The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-11-20
Saturday. November 40. 1876,
The Public Expenditures.


carrying on the government in time of
peace is due to the loose, prodigal, and cor
rupt system of legislation which followed
the war, and for which the Republican
party is exclusively responsible. When
the rebellion closed in 1865, it was easy to
have cut off the excrescences which. under
the pretext of that great emergency, had
fastened themselves on the public service,
and by policy of retrenchment adapted
to the wants of the country and to the
condition of the finances, to have estab
lished basis of expenditure in all the
departments that would afford immense re-
lief.
Instead of pursuing this plain and hon
est course, congress INDUCED in the wild
est extravaganza, inflated the currency,
destroyed its safeguards, multiplied Of
fees, and legislated for rings, until finally
the whole artificial system burst like a
bubble, and scattered ruin and misery
over the land. The abuses, however. re-
main in full force, and they are supported
by crushing taxation, without any regard
to the suffering and straiteDed means Of
the people, who are compelled to bear this
burden in addition to other loads with
which they are weighed down.
There is now a general demand that
these excessive expenditures shall be
scaled down 10 the lowest point, and that
the economy which is the enforced rule of
private life shall be applied rigidly to ev-
cry branch Of the public service. without
unjust discrimination to any part of it.
The officeholders aud partisan retainers
who have been gOrged with pay and plum
der, must expect to share in the retrench-
ment which in all other pursuits has be
come a necessity
We are maintaining an army with more
than double the force lhat Is needed, and
navy wich is a positive discredit abroad,
and nothing but source of squandering
and stealing at home. The civil list is out
of all proportion to the wants of the gov
eminent, and as has been seen in the re-
cent disclosures, is utterly rotten from
head to foot. The Indians, though reduced
in numbers aud located within limited
territorial area, cost eight millions as
against three when they were scattered
and counted sixty or seventy thousand
more than they now do.
The public printing and binding at
Washington costs two millions year, more
than half of which is barefaced plumber,
Clerkships have expanded into bureaus
without pretext of utility, and only to
make more places for the kindred and
favorites Of members of congress and
others in power. There is hardly sound
spot in the whole service. Waste, ven
atty, nepotism, and collision are seen by
the naked eye wherever the probe is put 10.
Many of these abuses have become
chronic, and are protected by political in
fuence on both sides, as well as by social
connections which ramify extensively,
That is the point of danger which every
attempt at reform must expect to confront.
Superadded to it, will be offers of patron.
age to members of the house with the in
tention Of tying their hands and securing
the usual appropriations.
Plausible estimates and cooked figures
will be presented to congress in the hope
of continuing the present extravagant ex.
penditures, backed by every form of Off
cial and personal persuasion, and aided by
a political lobby hired for the occasion. Ii
the Democratic majority in the house will
sternly resist this pressure from the out
set, and determine to save fifty or fifty five
millions from the appropriations, they can
accomplish that desirable object and ini-
tate policy by which the government
can be brought back to its proper simple
ity.
The Republican senate will Of course
resist any Radical reduction, and strive tC
maintain the old scale of appropriations
by giving up few of the most fragrant
examples of prodigality. They may pos
sibly be aided by Democratic senator:
who have sons, brothers. cousins, sons-in.
law, or other relations in the army, navy
marine corps, or civil service Their hope
is, that by resortinR to the usual plan Of
disagreeing and sending the bills to com
mittees Of conference, the appropriation
may be substantially saved.
These tricks are we'll understood. /
the Democratic majority are in earnest
and mean reform as a practical thing anC
not as a sentimental sham, they can en-
force it in spite of of all the cop bination
suggested and the treachery of falls,
friends. They have only to unite solidly
vote down senate amendments, refuse con
ferences. and stop the supplies until tn,
retrenchment is accepted. Whenever tn,
screw is turned, the senate must eithe
yield or prepare for an issue where tn
office holders, contractors, jobbers, rings
and plunderers, will be on one side, and tn,
great body of the people on the other.