The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-06-23
The Great Issue.

FROM Ott w. l. ouHs
The president has at last officially shown
his hand in favor of all existing ex-
travaganco by an impertinent message 10
congress and an insulting instruction TO
pass q joint resolution, prepared in the
White House, continuing temporarily the
appropriations for the present fiscal year.
In other words, he has the effrontery to
ask the house of representatives, after
having reduced the appropriations for the
coming year nearly forty millions If
dollars, to undo this proper work, cat its
own words, stultify its actions, and obey
his orders.
This audacious interference with the
duties and functions of congress should
have been sternly rebuked on the spot by
tabling the insoent message, or returning
it without notice. 1t is not only unprece-
dented, but is little less than an outrage,
which can only be explained by Grant s
ignorance Of the elementary distinctions
which separate the independent depart
ments Of the government, or BY the obvi-
Gus cause which has rendered that igno-
rance more dense and obstinate, and dis.
graced the office which he occupies, but
does not till
Of the twelve principal appropriation
bills, ten have passed the house, ono is
now pending, and the other is to be re-
ported Immediately. Some of them were
sent to the senate several months ago, and
have been kept back or returned to the
house loaded down with amendments re-
storing the old prodigality, with view to
the impending deadlock and to coerce the
house into submission. The admnistra-
ton and the senate have combined to keep
up the enormous expenditures, through
which the great rings have been enriched,
corruption has been spread through the
public service, aud the government has
been converted into machine for plumber
ing the people.
The Investigation already made demon.
strate beyond dispute that q retrenchment
Of more than fifty millions is practicable,
without in the least degree pinching any
branch of the government A reform to
that extent would in fact, contribute large.
ly to the general efficiency by exacting a
higher standard Of qualification, enforcing
accountability, and compelling faith ful
discharge Of duty. The house has stopped
short Of this possible retrenchment, and
only reduced the appropriations thirty
nine millions in round numbers, as com.
pared with those OF the current fiscal year.
The Rel ublican party has set its face
against the corruption OF any abuses. and
insists that there shall be no reduction of
the exp enditures, no matter how much the
people may suffer, or what falling off in
the revenues there may be. A president.
tial election is at hand, and the money is
needed to carry it on. Therefore, the
patronage must be retained, and an army
OF ninety four thousand office holders kept
on pay.
The senate, speaking for the party, ha.
determined to resist every measure OF
economy, and has made its stand On tho
Consular and Diplomatic bill, which tbt
house cut down $42S, 437.5O from tho
present appropriations. 1t might hav,
gone much further, consolidated variou,
missions, and Topped off large number O
worthless consulates with salaries and with
out any living sign of commerce TO iustif,
them. The house allowed liberal margin
but the president the secretary of state
and the senate would not yield, and III,
Dill, after repeated conferences, hangs sus
pended between the two houses. and ,
deadlock is threatened upon it as upon al
others. NpOA ~
- Mr. Kasson, Of Iowa, one of the spokes