Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1875-11-24
Retrenchment i'm Expcndi-
turcS.


Is conceded on all hands that II
Democratic House Of Represents
tives will do when it comes int
power win be to remorselessly II
trench in expenditures. The Me-
York Times in speaking incident
ally of this, says: Doubtless t.
Democrats will make great GffoI
to cut down expenses, Tat the
may claim the credit OF economy
process which will be much easie
to them, since the retrenchmen
will effect no Democratic officehold
ers." In other words il has been
difficult matter for the Republican
to cut down expenses, since, for
sooth, the retrenchment would eff
feet Republican office-holders
This is a confession that there
could readily have been greater
reduction in expenditures within
the past few years than that which
was effected if the Office holders
had not been such important per-
sonages, that they were entitled to
the first consideration at its hands
of the Republican party. After
their interests were attended to
those of the people could be look
cd after if it was in every way con-
venient to do so.
The Times is of the opinion that
Secretary Bristow can deprive the
Democrats in the House Of much
of the credit for any reduction
that is brought about in the nation
al expenditures. 1t says that the
Democrats cannot lay any claim to
the credit of such reductions as the
department estimates may show.
That field Mr.. Bristow has all be-
fore him." 1t will be worth while
perhaps, to examine this statement,
and see if the Democrats will not
really be entitled TO great deal of
credit if the department estimates
for the fiscal year ending June 30,
1877, as finally revised by Mr..
Bristow, show any marked reduc-
ton from those Of our current fis-
cal year. In his annual report in
December last Bristow estimated
the expenditures for the then en-
suing fiscal year at s272,17S,000.
In his report he dwelt at some
length upon the Importance of the
most riged economy in public ex-
penditures, and enyited the most
careful scrutiny of the estimates
he had transmitted. It cannot be
claimed that more riged economy
is demanded at the present time
than was demanded at the date OF
the report. Neither can it be
claimed that there is anything in
the condition Of the public service
or i'm the affairs of the nation l
which would enable the public ex-
penditures to be reduced for the S
next fiscal year to a lower point ,
than they viii reach the current G
year, provided there has been this +
year that rigid economy of which 4
Bristow boosted in his q
annual report. The nation is con-
stantly growing more populous, ,
and it is probably within the mark t
to say that the average number of
during the fiscal year I
with July 1, 1875, will 2
be one million in excess of what
it was in the fiscal year which will
end with the date named. 1t I
would be natural therefore, il prop q
Or economy has thus far been ex- z
ercised in expenditures, to expect C
, slight increase during the ensu- C
ing fiscal year. II, in the face Of 0
bis declarations of year since, f
Secretary Bristow finds himself b
able to present a smaller budget of :
than he did year {
since, the conclusion will be in O
evitable that the fact that the care b
ful scrutiny which his estimates will a
receive will be from men who know, Il
10 quote the words of the Times, I
hat "retrenchment will affect no u
Democratic Office holders" has had t
much to do with it. We hope that Il
Mr.. Bristow will lay before the d
louise estimates which will really u
,dicate the sum which, under an o
economical administration of af- e
lirs, will provide for all the ma p
onal expenditures. II he does Il
D the reduction which by admin BE-
tration confession, can be made