, 1876-06-05
THE NATIONAL APPROPRIATIONS.

II ls reported from washington TINT there
is now fair prospect of ruisjng tho dead
lock betwocn the scnata and House relative
to the appropriation bills, and that they will
all bo agreed to 30 that Congress- may nd
journ by July /, and SO as to make o saving
of $20, COO, 600 from the last annual appro-
printions. Il is to DO hoped TINT there in
sufficient foundation for this report, and that
tho prediction may be quickly realized. Tie
passage Of the appropriation bills il about all
that can DO expected OF tho present Con-
gress, and the sooner tho work can be done
and Congress dispersed tho better IT will be
for tho political and commercial condition Of
tho country. Congress in tho hands Of the
Donocrats haa been impotent in tlealing
with the great questions Of finance aud ta1a-
ton, and the uncertainty as to what may be
done by lot OF ignoramuses and domagoguos
is n constant monaco so long as Congress- is
in session.
As to the differences between the Senate
and the House rclativo to the appropriations
for tho various branches Of tho public Scr
vice, tho Democrats In control Of the House
have adopted the policy Of crippling tho
Government by insufficient appropriations,
thus forcing tho Republican Senate to correct
tho error. The purpose Of this policy has
becn to gain for the Democrats undue credit
for rotrenchment, and place the Republicans
under the appearance Of an unwillinguoss to
acquiesco In tho reductions. II final action
on tho appropriations shall show saving OF
$50, 900 600, tho result will relioyo the Re-
publican Senate OF suspicion III this regard;
and, at tho samo time, tho country will owe
it to the Senate that the policy Of crippling
the public service was defeated, and that ar
rangemonts woro not mado for gigantic le-
f!cicnoy bill next yoar. This Bpecous docop-
tion has boon practicod before. 1t con.
sis.s OF cutting down appropriations
for certain expenditures authorized by
law without repealiug The provisions
of law neccssitating them. Thus in
tho Post Office Department the House has
increased the exigoncios Of the service by
ndding to tho number Of routes,-making
weekly routes tri-weekly, and tri-weekly
routes daily, oto.,-and otherwise exacting
additional outlays, md yet 1t coolly cut Of
| 20, 000, 900 from the resources of the De-
part1nent Tho demagogism OF such pro-
ceeding III apparent. There IL desire to
Heoure unmerited applause for the reductions,
and then to put unneritel rebuke upon the
Republican Administration for making up a
large deficiency acoouns.
OF q kind with this proceeding Is the Of
fort of tho House to reduce tho range Of de-
partment salaries below tho ratio Of payment
established by the Democrats themselves,
long before the War, on gold basis, and whom
pricos were from rs 10 80 per cent lower
than they are now. This grade Of pay fxol
by the Democrats has not been changed
except during the imitation Of the War, when
tho currency WAS reduced almost to MI; and,
after lapse Of moro than twenty years, the
Government employees do not receive moro Ia
paper money (worth u cents on the dollAr)
than they were paid under Democratic rule
in gold. The proposition to reduce their pay
10 per cent under theEo circumstances Ia un.
reasonable. It Is especially inconsistent on
the part Of tho Democrats, because il the
employees receive too much now, when thei.
pay IL the same In depssoiated grsenbacks q
the Democrats f1ed It In gold In Democratic