Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-07-13
The Deadlock.

The deadlock between the House and
Senate in regard to the appropriation bills
continues. The attitude of the Senate in
maintaining its constitutional rights is
digniled and right. The responsibility OF
failure to make appropriations, ii such
failure occurs, must rest upon the House.
The course of the democratic majority is
clearly revolutionary, as shown by Mr..
Morrill, in his remarks before leaving the
Senate. In an endeavor to make political
capital the democratic House delies estab-
lished law and precedents and threatens
the DISCRIMINATION of the government.
The Senate has manifested a spirit OF
Cancellation and moderation, and a desire
to economize in all feasible ways, but the
appropriation bills as they are presented
from the House are of such character
that the Senate will be false to duty not TO
object to and oppose them. The consular
and diplomatic bill is in sheer violation of
existing laws. The river and harbor bill
is represented by the New York Herald
correspondent to have been constructed
upon the principle Of giving a large slice
= OF plumber to each member OF the com
mittee, peddling out sums from 50 to
S25,0 900 to a number of petty and unim-
portant Improvements, which have no
real relation to the commerce of the coun
try, and cutting down to a ruinous degree
most of the really important works already
begun, and whose early completion is of
importance to the country's commerce.
Early in the session the engineers in
charge of public works We're instructed by
the House to revise their estimates care
fully and cut them down by two-thirds,
providing only for the continuation of sach
as were of the greatest Importance. This
no attention to the suggestions of the
engineers, proposing instead appropria-
tons for unimportant works while those
OF large necessity were unprovided for.
Small rivers and experimental works in
the Southern States have large appropria.
tons, while important harbor defences are
neglected and must be discontinued if the
democratic bill passes. The Senate OF
course will never consent TO such a mis-
appropriation of the public money.
In the sundry civil bill, where a large
seeming economy is made by the House,
it is found that such necessary appropria-
tons as those for the care of the public
property, navy yards. &c, are entirely
omitted. Now not to take care OF
this public properly would be gross waste
instead of economy Failing to make
any appropriation for that purpose would
be objectionable neglect under any cir
cumstances. but to do it under the pretext
of economy but really for political capital
ought to be criminal offence as deserv-
ing Of punishment in the penitentiaries as
horse stealing or the practices OF the
Whiskey Ring. The property must be
taken care of, and the expense will be
paid from the treasury through deicien-
cy bill at the next session. There will be
not dollar saved in refusing the appro-
priation, All that the democrats expect
to gain is to hoodwink the pubic-make
them believe they are saving when the
facts are otherwise
Though the democrats have DELAYED the
bills and refused TO listen to reason in theii
opposition, we doubt that they have the
hardihood or the desperate folly needed tc
cause them TO assume The RESPONSE
biity of refusing necessary means to car
ny on the government. The Senate is il
the right The House is attempting revo
luton. The Senate is acting strictly with
in the line of duty in refusing its assen. tC
the bills in the shape demanded by the
House. The House is setting at naugh
and defying constitutional right. Tn,
Senate is governed by wise and prudent
regard for the public service. The House
is controlled entirely by partzan motives
seeking to get a name for practising econ
omy and reform, but actually treading the
verge of revolution. and dlsregarding the
public interests in order TO advance iht
democratic party in the coming election.