Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1873-12-25
RETRENCHMENI AND NOT
IA XA TION.

1t is very safe plan both for govern
ment and an individual to keep their
expenditures within their income. The
absorbing question just at this time
with those who make and administer
the laws is, how can the government
DO this? For months past the revenue
has been falling off at fearful rate.
Week after week the imports of dry
goods at New York, dwindled below a
million, when they used to run to
three and five millions weekly, and
there venue from customs falls off from
$1,000, 900 to 81 500, 900 weekly. In the
light of this decrease-and it is in the
same proportion over the entire couC-
try-it is difficult to see just how the
Government is to raise sufficient mon
ey to meet its demands, at the present
rate of taxation. But the government
must 60 on, whether the country is
prosperous or not, and its unavoidable
expenses must be met. Fhe interest
on our debt must be paid and the ma
chinery of the government must be
kept CREASED and in motion, even
though the revenue is curtailed and
imports do fall off.
The theory of the Chairman of the
Committee of Ways aud Means that it
is better to cut down our expenditures
to the level of our present income, than
to attempt to increase the income by
the levying of new taxes, or the revival
of old ones, is the correct one if it is
practicable.
From present indications the temper
of the present Congress is in favor OF
retrenchment. Already the estimates
for carrying on the expenses for the
nextfscal year have been returned to
the proper officers, with instructions to
use the relentless pruning knife at ev-
cry possible point. So far, thi, is a
step in the right direction; but it will
not do to leave this matter of de-
partment estimates wholly in the
hands of heads of bureaus and
departments. 1t is well known
that these officials are 10th to
part with any of the trappings necessa-
ry to keep themselves in lofty state,
or with that which will seemingly de-
crease the importance of the branch OF
the public service over which they pre-
side; besides, these estimates for the
most part are left in their detail, to be
made up by gentlemen in inferior po-
sitiOns, whose term of office is depend
ent upon the amount of the appropria-
ton. After all the care in scrutinizing
the expense account has been taken,
possible, and Congress has confined
itself to legitimate appropriations, it
will, we fear, be apt 10 lind that the
total will outrun the estimates. Not
withstanding the constantly growing
country, and the consequent necessity
of Increased expenses, yet it will be
time enough to think ofincreaslng tax
alton, when it is demonstrated that
that duty cannot be avoided. In the
meantime, the work of cutting down
estimates should 60 on relentlessly, as
if heads of departments had nc feelings
to be pandered to. The estimates for
public buildings, which is now $l0,-
OOG, ,0O0, can be cut down to three mil
lions; the river and harbor appropria-
tion, which now is 81, 100000, can be
reduced; some of the wild schemes of
the Postmaster General can and should
be strangled; special appropriations to
be used at the discretion of officials I
should be nipped; and all unnecessary
and superfuous Offices ought to be abol-
ished; and in short, our yet staunch
ship of State should take every precau-
ton against financial disaster and ruin.
Until that is done, and it is clearly
shown that increase of taxation is an
necessity, it will not DE borne ,
willingly by the people. Ii