The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-09-02

that can be said, the benefits of the fast
mail are divided between the railroads re-
ceiving the increased pay aud the news
papers Of our great cities in the quick
transit of their papers. In this day of
telegraphing the newspapers of the various
cities Of the Union are more on an equality
in furnishing promptly the important news
of the day, which render continuance Of
these high rates unnecessary even for the
people in receiving prompt public infor-
nation. The post Office appropriation act
for the year ending June 30, 1876, raised
the rate Of postage on third class mail
matter, so as to take it from the mails and
give the monopoly Of its transportation to
the express companies, while at the same
time the postage on newspapers was dou-
bled. The latter imposition has been re-
moved by the legislation Of this year, but
the first still remains burden upon the
people in behalf of the express companies,
and it is estimated as worth to those CON-
panies 100000 per annum in increased
receipts from transportation of merchan-
disc, &c. The House at every opportuni-
ty sought to accomplish full repeal Of both
provisions, but the Senate was obduratc,
and refused tn concede the repeal of the
merchandise portion of the act.
ARMY.
Appropriation last year, S27 ,933, $3.50 ;
department estimate for year ending june
80, 1877, 1913 ,34S, 748.50; recommended
ton of House Committee on Appropria-
tions, 500, l55, 077.l2 House passed, $685.
179, Sl9.52; Senate committee recommen-
ded, S27,7l7 ,8l7.20; Senate passed, S27,-
7l5,877.20; the law as finally enacted,
s25,9S7, 1890. The army appropriation
act does not show that extent Of reduction
which we intended and had reason to hope
we should obtain at the opening Of the
session, because Of our Indian troubles
and because of the determination of the
Administration to keep large force in
the South. The House bill fixed the army
at $4,000 soldiers, relatively divided be-
tween the three arms Of the service, and
sought, in addition, to reduce the compen-
sations Of certain officers which were
deemed disproportionate and too high.
The manner Of payment Of these compen-
sations is in some respects highly objec-
tionable, rendering it almost impossible to
compute with accuracy tho pay received
by officers in the army. The Senate was
resolutute against all these changes, and
the House was compelled to yield, and
only succeeded in securing the following
legislation
"Section "a. That the whole subject
matter of reform and reorganization of the
army of the United States shall be referr-
ed to the commission hereinafter provided
for, who shall carefully and thoroughly
examine into the matter with reference to
the demands of the public service, Us TO
the number and pay Of men and officers
and the proportion of the several arms,
and also as to the rank, pay, and duties of
the several staff corps, and whether any
and what reductions can be made either
in the line or staff, in numbers or in pay,
by consolidation or otherwise consistently
with the public service, having in view a
just and reasonable economy in the ex-
penditure Of public money, the actual
necessities of the public service, and the
capacity for rapid and effective increase
in time of actual war. The commission
hereby created shall consist of two men,
bers of the Senate and two members of
the House of Representatives,, to be APP
pointed by tho presiding officers of each
House respectively; Of the Secretary of
War and two officers of the army, one
from the line and one from the staff corps,
to be selected by the President with special
reference to their knowledge of the or.
ganization and experience in service.
Such commission shall assemble as practi-
cable, and proceed to the consideration of
the matters with which they are charged,
and make report to Congress by the first
day of the next session through tho Presi-
dent of the United States, with all the
evidence, record or otherwise, which they
shall have received and considered. And
the sum of 81 900 is hereby appropriated
from the contingent fund Of the War De-
partment to defray the expenses of. such
commission, to be expended under the
direction of the president of said commits
sion.".
The result of the foregoing, it is be-
lieyed, will ultimately remedy some de-
fects.
sUNDRY CIVIL BILL.
Appropriation last year, S26, 644, 1850. 90;
department estimates for year ending june
80, 1877, s32, $50, 1889; amount recon.
memded by House Committee on Appro.
priations, S14 1857 1864; Senate commit
tee recommended, SIS, sol ,601 "a; Senate
passed, 81 1856, 496.99; the law as finally
enacted, Sic, 1857 ,9O5.47.
This act, which covers the sundry civil
expenses of the Government, is that upon
which 1t is attempted to engraA all doubt
full schemes and unnecessary expenses,
which to any other general appropriation
bill would be ruled out Of order as not
germane. In reference to this particular
act the President of the United States saw
fit, although approving the same, to send
message condemning the character of
our reductions. l propose now, and here,
with due respect to the Chief Magistrate,
TO inquire into the justice of his criticism.
In the first place, he says:
Notably among the first class is the
reduction in ordinary annual appropria- |
tions for the revenue cutter service, to the
prejudice Of the customs revenue"
This criticism is completely refuted by
plain statement Of the facts, which shows
that the amount appropriated is in excess
of the amount expended in the revenue
cutter service during the last fiscal year.
The expenditures for the year ending June
80, 1876, were $4,000, and the appro-
priations for the year ending june 80,
1877, 1874, 891, the latter exceeding the
former more than $4,000. Next, as to
the amount given to continue the signal
service. This service cost last year nearly |
81 100000. It has grown to be an i'm
mense bureau in its workings, aud we
think It is extravagantly conducted. 1t
draws its resources from three appropria-
ton bills, the legislative, the army, and