The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1874-09-24
FAHRroArED FraUREs.


Mr. Garfield and Mr.. Dawes, with
the aid of the Speaker, siezed upon a
chance offered in the expiring hours
of the late session, and when there
was no possibility of correction, to
glorify their alleged achievements as
members of a mutual admiration So
ciety, and 10 send out to the country
a false statement of the appropriation
for the current fiscal year.
The popular demand for a return To
peace basis in carryili on the Gov
ernment went unheeded unfii the
crash came last fall, which compelled
the Republican leaders to take in sail.
aud to 90 through The motions OF a
pretended retreuchment During the
nine years that have passed away Since
the close of the rebellion, the constant
effort of the majority in Congress was
to Keep up the extravaganza, waste
aud plnn1er which the extreme mr.
geney alone of war had permitted
Hundreds of millions were stolen and
squahdered by thissystem, which un-
der and honest administration of af-
fairs, or any desire for proper econo-
my, would have been deducted from
the public burdens by diminished debt
and taxation. Monopolies, rings, and
rich corporations controlled the legis-
lation at Washington, and their inter-
ests required the most prodigal scale
of expenditures.
Even when forced by the financial
disturbance to retrace their steps in
part, the Republicans in Congress
came to the work reluctantly, shufffed
over il, patched it up with false. pre-
lenses, and did everything but inau-
9urate a thorough and metholical re-
form of abuses which were scandaIons.
Instead of presenting a matured poll
iey by which the excesses in the public
service throughout the Union would
be cut off wherever necessary, and the
remainder scaled down to the actual
requirements, Mr.. Garfield brought
forward no plan at all. Soon after the
meeting of Congress hundreds of
propositions were offered to retrench
radically, but the bulk of them were
intended for home consumption, and
had no value. While that paroxysm
lasted the House was driven to revoke
the salary steal4tliough nothing could
drive it to extend the revocation to
the Presidents salary-and under the
whip and spur OF an excited public
opinion the pay of some of its own
officers was cut down. But as soon
as the storm began 10 subside, the
majority ahdid ia May what they had
done IN March. and bargained with
the Senate to defeat the amendments
which had been put on the appropria-
tion bilisto Deceive the country.
The upshot of all the affected re-
trenchment is the dismissal of five or
six hundred clerks from the aggregate
of ten or twelve Thousand employees
at Washington, and they mostly poor
women with the smallest grade of
salary. There has been neither dis
elimination, Justice, nor system in
this reckless sweep. Thousands are
retained by partisan influence, who
hold rich sinecures, and some of
whom are never seen at the depart
ments except on pay day No change
whatever has been made in the Gus
tom Houses, Post Offices, and other
nests of political corruption, where
the great abuses notoriously exist and |
are visible to every eye. Mr.. Dawes,
Mr.. Garfield, and their associates de-
liberately passed them over, and |
sought to throw dust in the eyes of
the public by dismissiHg helpless |
women and shouting economy at the
top of their lungs.
Thev were not satisfied with this |
deception, but tried by false and art !
ful statement to create the impression /
that the appropriations had been large
ly reduced as compared with former |
years. Mr.. Garfield made this exhibit |
just as he did his miserable defence of !
the Credit Mobilier corruption, with |
the hands OF the clock turning quickly |
to the hour of final adjournment, aud |
wien his imposture could not be ex :
posed. He cunningly took the last
year of wild proflgacy, with the back
paw grab, increased salary and venal |
as the basis of comparison, /
though he knew that millions had !
been voted for these various objects, |
which no Congress would dare to re-
peat in the present temper of the
country. These are the evidences of
which MFR. Garfield pa
raded to the House, and which Mr.. |
Dawes commended with fellow |
feeling. Besides this they resorted to |
the old dodge of cutting down the |
su pplies on the eve of the Congress-
ional elections, intending to make |
them good with deficiency bills next |
winter, when the occasion for this de-
cepiion will no longer exist. 3
Here is what Mr.. Garfield said on |
this subject: s.f vai7aai c,s .f,s
Summing up the results of the