The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-07-07

From tie ". Y. WOrid, JUhc 20.
The Deadlock.

the Appropriation bills still remain In the |
senatorial limbo. We are not among those
who anticipate crash of matter and |
crush of worlds if these bills are not passed |
by mid night on Friday; but whatever |
happens, the skirts of the majority iD the
house are clear They are directly from
the people, intrusted by the constitution |
with the guardianship of the peoples |
purse, and chosen for the specific purpose |
of cutting down public expenditures |
They have done their duty. They have !
done it well, done it conscientiously, and
done it in good season.
The appropriation bills have all been in
the hands of the senate for weeks, and If
they fail, let the responsibility for their
failure, and for any public inconvenience
which may follow it, rest with the senate
The refusal by the Republican majority of
that body, acting in behalf of the admins
tration. to make the experiment of re-
trenchment, is the most reckless piece of
political impudence which any set of men
were ever guilty of. The organization to
which they belong has been convicted, not
only extravaganza, but ofactual thievery
Its national platform confesses the neces-
sity of economy and reform. And yet
here are executive and senate finging
themselves in the way of any retrench
ment, and insolently procaimiDg their in
tentlon to stop the functions Of govern
ment altogether if they do not receive all
the money they want
Suppose the house does not appropriate
enough for carrying on the government-at
least it can do no harm to try whether the
sums granted will suffice; and the judg
ment of the house,is as good on this mat.
ter as the judgment Of the
senate or the judgement Of the
departments, for the departments asked
for S25, lS6, 666.l0 more next year than
was spent during the current year, and
the senate has shifted its opinions in way
that shows it is merely fighting for all it
can get.
The government asked for S72, 80 more
for West Point than it got for the current
year, and it is offered $l33,699 less
Where there is such a variation of opinion
let it try to get along on the ld-fashioned
Democratic sum. Ii it will not do so, but
stubbOrnly refuses to take anything and
shut up the Military Academy for the
year, then we say, cheertully, although the
institution has no heartier friends than
ourselves, let it be shut up. The country
can get along without it for the next
twelve months.
The government only asked for the
Pension Bureau, S29, $50, 500, which was
S416, 500 less than it got during the current
year, and the house gives a trife more
than it asks for, so the wounded soldiers
and widows and orphans left by the war
are safe
For the consular aud diplomatic service
government asked a trifle less than it spent
for the current year, and the house proifer:
1927 ,63S less than it asks. II the admin
lstration, in pet, refuses 10 take any
thing, why. then, let Brother-in law
Cramer and Bancroft Davis, who turns
over German citizens TO the German drill
sergeant, and Seruggs Of the silver ink
stand, and the man who wrote the lettel
10 jeff Davis, come home for twelve
months. Perhaps foreign nations will no
miss them, and certainly the wheels o
progress here will roll on just as if nothinl
had happened.
For Qualifications the administrator
asked four times as much as was spen
during the current year, and the house
not pGrcelvng that we are now in an,
more imminent danger of invasion tha
we were in year ago, refuse to give NOR
than S5l5 900 for forts aud cannon [
protect us from the inroads of the savag
Canadian. If the administration won
take what is offered, why suppose we in
termit the building Of any forts for lively
months and lay aside the pleasing pastim
Of bursting heavy guns by way of exper
mentP
The administration, being anxious fc
rctr2nchment, asked more than twice a
much for rivers and iarbOrs as was give
during the current year, and the hous
grants very nearly as much as the latte
figure. let the government, if it dart
neglect our harbors on the plea that
will see them ruined lift cannot have MOI
than twice as much money to spend O
them rs it got year ago.
The appropriations for the judiclar
ought to be passed, but if the senate r.
fuses to accept the money granted f
legislative expenses, the people will M
grumblo They would be rather please
than otherwise to try aud get along for
year without congress, or to see congre,
serving without any pay.
The people will have their letters an
newspapers, but if the post office depar
mcnt must furnish them at $37, 939, sos. 9
for one year instead Of $50, 739, 10000 Q
passed bv the house, why perhaps tn
public will consider the ACCESSIBILITY
doing without carriers and ceasng to pro
ect mail routes into the far wilderness
where no white man but the mail contract
ever set foot.
As for the navy, we frankly declare tn;
we should rather see the house refuse it
cent than squander the $2O.S7l ,66G. 40 {
Secor Robinson's estimate on it. A year
dearth might possibly starve out some
the secretary's pet contractors.
We couldn't perhaps. spare the arm
even Tor a year, but IT the Indian burea
will insist on having over FIVE millions {
nothing, why let US try it with NOTHING
The Indians will get just as much as the
ever did, and the natives will lose so muc
the less.
AS for the sundry civil service gentry
we sympdthize with their losses, but the
should take what they can get and dissuad
their friends from preventing them iror
getting anything If this country shou
once try the experiment OF getting alor
without them for twelve months, their O
cupation would be gone forever.
In conclusion we say to the house, stan
fast and save that $50, i2l ,9Gl.5O to ii
nation.
TILDEN MAKES THE CHARGE.