The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-09-09

In spite Of the new taxes with which
the Republicans closed their discrcditnble
rareer in the last Congress, under pre-
text of making good deficiency in the
sinking fund which Boutwell, and R1cH-
ARDsoN left as legacy of official mis-
feasance, the revenue from customs has
not improved at all. On the contrary,
the last three months. which cover TO u
great extent the fall importations, show
falling off OF quite two and n half
millions of dollars as compared with last
year.
Instead of an improvement and revival
Of business, IA the more sanguine pre-
hicted year ago, there has been pos
Tive decline. The main spring, conf
dence, continues TO work feebly, and the
machinery does not therefore move with
regular or healthy activity. To disguise
this fact from ourselves would be unwise
With this FIRST quarter before us, the
opening Of the fiscal year Is far from be-
ing encouraging. IL will be fortunate
Indeed, If the remaining nine months ex-
hibit no worse results, for the country Is
passing through an unprecedented finan-
rial crisis, the full effect of which has by
that II has rather augm ented than abatcd
Mt the end of two years is full of signif-
rance.
In this condition of things, the Score
tary OF the Treasury will have to confront
Democratic House Of Representatives
On the first Monday of December. with
budget the very opposite Of cheerful.
His estimates have not been verified thus
far, and the surplus of more than twen-
~ millions which he assumed upon a
liberal margin OF figures is likely TO
vanish into thin air, as some other dclu-
kions haye done, long before next July,
when the accounts will be balanced.
For political effect on the pending fall
elepf1uns, and with the knowledge that the
responsibility had passed from their bands
In the new Congress, Mr.. GARFIELD aud
his associates made show at the last ses-
sion Of cutting down some of the regular
appropriations intending, however, that
the usual amount should be spent and the
deficiency be sadded on their successoYe.
They did not touch the system of extrnva-
CANT expenditure at all, but merely re-
stricted the money grants to carry it out,
n has often been done before, with an I'M
Outstanding that the departments were 10
60 on without STINT, and then bring IN the
accounts next winter. This has Deen the
practice Of the Indian Bureau. and under
II nearly three millions year have been
stolen by the Ring ny and out of Office
during the reign Of Grantsm
The law explicitly forbids any such ex-
cess of expenditure, but 1t has been utterly
disregarded. While the Republican. were in
n majority or bUth branches OF Congress.
they encouraged this abuse, for the simple
reason that the charmen and other MEM
bers of the leading committees shared in
the plunder of reckless appropriations Of
the public money The act Of July Il, 1870
provides:
mo department Of the Government shaN cHpcnd, In
any one fiscal year, a'g sum m ercsss NJ ai1ton,t.
n1"made ~ cong,tss fo' u1t t,cn geir, - inyo,ye
men, oI money in excess Of such appropriations"
There il no escape from this plain and
mandatory statute, and no plea of pre-
tended necessity will serve 10 excuse its
violation. Ii the departments or their
subordnates have wllfully incurred liabil-
tiles or made contracts in the face Of this
warning, let them take the consequences
of their misdeeds. Congress will only en-
courage fraud by recognizing claims which
have been created by collision between
contractors and officials.
1t will be asked, how is the equilibrium
10 be restored between the receipts and
the expenditures, If the revenue falls be-
low the estimates and leaves huge gap to
be filled upl The answer IS easy Cut
down the expenditures 20 the last possible
dollar, lop of all excrescences reduce
salaries, stop stealing, rctrcnch prodi-
Eality, and 60 back to the first principles
OF economy ana integrity, just us honest
individuals do when adversely has struck
them suddenly, or whose large income has
failed from any cause whatever.
The people are in no humor for more
taxes or an increase of the public debt,
which in another form is really the same
thing. They are now burdened enor-
mously, and stagger under oppressive
loads TO MAINTAIN corrupt system which
eiTiches the few and impoverishes the