The Placer herald., 1874-04-25
QUERIES FOR REPUBLICANS.


House of Representatives on the 7th Of
March last, Fernando Wood presented sta
tistics showing the rapid rate Of increase in
the cost of running the several departments
of the government, which are in measure
startling. Considering that during the time
covered by Mr. Woods sta sistics, the coun-
try has enjoyed profound peace with all the
world There can be no apology conceived
for such untoldof extravaganza as has char
acterized our government for the past few
years. If the advocates of the Republi-
can party and the friends of the Admins
tration can give any plausible reason why il
should cost hundreds of millions more to run
the Government now than it did three, four
or five years ago, let tn em rise and explain.
The people demand and have right to
know why it should cost s11 900, 900 more
to run the Postoffice Department last year
than it did in 1868; and why it is that after
the Postmaster General had stated in an Of
fetal document sent to the House of Repre-
sentatives that if Congress would repeal the
franking privilege several millions would be
saved annually, that, Notwithstanding Con-
gress did so, lie now asks for the present
fiscal year S. 900, 900 in excess of what he
expended in 1878? The people demand
and have a right to know Why it should
cost over 1922, 900 900 to run the Navy this
year, when in 1868 SIG, 900 900 was am
pie. The people demand and have right
to know why it now costs st per cent. to
collect the Internal Revenue, when in 1868
per cent. was plenty. The people demand
and have right to know why it should
cost nearly $4,000, 900 for Ind an expenses
in 1878, when in 1868 not quite 4,O00,-
900 was enough. The people demand and
have a right to know why nearly $500, 600
was expended in Coast Surveys in 1873,
when in 1868 S455 900 was all that was
required, especially when it is known that a
complete survey of the Atlantic Coast was
completed fifty years ago, and nothing OF
consequence has been done elsewhere. The
people demand and have a right to know
why it should cost 81 ,12S, 900 for the sur
veying of public lands in 1878, when in
1868 when most all western country was a
wild, 1915, 900 was enough. The people
demand and have right to know why it
should cost over $400, 900 to run the Sur
veyor Generals Office in 1873, when in 1868
S95 900 was enough. The people demand
and have right to know why it should
cost nearly 81 900, 900 to run the Judiciary
in 1878, when in 1868 1923 ,0OO not one
fifth the amount, was all that was required.
The people have right TO know why it
costs over 81 900 900 to run the Govern
ment Mints in 1874, when last year, not
wthstanding the known extravaganza in this
departments, $760, 900 was all that was
consumed. The people have a right to know
why the expenses of the sub-Treasuries ii
1873 should be $549 900, when in 1865
$500, 600 was sufficient. The people have
right to know why the miscellaneous ex-
penses should amount to SIC, 900 more in
1873 than 1868. In short, the people
have a right to know why it costs $50 200, )
e 600 more to run the Government a yeal
now than it did six or eight years ago.
Then we were just emerging from a long
and expensive war into peace, which has
reigned profound ever since. And the peo-
pie would like to know how it is that ex-
penses have rapidly increased from that time
TO the present, when the very reverse was
natural and to be expected These queries
simple as they are, go to the root of the
evils of the present corrupt, proAigate
theving Administration. If the Republi-
can leaders could answer them with the
least degree of satisfaction, there might be
some hopes of their political existence being
yet spared little longer; but such a thing
is impossible; there is no hopes, none
These queries can only be answered in this
That we're the secret history of the presen,
Administration written up, it would en-
g body volumes of the most glaring frauds
t swindles, thefts, and extravaganza ever
dreamed Of by mortal man. The Contract
and Finance swindles of the Central Pacific
e Railroad Company, of which we have some
conception, would be but drop in the buck
g et 1t is left for the people to decide wba
course they will pursue in the future t.
avert the ruin which such administration
threatens soon to bring upon us.
. ExTRAvAGANcE ExEMPLIFIED. The mum