National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-03-16
TO THE PUBLIc.

8 TO THE PUBLIC.
The business Office of TIE REPUBLICAN for
the present win continue at Tenth and D
streets, at which place all persons having bust
ness relations with the paper VIII call. Duo
notice will be given of the removal of the
business department to the new REPUBLICAN
building.
ATTACKS ON THE REPUBLICAN,
Il So. PARTY rr.a.
Mr.. Dawes must derive peculiar salts
faction, as the leader of the Republican
marty in the House, at having won the ap-
plause of his Democratic colleagues on the
floor, and received their thanks for the arms
and ammunition which he has furnished
them and the Democratic press of the ooun-
try with which to attack the Administra-
ton. 1t is true that Gen Garfield explained
the subject of expenditures, which was so
t badly muddled by Mr.. Dawes. with great
clearness and to the satisfaction of all right
minded men. The fog in which they
were enshrouded by the learned chairman
of the Ways and Means, in his endeaxor to
throw the responsibility of insufficient rev.
enue upon the Appropriation Committee,
was not only thoroughly dispelled by Mr.
Garfield, but 1t was also demonstrated that
the Administration was not amensble to the
charge of wholesale extravagance.
The alacrity with which the statements
Of Mr.. Dawes were seized upon by Messrs.
Wood and Beck of the opposition, and
hurled back at once against the Republican
a party, shows the mischievous effects Of
hazarding general scold upon unreliable
data These tactics on the part of the Dem
: ocratic opposition were to have been ex-
pcctcd; but that they should be followed
and Endorsed by any respectable portion of
the Republican press is not only surprising,
but painful. . ..,E
When journal of the standing of the
New York EoeRiag Post is not only be-
traycd suddenly into attacks upon its own
party, by giving currency to the unquali-
fed allegations of Mr.. Fernando Wood,
without any attempt at explanation or pal
liation, but simply assumes their truth for
the purpose of joining Mr.. Dawes in his
character of common scold, /" it is time
that some little attention should be paid to
this combined criticism upon the acts and
policy of the party in which they claim to
be leaders. 1t is fact in no wise credit |
able to these gentlemen and their associates. |
who are so anxious for economy in the ex- |
ecutive departments of the Government, |
that the legislative expenses have increased
in much greater ratio than those Of any
other branch. Perhaps little wholesome
analysis of the amounts and disposition of
the contingent funds of the two houses of
Congress, as compared with the same before
the war, would prove beneficial to their
thirst for economy. We hope they may
soon find the time to indulge In such pas
time. ... |
The average expenditures of Mr.. Blu
chanan's administration were about eighty
millions per annum. Those Of General
Grants exclusive of the interest and cx-
penses and reduction of the public debt, |
have been less than twice that sum. Mr.. |
Beck puts them at from one hundred and
thirty six to one hundred and forty millions.
This is an increase Of seventy-fiv per
cent. Now, it is very well known to
all persons of experience that the
personal and household expenses, and
the cost of transacting business Of any kind |
whatever have increased fully seventy five
per cent. upon the average during the same |
period. The cost of most articles of con-
sumption are one hundred per cent. higher
than they were before the war. But, on
the whole, they viii average fully seventy
five per cent. Did it never occur to our
Legislators at the national capital that the
Government was amenable to these en-
HANGED values just the same as individuals,
except in cases of per diem and salaries
which they have refused to raisei Mr..
Wood shows that the number Of employees
of the Government is (S8, 68O nearly double
what they were in 1859, (44,527) Mr..
Beck shows that the ordinary expenses Of
the Government are increased only seventy
five per cent, and the fact being that by the
increase of values and cost of expenses gen.
crafty ought to account for an increase of sew
eRty- five per cent, it follows that the pres
emit administration of the Government is
very economical, for while it has doubled
its force it has only increased its expenses
in the natural ratio.
Let US glance at Mr.. Woods figures,
which he says he took from the Blue Book,
and see where he finds his increase Of en-
ployees. Ninety one in the Department of
State, of whom twenty mine are employed
in Washington and sixty-two in other parts
Of the world. Considering the increased
lahors arising from the war, and the addi-
tional intercourse arising out of our own
and foreign, and the increased service in
China, Japan, &c, we submit that this in
q, crease for period of one and . half de-
cades is not extravagant Then the Treas
ury exhibits an increase of 7,64S, of whom
2,S13 are employed at Washington and 0, 1856
elsewhere. In 1859 we had NO paper cur
rency or Currency Bureau, no Internal Rev
nue. Bureau or force scattered over the
length and breadth of the land. This
number also includes the employees
Tin the Bureau of Engraving and
and Printing, the Bureau of Construction
ct work upon all the public building and
All the customs revenue service, revenue
marine service ana internal revenue ser.
vice. The Washington portion Of the force
includes al the counters, printers and addi-
tionAl clerks In all the suditof5 o6Sces for
the settlement of all the,additional accounts.
The Interior has advanced from 1.2oe to
1851, Of which increase 90 are employed
in this city and 2o1 in other parts Of the
country. The increase here has been
mostly connected with the pension ser
vice, and was unavoidable. The
slight increase in tho War, Navy
and Justice Departments are sttribus-
+ sbie mostly to the war and he adjustment
o. the accounts and care ef material grow-i
ing out Of H. The recent. Cuban excite
rment caused . considerable Temporary IN
crease IN the Navy Department which Mr..
Wood was not slow to display without e4-
!. plAnstion Of any sort Coming den, to Tie
Post Office Department, It Il shown 10 have