The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-09-01

which were nearly a. much ia excess
OF The expenditures 81 four
Year, before. Thus the Demo-
cratic majority were resolved % push back
the expenses ~ the Government 10 the Tow
water mark reached In 1871 and le.a aud
away beyond that limit, while the X. pubii-
cans were resolved 10 increase The appro-
priatiOns, and, falling In that. 90 Withstand
every reduction. The Republicans had one
great adN aniage on their side, and they
chung 90 10 tenaciOusly. IL was Impossible
10 retrench in some departments without
reducing salaries or the number % en-
ployee.. or. a. la the case ~ the Indian
Bureau. changing the source - control.
such changes were defeated by The senate
when attempted through separate enact
mCuts, and there was no resource but 90 iE-
corporate the mo-t u them In the appro-
priation bills. by an amendment % the
rules ~ the House. made at the beginning
~ the session. matter affecting legislation
could De incorporated into an appropriation
hlli where DO was geIuanr 90 the subject
~ the bin and retrenched expenditure.
The Republican practice had been 10 attach
an kind, ~ legi,lationtO appropriation bills,
and the celebrated salary grab act wls
passed iu this way. When this method was
adopted 90 secure a reduction 81 eXpendi-
lures. however the friends q the Admin
i,tratiOu in the House and Senate
were shocked 20 think % such an
Irregular procedure, and for long time
fought against retrenchment. under the
gui-e II attacking the plan through which
~ necessity the house was enCcayoTing 10
enforce H.. The fight was long and bitter,
and T. fresh Ia the public memory. We need
not rehearse the various steps ia the stTug-
G,e-h9W the Administration leader, in the
House opposed each bin In debate a. 10 was
submitted, and then did not dare 90 20 on
record a. voting a-caI : a.; how the senate
~ the
eminent 20 stop rather than yield % the de-
mauds 81 the House; how the President
csTne forward in a special message 20 defeat
rctrenchment. and the party newspapers
denounced the scheme OF reducing our eN-
prnditures within our income a. q rebel de-
vice. II il enough 10 say that the triumph
Of the Democratic House Wa complete.
The issues Of the contest and the results 81
the victory NAV be briefly stated. The
House passed bills appropriaiing - 353.-
ll6.gO les than the sum demanded by the
head. ~ the departments for the wear ending
Junc -. 80, and -, SIC. 1920 less than
the sum Appropriated and spent for the
year ending June -. 1876. The Senate
consented 20 reductions which left the re-
trenchmeut on the expenditure 81 last year
80. Hif, -. -.
SITUATIONS.
Sexi 70 the work Of retTcn-nueni. per-
haus the labor 81 investigating the conduct
" the Administration has been the most
wearisOme duty % the present Congress.
Here, - in the matter Of reducing eNiendi-
lures, no progress was possible except
against the determined opposition % the
minority. backed by tho whole Adminis-ra-
ton. II has been alleged that much q the
investigation which took place wa malicious
and useless: but II thi, be true ~ any pari -
the Investigation. IL j. only in regard 10 that
which wa ~et on foot previous % the Cln-
ION 4 HH- % ID
rival Republican candidates. Lyen that IN
ye-iieation Wa, not altogether barren. and
Do b. not any CraggeratiOn 10 say that the
revelation. made concerning Mr.. Blaine
during the inquiries 81 the House commit
tees. compelled % activity by ID, enemies in
hi, own party. shaped TIE action n the Re-
publican National Convention. IL +. rather
strange that a party which h1- chosen H.
candidate simply because hi- oi-curity left
him outside the sphere ~ Democratic IN
Vesiicatien should sheer 20 the power which
overthrow it, leader and idols Had " not
been for TIE discovery ~ BclkDlp' NllIaluy,
Grant would have been nominated 40 Oincin-
natl. Had 10 NOT been FOR the suspicious east
upon Biaiue'- character. The omWuaiion
a the friends az the administration in
lrNur ~ IIayts would not have been effect
Use. Passing over this incidental matter.
DO NAV he said 20 the House investigation,
2 i'm general that they were conceived ln The
tIon. in economy. and produced a~tonl-h-
imC results. What toe House ha- saved o.
the peullD should establish it, reputation
WHAT Do discovered should enhance DO. The
Democratic iesder, determined ar the Open
ing OF tie session THAI they would make no
charge against the Administration and
appoint few expensive special clmmittee-.
4 he policy was adopted 81 setting The regu-
lar committee. 81 the House % WORK. and
letting them. whenever they saw cause Tor
su.picion. push on their Investigations.
The criticism 81 the administration became
in method not a partisan movement. but a
mere matter % patriotic duty and Con-
gre.sionsl routine. 1ne regular commit
tees Of the House were abundant for the
performance 81 the labor required - them.
The committees on expenditure IN the
state, Navy, War. Treasury. Post nflce and
Interior Departments. aud the Department
of Justice. have proved especially SER ice
able, and 10 j. not too much 10 say that j
the,e committees under previous C0ugressC>
had done their duty, the corruption
which has grown up Ia the Cow
eminent would have been impossible ;
hut previous 20 the meeting - the present
Congress they had no existence. save on
paper. some Of them had no record 20 any
meeting since the foundation of the COM
mittee. The most memorable result - thi-
system ~: investigating through regular
committees was the discovery 81 the POI
leadership frauds by Clymer's Committed
On Expenditure, in the War Department.
This discovery lei TO the resignation aud
Impeachment 20 B,lknap. the latter one al
the minor lahofs % busy Congress. Ths
revelations made In the report Of the com
mitice left no doubt Of the Secretary :
guilt. although the nasty sction 81 the Pre-
ident screened his subordinate from puu.
i,hmcnt Subsequent developments tende,
% Establish some degree % criminaliiy ~
the part Of General Grant himself I'm using
hi, official power % aid In the corrupt prac
tices Of his brother in biackmailing traders
The great result % the eNertions 81 Mr.
Clymrr and his associates. however. wa