Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1876-06-02
RepssbsicRm EcOnOm my.
From the Baltimore Gazette.

The action of the Senate and it's
committees during the present session
of Congress shows how utterly hope
less it is to expect any measure of
economy Or retrenchment ut the hands
of the party in power. Processing TO
be in favor of saving the public money
EN- ,odying THAT high~sounding decia-
ration in all it's platforms, national ana
state, as soon as the election is over 1t
goes on adding to the burdens of the
people, increasing the amy of Office
holders and swelling the expenses of
the government. The cost of govern
ing the country was never so great as
it is at present It is three or four
times as large as it was fifteen years
ago; the United States have to-day
more officials than three or four of the
largest countries in Europe put to-
gether; the mere names and Occupa
lions of its servants make volume of
four or five hundred closely printed
pages. Since the Democratic party
C lme into power in the House 1T has
been endcavoring TO cut do WI the enor-
nous extravaganza II every department
of the civil service. In the different APP
propriation bills it has provided,
aga nst the opposition of nearly every
republican member, for the consoildh-
ton of such offices as could be consoll-
dated; the abolition of others that could
easily be dispensed with; the reduc-
ton of such salaries as were mani
! testify disproportionate to the services
perform d, and in various other ways
| it has been striving to decrease the de-
| mands upon the treasury. In tins
work, which is Just the work the peO-
pie expect and demand at its hands,
the democratic majority has been de-
nouncrd in the bitterest terms by the
organs of the party in power. We
have been told that the "ex-Confede-
rates" were hampering the operations
of the government, and endeaVOrlng to
| introduce chaos into every branch OF
the service. La every appropriation
| bill that has been sent to the Senate
the old amounts have been restored 4;
salaries, contingent funds. Offices,
everything, put back just where they
were before.
The most fragrant instance Of this
defiance of the wishes of the country
has just been perpetrated. A short
time ago the House passed what is
called the executive, legislative and
judicial appropriation bill, in which
provision is made for tho support OF
the principal departments of the gov
eminent. Almost every item IN 1t
was fully and Thoroughly debated III
the House, and it was finally passed
and sent to the Senate, the estimates
of the different departments and bu>
reaus being, OF course, largely reduced
The committee OF that body to which
il was referred has resolved to offer nc
less than one thousand amendments,
and every amendment is for the pur-
pose of enabling those III power to put
their hands into the pockets of the
people and take SO much money out Of
them. The House agreed to cut down
the pay of Senators and members
that has been stricken out. 1t resolved
to put the salary Of the President Of
the United States where it formerly
stood; that has been stricken out
And so on through the whole list. Il
the Senate would pass the bill exactly
as it came from the House, millions O
dollars would be saved and no one
except the favored officials whom i
at. cts would be injured one particle
But that is not the policy Of the repub
lican party. It does not believe IL
economy or retrenclmei!t. 1t ha!
: piled up taxes until the people car
scarcely pay them. and it means Il
continue that party as long as it re
tains power. It will have no reduction
anywhere. When the diplomatic auC
consular bill was up q short time ago
and the House was cutting off useies!
offices and reducing the extravagan
salaries of ministers and others, Pres
ident Grant threatened to veto the bill
If passed and recall every representa-
tive of the government abroad. The
Queen of England would not dare tC
make such threat to the British
Commons; the Gar of Russia would
not have said more to his iinperia
councillors. The duty of the House is
clear in this matter, and come wha
may it is to be hoped it viii stand III
to it. Tat duty is to insist upon Its
amendments. The people expect it tc
save their money. and cut OF at least ;
portion of the army of officials who
have been preying upon them. IF th'
Senate and the President choose tt
take the responsibility of suspendinq
the operations of the government, le
them do so.