New-York tribune., 1874-03-09
WASHINGTON.
THE FINANCES.

rINhNOrD'
FOUR SPEECHES IN THB HoUs. on SATURDAY
MEssRs BECK AND WOOD AssAIL THE ADaINIs-
TRATIoN WITH DAMAGING EPPRCT-A NEW ILLUS
TRArIoN or THE ExrRAvAGANcE or THE REPUB-
uCAN PARTY
lBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE.l
WASHINGTON, March S.--Four members Of the
Ways and Means Committee -Mossrs. Wood, Burch-
ard, Beck, and Kelley-addressed the House yester-
day the general subject of the finances. Mr..
Becks spoech attracted tho most attention on ac-
countiof his position, now generally acknowledged,
the leader Of the Democratic side, and also from
the fact that at least two occasions he had him
self stimulated interest and curiosity by promising
to demolish the figures of Messrs. Dawes and Gar
field relating to Government expenditures
Mr.. Beck is not pleasing orator. He has, how
ever certain sedgehammer way of pounding his
ideas into his listeners that is rather impressive,
backed as it is by considerable personal magnetism,
recognized earnestness of convictions and honesty
of purpose. and he is always heard with respect.
The chief fault Of all his speeches is that they lack
dIrcctness and concentration. Hescatters bis blows
much that they do not produce half the effect ex-
poets them to- This noticeably the case yester-
day. He had an excellent opportunity Of delivering
a damaging attack on the Republican party, by
making the most of the revelations concerning the
his Committee about the infamous robberies of the
merchants of New-York by Special Agent Jayne.
Hero was perfectly fresh material of the first quality
for an opposition orator, but Mr. Beck could only
find time barely to touch upon it, for the
reason that he tried in single hour to 20
over the whole ground of the condition Of the
Treasury, the extravaganza of Congress, the
tariff laws, the decay of American commerce, and
dozen other topics. He made some good hits, how
ever in the course of his random fire of denuncia-
ton. THE TRIBUNB's recent publication OF Secro-
tary Robeson's pawnbroking operation in taking old
iron as security for deposits of Government funds
with Jay Cooke, McCulloch q Co, furnished him
with ammunition for direct and damaging shot
Secretary Robesons illegal enlistment of 1,5OOsmen
last Fall his violation of law in putting out the
reserve; the great increase Of officials and expenses
in the internal revenue service aud the persistent
cOncealmen by the Treasury of the facts about the
expenses of funding the debt, were all used effect
iyely
Mr.. Beoks method of exhibiting tho extravaganza
of the party in power novel ana striking. lie
said that during the past SIX years the Govern
ment had spent 81 227 Co., 900, and collected $276o
OO0, 900 from the people. According to Mr.. Dawes,
$3.50 100000 of the debt had been paid in that time.
What had become of the other $l9l 100000 collected
he did not know. Since 1862 the expenditures had
been $SOOOO,0O0 more than all tho expenses of the
Government from 1901 to 1861, including the cost OF
two wars The financial plan of Mr. Beck was sim
pie enough. He wanted to abolish all the National
banks issue greenbacks enough TO supply the wants
of the people, and enact revenue tariff. AS prac-
teal measure however, no should support the bill
legalizng the issue of the entire 440000O0 reserve
60 keep the Secretary of the Treasury from playing
fast and loose with Wall-st. 70 -....--..
Mr. Woods speech was largely devoted to proving
that the pretended economy of tho Republicans was
fallacious and deceptive. He showed by statements
prepared from the blue books that the number of
employees in most of the departments had largely
increased since 1863 and declared that the Repub-
can leaders had no intention of shaking the Ieeches
from the treasury and only made pretense OF re-
ducing expenses TO deceive the people when cleo
tions were coming on.
Mr. Kelley endeavorod TO prove that the recent
panic was the result of lack of currency and that
in order to stimulate business of all kinds, increase
rapidly the wealth Of the country, and I'LL the Treas
ury with surplus revenue, it only necessary TO
Issue an abundance Of paper money.
Mr. Burchard discussed the tariff for time and
then reviewed the receipts and expenditures OF the
Government, coming 10 conclusions favorable TO the
party III power