The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-06-23
Fighting for Plumber.

and the party machine has been run
since the advent of Grantsm. In spite
OF all the astounding exposures of cor
ruption, fraud, matchmaking, collision,
aud barefaced robbery, they adhere to the
sxtravugauce and outrageous expend-
lures established by successive Republic
can Congresses, and demand the same
enormous appropriations to continue them,
as If nothing had occurred.
The prostrnte condition OF all the great
Industrial interests, the stagnation Of trade,
the impoverishment of labor, and the en-
forced necessity for economy everywhere,
have made no impression on partisan
minds accustomed to prey ON the public
Treasury. No matter what form retrench-
ment takes, II encounters the solid and
obstinate opposition OF the Republicans in
Congress. As resistance Is powerless in
the House, 1t is transferred to the Senate,
where ma ority controlled by Ring agents
and ca-pet-bag knaves shape the legisla-
ton OF that body.
Gen. GRANT has thrown all the influence
OF the Executive into the scale against any
reduction Of the expenses. His friends,
his relations, and his appointments, made
to satisfy the exactions Of party, are the
benenciaries of the prohigate system
through which the Treasury has been and
stin is robbed. He Is responsible for .
great part OF 1t, aud he now clings with q
oonvulsive grasp, as he sees power slip
ping away, to every Office and job aud
contract and chance In order to improve
bis remaining opportunities.
His recent message to Congress was oon-
cocted under Ring influences. for no other
object than to deceive the country as to
the true situation. For many years the
appropriation bills have not passed until
the closing hours of a session, and repeat
eddy under Republican rule, without even
being read. when tens OF millions were
voted away. 1t has often happened that
some Of these bills did not 60 through
year, and occasionally they failed to pass
at all, without in any way deranging the
operations Of government.
This was the condition OF things when
the policy of the Republican party was to
accept the estimates without question, to
multiply Offices. TO increase salaries. and to
appropriate the peoples money by millions
for Rings. GRANT had no warning to give
then, when plumber and prodigaity were
the order OF the day. He sat complacently
In the White House and saw the sands fast
running out without the least misgiving.
He knew that the majority in Congress
had too much personal interest at stake TO
let the money bills fail, whatever else
might be lost.
Now, however, the situation Is radically
the prospect of reduction OF forty mil
lions in the appropriations. To achieve
this reform the House OF Representatives
had to abolish n rule Of the Republ cans,
by which 1t was always in order to in-
crease salaries and expenses, and out Of
order to reduce them. The Democrats re-
versed 1t in favor of retrenchmcnt.
That was the first step. But to econo-
mize properly and judciously, it was ne
oessary to examine every item in all the
appropriation bills, or substantially to re-
construct them from the foundation up
1t was a most laborous task, such as no
preceding committee ever performed
Time, patience, and investigation had to
be employed to get at the bottom of a
chronlo extravaganza and TO extirpate an
organized system of plumber. The result
Is before the country, and but for the GER
tain hostility Of the Senate and President,
twenty millions would have been added to
the reductions, without in any way i'm
pairing the efficiency of the public service.
The Senate has thus far added half a
million to the Diplomatic BILL four mil
hons to the Post Office bill, five millions to
the Legislative, Executive, aud Judicial
bill, aud one million or more to the Indian
bill, right in the face Of an investigation
disclosng the most scandalous frauds,
which drove the DELANos aud their con-
federales out of Office in disgrace, The
Indian appropriations have for years been
the spells OF Ring, represented in both
Houses of Congress, but especially in the
Senate, When the pious Brother HARLAN
was Chairman Of the committee, half a
million was voted for several years for a
tribe that had no existence.
That example has been inflated, and
though less boldly with equal damage to
the Treasury. Senators who pay large
prices for seats find their recompense in
this class of legislation. The House of
Representatives granted every dollar re-
CURED by treaty. with additional sums for
G