The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-06-06
Retrenchment or Direct Taxation

Retrenchment or Direct Taxation.
Congress will he compelled to choose
between these alternatives within the next
three weeks.
The receipts for the current fiscal year
ending on the Goth of the present month,
are likely TO fall short some seventeen or
eighteen millions of dollars on the esti-
mates of the Secretary of the Treasury,
and perhaps this deficiency may be in
creased. Unless there should be some de-
cided Improvement in the condition of the
country during the next hscal year begin
ming OH July l, the estimates of MIR. BRIs-
TOW will not be realized within thirty or
forty millions OF dollars. The present
outlook Is far from encouraging. There
has been no real revival i'm the CONNER
cial, agricultural. mechanical, or industrial
Interests. They are all PROSTATE, and this
prostration is the natural outcome of
speculation, extravaganza, and wild
schemes fostered by an irredeemable cur
rency, and by enormous public expendi-
lures. The process of recovery must
necessarily be slow, because the disease
has become chronic. Labor has to work
of the oppressive burdens inflicted under
Republican rule during and since the war,
and until they are done with there can be
no sound prosperity. The situation il
therefore serious, and must be looked
squnrely in the face in order to avoid still
greater evils. 1t is certain that the actual
and expected revenues will not cover the
present rate of excessive public outlays
If these expenditures are TO be continued,
then more revenue must be raised, and
taxation is the only resource, or new loans
must be issued to supply the gap between
income and outlay. The people are not
prepared for either OF these dangerous ex-
ped ents, and ought not to submit quietly
TO the imposition of one or the other. They
have been ruled and robbed for the bene-
fit Of Rings, jobbers in legislation, corrup-
tionsts, and ofiiceholders long enough.
They have been cheated, betrayed, and
used rs the Instruments OF their own op-
preston by the Republican leaders, until
further submission to these repeated frauds
would be self-degradation. They have no W
the remedy in their own hands, and can
sweep away this corrupt party from power,
as was doue in $40. Tho party which i'm
posed the burdens is not willing TO take
them of, because the patronage and the
Offices are held and enjoyed by its man
ayers and their followers, and are needed
for the coming Presidential election. Look
at the facts Us they are passing IN Washing
ton.
After long and patient inquiry, the Com
mittee on Appropriations Of the House re-
duccd the expenditures inside of forty
millions OF dollars on all branches Of the
public service. Every item in every branch
was carefully scrutinlzcd, go that no injus-
tlce should be done, and efficiency should
not be in any way impaired Some of the
heads of departments were constrained to
admit that their estimates were extrava-
giant, aud had no better foundation than "a
blind following OF established prodigaity.
Investigation demonstrated that Thousands
of sinecures existed and ought to be Topped
OFF, aud that the salaries were exorbitant
when compared with those paid ia private
business. The committee kept within
bounds, 10 silence any clamor that might
be raised upon the pretext of crippling the
service. They might have, and we are
free TO say they ought TO have, gone much
fur ther, and made the reform radical from
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have been carried over fifty millions with
our crippling In the least degree the vigor
OF any department..
A. it VIVA he struck down the most olor