Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-09-08
amounting to s214. 642, 81. o3. and the total


net currency for ordinary expenses is
shown to be S77, $50, 1922 Reduced to
gold basis, the average price Of gold hav
ing been 1928, gives the expenditures in
1873 on peace and gold basis S69,042,-
S38.13. The comparison which follows is
| this:
Expenditures under Grant
in 1873 on peace and gold
basis 9G9,Ol2, s3S. IS
Expenditures under Blu
chanan in 1860 for cur
rent expenses Gl,402, 40S.64
Per capita under Buchanan 1893
Per capita under Grant LIT
The expense per capita shows that econ
omv is on the side of the republicans.
The expense Of the government accord
ing to population is less under Grant than
it was under Buchanan. We had an in
crease of population from 1860 to 1870 of
about ten millions, necessarily making
governmental expenses greater by our
growth, but not increasing at the per cap
tia rate of expense found under Buchanan's
administration.
A comparison with the present year
would be still more favorable to the re-
publicans, since The current expenditures
for 1874 hare been cm down $27, 100000
del0W those Of 1873.
Some increase of offices since 1860 has
been unavoidable. The assessment and
collection of the internal revenue called for
the creation of new officials. Custom house
forces had to be strengthened to prevent
fraud upon the government by smuggling
and otherwise. Pensions had to be dis
manded new offices, particularly in the
Post Office department, which had 10 ex-
tend its benefits into new territories and
afford better facilities as by the postal car
system in the older parts of the country.
But the increase has been no more than
necessary, and reductions have taken
place when they could be made, as in the
internal revenue department, where they
have been cut down from $500 in 1866 to
1898 in lS73---a reduction of 50GG.
In one respect the republican party
stands unrivaled-the fidelity with which it
has applied the needed corrective to abuses
found within the organization. In 4
speech in the House of Representatives
last winter Mr. Dawes spoke as follows
The republican party had its
origin in the reform and over
throw Of old abuses. 1t will for
get its mission only when ii
| ceases TO search them out and
abolish them. No other party be-
fore it had either the courage Or
the power TO work out reforms
| within its own org Ii is
the glory OF the republican party
that il probes its own sores and
cOrreCtS its own errors. Ii has
| never waited to be driven from
without TO n dis charge OF its duty.
but inpclled by the very pur.
pose OF its being, it has shrunk
from no selfdis cipline nor hest
tated I'm the application Of the
most radical reform.
This is the eulogium of one of the most
honest, faithful and capable public SER
wants that the country ever had in Con-
gress. The prompt investigation into the
Credit Mobiler scandal. and the application
Of the probe and corrective to the cases of
Jayne and SaAborn are evidence of the
truth of the high praise Mr.. Dawes paid his
party. Let all good citizens honor the
party that saved the Union from destruc-
ton by rebels, that keeps the nations
honor untarnished so that our credit in
| the markets of the world is better than
before the war, that is economical in ex-
penditure and quick to punish fraud and
root up corruption in its own ranks when
discovered there. Especially should all
republicans be proud OF the party record,
and support manfully the candidates in
the coming election by whom it is. repre-
sented.