The Portland daily press., 1874-03-13
Mr.. DaMes' Figures.

Four or five gentlemen have attempted N
the House of Representatives, to show that
the figures of Congressman Dawes in MS
speech on the national finances, are incorrect.
Reformer Wood, and Mr. Beck undertook 10
prove that he had not made the expenses Oh
the Government the past year sufnceh'ly
large but signally tailed. Figures usually rep
resent facts and it has been so long time
since Democratic statesman has dealt Win
things of this sort, that they blnnder most IL
dicuiously when they attempt it. On the oth-
er hand, Mr. Garfield tried to prove that the
expenditures of the Government the past his
cal year were less than those Of the previous
one. We most heartily wish that be coul ! have
succeeded 10 50 doing, but candor compels us
to say that oui impression is that such was
not the case
II the Government spent larger sum OF
money in 1873 than in 1872, was CLEARLY s''o
fault of Congress in making larger appropria-
tions. since no executive department Will ex-
pend more money than is voted it, The OIL
ficials who have the charge OF building iofIl-
fications, public buildings and clearing out
rivers and harbors feel bound to eXpend
whatever money Congress grants them, and
no intelligent man will visit upon Gen. Gran'
and his cabinet the extravaganza OF Con-
gress. Nor is it fair to blame Congress to
all of the unwise expenditures. With the ex
ception of Ben Butler, most Congressme'
are human and they know that their useful
ness and popularity is measured largely o.
the amount of money they secure as specla
appropriations for their own sections. Ihere
is no one thing that will call forth the f"" a
bic comm ssaf 81 81 appropriation to .ssow Mr..
Mullett to show how ugly a~Duildng he can
construct for a large Jsdm OF money OF to
build forts that are about as useful for de-
lenses as paper boxes, or clear out rivers that
will be filled up in six months. Indeed, the
patriotic constituent and the ambitions con-
tractor are not the least responsible parte:
for large public expenditures.
But so far as the past is concerned, extrav
agance cannot be helped. The money is ex
pended, though the forts and post Offices are
not built and the harbors are not all deep an,
straight enough for the line of foreign steam
CIo WHICH every Ouc anticipates. Lie pres
ent Congress has to deal with the future, ant
ifMr. Garfeld's committee is sustained by
the House and Senate we shall have differ
ent state of affairs hereafter. There has beer
falling off in the revenues and Congress
should labor to make the expenditures of tn,
government less than its receipts. 1t can b.
done and all interests will really be the bet
ter for it. Take Mr.. Dawes -esss-s.sses OF
the receipts of the Tre~sS.ly Tor the next year
wbicss~. not the most cheering, and cut the
garment of expenditures By thu olotar, leaving
fair maxs;-.svf the reduction of the public
debt and contingencies that may happen.
The people want economy in public ex-
penditure Intelligent men re asking them
selves why the public service cannot be
managed with the same care and prudence as
are private concerns. The fact that such has
never been the case is no good reason for not
making an attempt in that direction. And
1t may be well to add in this connection, that
not one person in ten will consent to have The
Government borrow money or increase taxa
ton. The country demands economy anG if
Congress has any other idea it is laboring I'M
der delusion from which it will awake only
to learn the maonitude of its mistaka