress can be prevailed upon to reduce the
estimates at every point where it is possible, there
will be no necessity whatever for imposing dollar
additional taxes. There is known to be fully thirty
millions Of money in the Treasury, appropriated to
certain objects entirely within the discretion OF the
various Cabinet officers to retain or to expend. Un
less the Executive branch of the Government takes
action it is pretty certain il wll receive notice
to do SO from C9ngress:
Republican representatives from every part OF the
country are in great state of alarm the fnan
cial situation. Independent and opposition news
papers and orators have been critcising the party
all Summer for the extravagant appropriations of
last Winter, and even their own constituents have
taken up the salary grab and censured those who
voted for OF took it. On coming together the House
has taken hold Of the repeal Of the salary swinde in
a spirit that has reflected honor upon its
members OF is calculated to increase the confidence
of their constituents III them Very few Of those who
have contributed to the endless flow Of talk upon
the subject have manifested any appreciation that
there was anything improper in the grabbing OF
$1,000 apiece from the United States Treasury
and increasing their own salaries for the future
S25OO year. They are not sorry that they stole
the money, but only that the people have
caught them in tho act and expressed
so decided dsapproval. Just at the
time when representatives,, by their personal
explanations and excuses and their waste of time in
quibbling over duty that ought to have been done
gracefully and once, have caused the attention of
the whole country to be centered upon them and
upon their unpopular scheme of plunder, the Secre-
tary of the Treasury discovers that bis
money is nearly all gone and that taxes
must be increased. What inference will
the people draw' These unhappy rep
resentatives ask themselves Win they not lay
the deficiency to the of salaries and other
measures of that kind Some of the most ex-
perenced legislators in Washington freely predict
tonight that if the House passes the bills Secretary
Richardson has sent to the Ways and Means Com
mittee very few of those who vote for them will
ever be sent back to Congress.
OPPOSITION TO INCREASED TAXATION AMONG con-
GREssMEN-THR FINANCIAL QUESTION TO BE
DISCUSSED BY THE SENATE TO-DAY.
GENERAL PRESS DIsPATCH.]
WASHINGTON, Dec. 14.-There is at present
a general indsposition among members OF Congress to
increase taxation It will not be done unless the
sity can be clearly shown. The recommendations OF
the Secretary of the Treasury in his recent letter to
Dawes, will be discussed by the Commit
tee OF Ways and Means at their meeting tomorrow.
Several members Of that Committee said today that
there would be hasty action upon the subject The
Treasury Department ia somewhat pressed for money,
not only by the anR on III the revenues, nut py tue
extraordinary appropriation OF 100000 or O00o0 for
purposes and the early approach Of the redemption
Of the S2Ooo0o0 loan Of 1885, bill in relation to which
is now pending between the two houses Of Congress
over twohrds Of this loan in coupon bonds which
some Of the holders desrous Of exchanging for I'VE
| per cent bonds OF the funded loan.
The Senate have set apart tomorrow for the discus
sion OF the financial question the majority Of the Com
Ipittee on Finance having on Wednesday reported
resolution having in view, not only the redemption
of the United States notes in coin but which
will furnish currency Of uniform value in gold its
equivalent and 50 adjusted to meet the changing