The Grange advance., 1874-02-18

=. co, ana 1884 ,o0O, 900 of public debt
IA been paid In 1872 the expenditures
been tsss.d tsFss.diulce dil ITO $277, ,0O0OQO, and
/ D9, ,00O, ,OOOs sof public debt had been paid
E1k 1873 the expenditures run up to- $780,
900, 600, and only $42, ,OO0, 600 Of public
debt had been paid This year the expen-
ditures would be $319,OOO, 900, without
paying one dollar Of the public debt.
Mr.. Dawes then spoke 81. the increased
expenditure in the various departments Of
the Government this year as compared with
former years. and referred especially to
the extravaganza Of retaining ports Of en-
try in places where the receipts did not be-
gin to pay the expenses. He had letter
from an ex-appraiser at one Of these ports,
in which the writer said that when he re-
ceived his appointment with a salary Of
So, 900 year he wrote his Senator in Con-
gress, and afterwards stated to the Secre-
tary Of the Treasury. and about year
ago informed his other Senator that the
place was mere sinecure, that there was
nothing done at this port, and that the law
making this a port Of entry should be re-
pealed and the Offices abolished. The writ
er went on to say that he supposed such
sentiments in an Office holder were decid-
edly unpopular in the; Republican party;
and in March last he had been removed,
for what cause he had not been informed.
but he supposed on the ground Of insanity:
He t4oug ght,,it could not be on the gro9tnd
Of negligence, or incompetency, for no
officer had ever; been more faithful or more
diligent, in drawing his salary than he had
been, and that was everything there was
to do This man seems to have had no OBJ,
lection to being renewed provided the
office was abolished, but he certainly had
cause to feel injured by being superseded
simply because he had done his duty in
showing that there was no necessity in
having a port there. Mr.. Parker desired
to. Know, the name of the writer OF at least
the name Of the port, but Mr.. Dawes re.
fused to give either. $780,.
We are GLAD that Mr.. Dawes has brought
up this matter of keeping in existence ports
Of entry for the mere. purpose Of paying
salaries I'd officers. We are glad thata re-
publican has brought up: tnis matter, abe-
cause he cannot be said to have done it for
political purposes, or to make political cap
ital for his. party It%has long been a mat
ter of astonshment to us that the American
people have tamely submitted, year after
year, to be robbed of enormous sums to pay
salaries to men who DO not do a dollars $
worth of work in return. We are aware
that it is quite common in monarchial gov
ernments to feed and fatten these sinecures
and barnacles in every department of the
government at the expense of the people,
| but we never supposed it to be consistent
with the genius Of Republican govern
ment.
I We give below a few specimens of this
port of entry business.
! At Frehchman's Bay, a custom house dis
trict in Maine, the whole foreign trade 70,
the year ending March, 1879, was, import:
/ 1928, and exports nothing. This whole
business was transacted, done, and perform
ed. run and superintendent, and otherwis.
fully attended to and accomplished, by tn,
following corps Of officers. at the res7ectiv,
salaries set opposite their names:
N. K. Sawyer, Collector........... $3.50 II
Moses Hale. Special Deputv |. 200 IN