The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-08-09
politifal aaairs.

FEDERAL APPROPRIATIONS Each year
the Radical party remains ii power, the
appropriations for current governmental
purposes increase More officials are erea-
ted, and the salaries Of all augmenfea 10 q
notable extent At the present time 1t Is
confessed there is an advance in the pay
line, but whether the appropriations for
the current fiscal year are six millions, or
twelve millions, or twenty millions more
than they were in 1872, is q matter Of
dispute among the officials at Washington.
These men are never accurate If they
come within ten millions Of the mark in 4
financial line, especially in the matter of
expenses, they are satisfied. Too much
accuracy is not relished by the appointing
powers. 1t would tell against them among
the people. Hence generalities are relied
upon, and o sliding scale adopted 50 that
the statements can be used to suit an To-
calities. But taking statement recently
prepared at the Treasury Department at
Washington, and the fact is manifest that
the expenses Of the current fiscal year viii
be far in advance Of those Of last year.
The item of increase in salaries alone win
sum up 81 l,757 900. Postage under the
new law will be S588 600, most enormous
amount. Added to these sums Il An extra
appropriation Of $4,000 for the erection
OF building for the Congressional Library;
another Of $4,000 for the Improvement Of
the botanic garden; an increase Of $4,000
on account Of public printing and binding;
another Of 5000 for publishing laws. proof
reading, etc; another of s78, 600 for con
tingent expenses Of consulates. The total
of these items is s2,623, 900. The appro-
prsation. for the Treasury, War and Navy
Departments have been made on grand
scale. For the former there IS an extra
appropriation Of $21 900 for furniture and
carpets; Of S480, 900 for miscellaneous pur-
poses; Of III ,170, 900 for the Internal Rev
enue bureau; Of s2,842 900 for public
works; Of slG9,000 for the coast survey.
and Of SOC, 900 for expenses of the light
house establishment. Besides there i an
appropriationsof 81 $50, 900 for the pur-
chase and management Of the Louisville
and Portland canal The total excess Of
the Treasury Department appropriation,
over those Of last year is upwards of SCI
100000. -Four million dollars of excess
credit to the Navy Department, and more
than four and quarter million dollars to
the War Department Why these large
additional sums are drawn from the pock-
cts of the people is not made clear. Build
ing war vessels and fighting Indians are
suggested as explanations. But they are
not satisfactory, They win not cover the
excess in any reasonable manner, and the
total advance Of expenses for the current
fiscal year over those of the last foot up
s17 1863, 600, according to the Washington
statement
There should have been no more money
appropriated for the present fiscal year than
there was for the past. That win be ad-
mitted by any one who looks at all the
proper wants and demands Of the govern
ment A reasonable economy on the part
of the Federal Government would have
made the amount fully ample for public
use. Il would have added to the strength
Of the navy, and supplied 81 the wants Of
the army. But no economy was practiced.
because the exacting revenpA s;stem Of
the nation always keeps the Treasury full.
The following Is a moderate estimate of
the receipts for the present fiscal year
From Custom, s210, 900, 900; from Inter
nal Revenue, sl2O, 900, 900; from public
lands, s2,500,000; from miscellaneous
sources, SIS, 900; total, s347 SOC, 900.
The expenditures may be approximately
stated as follows: Appropriations (as above)
sl72, ,291 900; interest on debt, s9S S,OO0,-
600; cost of loan, 81, 900 900; total. S272,-
POI 900. 1t is probable, therefore, that
the receipts win exceed the expenditures
by at least s75,0O0,000. The Radicals
tax the people to an excessively high fig
ure, and then distribute the money among
their friends, in the shape Of increased
salaries and the score Of ways known to
corrupt and scheming politicians. The
people Of the nation want reduction Of
taxation and expenses, in order to remove
the burdens from business. They win OBJ
tain neither while the present party is in
power. That is certain, from the fact that
the expenses Of the government are in
creasing each year, and that win make high
taxes necessary. Philadelphia Age.