Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1876-08-24
THE FIGHT FOR ECONEMY.
S2eeeh cf Hon. Samuel Randall, Of Pa,
on the Reduction Of Public Expenditure.

hNHQnN. n
on the Reduction Of Pubhc Expenditure.
Mr.. SPEAKER: Before the final ad.
Journment Of protracted and laborious
session, 1t is proper TO review our action
concerning appropriations from the pub.
hc Treasury to carry on the Government
log the fiscal year ending June 80, 1877.
In the discharge of this task am sensi.
BILE Of no other motive than that there
shall be complete and impartial ex.
h.bt OF the work in behalf of retrench-
ment and reform which we set out TO
do, and the difficulties and opposition
which met Us at every step in the in.
terest of those who saw i'm anv reduc-
ton of the public expenditure loss TO
them OF salary or place, Notwithstanding
there was consequent advantage to the
taxpayers, and the efficiency ofthe gov
ernmental administration was in a de-
gree impaired. We were met at the
very threshold by the inexorable alter
native of reducing expenditures TO a
Just and economical basis, or by allow
ing appropriations to be made at the
same figures of previous years, with in
creased taxation; and this latter il was
our plighted faith and solemn duty To
pre- vent in behalf Of the great BODY OF
the people borne down by a heavy load
oil taxation, and who were further dis
tressed beyond measure by derange-
ment and misfortune in every avenue
OF agricultural, manufacturing. mechan-
zeal, and commercial activity. To this
end, every item of public expense,
whether large or small, was subjected
to the severest scrutiny, and an in>pec-
tion of every bureau and department OF
the Government undertaken. without
parallel, believe, for quarter of a CEN
tury. The Committee on Appropria-
tons gave this work their most earne st
attention. 1t required incessant labor
and much patience. Arraycd against
us were all those whose favorite selfish
schemes were TO be frustrated for the
public good; eager and greedy corpora
tinns who sought to tattcn from the pub
lie purse, place-hunters and place-hold-
ers, and the friends and partisans of all,
high or low, who were in any way to
be effected by reduction, and especial
ly by the marked unwillingness on all
hands, by chiefs of bureaus and heads
OF departments. to agree TO any with
drawal of their official patronage. But
we had the comforting assurance that
We had behind us the people who de-
mandcd that their burdens should be
hghtcned by practical and necessary
reductions, and thus consolcd us often
times IN the discharge OF our impera-
tive public duty, when we found our
selves compelled TO deny appropriations
to the extent desired for objects dear
ly cherished by our constituents.
The ma jority of this House of Repre-
scntativcs was elected 10 reform mani
fold abuses of administration and when
we assembled in December last that
reform element assumed full authority
IN this hall, and obtained partial control
over public expenditures. The first
difficulty winch presented itself to the
execution of the trust confidcd to us
was the existence of a rule in the
House which prevented the repeal, or
even modification of any law a. to ap-
preparations, upon any appropriation bill,
unless two-thirds of the members as
sentcd thereto, which number the ma
Jorlty did not have. The construction
which had been given to- that rule al
lowed amendments To increase compen-
sation to officers, clerks, and employ
ces, but adroitly prevented, as on, of
order, any reduction whatever. To
overcome this obstruction. a PROPOSE
ton was submittedto 81 change the rule
as to allow the incorporation into appro-
Pr'atlon bills of such legislation. which.
being gcrmane, retrenchcd cxpcndi-
lures. thus making a complete reyolu-
tion in the operation of the rule. and
turning legislative action in this House
from extravaganza into the better and
safer direction ofeconomy. That change,
for the purpose | have indicated. was
vigorously resisted by the Republican n
side of the House for the reason that.
composing rs they did and do, more
than one third Of its members, no
amendments changing existing laws
could be made or put upon an appro-
Prlation bill except when such amend
mcnts increased salaries. as under the
old practice two-thirds were required
to suspend the rules to allow the major
NY tn vote even on such amendments;
and that two-thirds, as l have already
stated, the minority in the House could
nj any time refuse. Without such a
change any and all efforts on the part
OF the House TO reduce the expenditures
ot the Government would have been as
the idle wind. Here stood the Rcpub-
hcan members of more than one-third
to prevent and obstruct any such reduc-
hon. with a Senate, as we aftcrwar
found, even more determined in its pur-
pose. Finally. through the agency OF
the Committee on Rules. we secured
a report OF the alteration so much dcsir-
cd and the House adopted it by a ma
jority composed exclusively of Demo
Gratis. Almost all the reductions We
have accomplished have followed As
the result Of the first step for it opened
the way.
Ii must not be forgotten that when
Congress assembled the country was
Frustrated in all the essentials which 90
to make the people prosperous, eonten-
ted and happy. Many Of our manufac-
turing establishments were closed. and
most Of those still running were work
ing only portion Of the time. Com
merce languished. agriculture went un.
rewarded. and feeling of dis,rust wide
Iy prevailed. causing capital to be un.