New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-02-26
Is lt Wise Economy!

IS u WISE ECONOMY!
There is no time, either in the adnlinistra-
ton of the Government or the management
OF our private affairs, when economy, in its
proper sense, is not as we'll a necessity as a
great virtue. This proposition is especially
true when, from any cause, the expenditure
ofeither is in danger of exceeding its receipts,
producing embarrassment, and threatening
bankruptcy. Though our Government has
not reached that point which forebodes bank
ruptcy or merely any serious embarrassment
in its finances, yet the panic which recently
overspread the country, has temporarily so
diminished its receipts as to demand the use
of the pruning-knife of economy wherever it
can be applied without positive detriment to
the public service. We acknowledge not
only the right, but the duty, of Congress to
make the strictest investigation in the man
agement of the various departments Of the
Government with a view to retrenchment
where the expenditures are greater than
prompt performance of the business con-
nected with it requires.
We were, therefore, gratified when a COM
mittee of Congress undertook an inquiry into
the whole question of ''retrenchment and
reform" in the Departments here. We
hoped that the people would then be author
itatively informed whether more clerks were
employed than were needed to do the work
required of them well and promptly, how
many could be discharged without injury to
the service, and what abuse of any kind
really existed in the Departments. But we
fear they will be no wiser on these points
when this committee get through their inves-
tigation than they are now. AS the members
of the Committee on Appropriations could not
be supposed to understand the complicated
details of the work Congress has committed
to the different Departments, and which has
been apportoned out to the different bureaus,
they very properly called upon the Secreta-
ries and heads of bureaus for information as
to the state of the work under their charge,
the number of clerks employed, and the
number absolutely needed.
1t would seem but ordinary wisdom for the
committee to give some weight to the infor-
nation thus obtained, and pay some Difference
to the opinions of the heads of Departments
and bureaus as to the needs Of the Gov
eminent. But, judging by the recommen-
dations they have made in some cases of a
largely reduced appropriation after their
investigation, and in the very face of the
testimony they have taken, their purpose is
not to ascertain where retrenchment can
safely be made, but how they can quiet the
popular claims for "reform," and perhaps
add little to their own regulations at the
same time. We do not mean to be unjust
towards this committee by misrepresentng
their motives. But an arbitrary reduction
of the force hitherto deemed necessary by the
only man competent to judge, and as devoted
to the public welfare, as members of Congress
can be, and in spite oftheir remOnstrance gives
ground for the suspicion that they are intiu-
enced rather by resolve to retrench ex-
penses than desire to ascertain if and where
it can be done without injury to the public
interests.
There are two kinds of economy-a wise
economy and an economy that is more ruin
GUS than the loosest prodigality. 1t would
be economy for the Government to dsmantle
its forts and ships-of-war, to put out its
lighthouses, to abolish all post offices and
custom houses and internal revenue offices
which do not yield revenue, if saving money
is all the time implied. But there are few,
beside the "reformers," who will not pro-
nounce it very unwise and unpatriotic econ
omy. A wise economy, while it requires only
the most judicious appropriation of money,
and holds all its employees to the strictest
accountability, demands a liberal use of all
the means necessary to the efficiency of all
| the Departments of the Government, and to
the prompt and faithful performance Of the
public business.
And is there not danger Of running this
whole thing into the ground, and doing the
Government and people an infinitely greater
are bent on saving can compensate them for
| The Government exists for the convenience
and welfare of the people. And while they
| demand that it shall be administered on the
principle of strict accountability, and with
rigid regard to genuine economy, they ask no
such narrow-minded, niggardly, illiberal POI
icy as would cripple the officers Of the Gov
eminent, delay the public business, and
ultimately cost the people ten times more
than will be temporarily saved by the pro-
posed reduction of force. Such course is
neither true craftsmanship real and wise
economy, nor sound policy. 1t is based on
an arbitrary determination to reduce the
expenses Of the Departments let the embar-
rassment and injury to the public service be
what they may. We cannot suppose Con-
gress will legalize the principle that the def
cheney in the revenue of the Government
must be made up by discharging its employees
regardless of the necessities Of the public
services, and in spite of the protests of the
heads of Departments and bureaus.
The Sixth Auditors Ofice.