The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-08-03
RETRENCHmENT AND REFORM.
speech of Hon. william Harfzell I'm
the House Of Representatives.
Thursday, July goth, 1879.

The house having under consideration
the report OF the conference committee on
the disagreeing vote of the two houses on
the amendment to the bill H. r. No. 3i49)
making appropriations tor the sundry civil
expenses of tue government for the ms al
year ending June 80, 1877, and for other
purposes
Mr.. Hartzell said;
Mr.. Speaker: While it is not my pur-
pose to deliberately argue the many points
of difference between the party have the
honor in part to represent on this floor
and the Republican party, hope to be
able to recur briefly to those most promi-
nent. 1t can doubtless be said and with
truth. as general proposition. that the
long-contnued retention OF power by any
party in any country begets corruption.
1t can certainly be truthfully stated that
this general condition is eXemplifled by
Republican rule.
In as brief a manner as possible, pro-
pose to show by figures and undisputed
facts that since the conclusion of the late
war the expenses of all the different de-
partmonts of the government have been
on the increase; that while all the valu-
able Industries are languishing, while all
the products OF labor are decreasing in
value, while the agricultural. manufac-
turing, mercantile and labor interest are
under the influence of stagnation that al
most equals death, offices and Office-hold-
ers are increasing in number. and public
expenditures consequently increasing In
amount: the money wealth instead Of
being diffused among the many and
throughout the producing districts, is
rapidly accumulating in the few and in
the cities that we have fallen upon those
hat Nssxss
tration or some other unfortunate and
uncomprehended condition. the rich few
are daily becoming richer and the poor
many, who are the bone and sinew OF the
state are daily becoming poorer. AS
Stunning tLat this state of affairs exists,
the highest duty of representative of the
people is to carefully study the situation
and attempt TO apply remedy. One
remedy from which immediate relief
must result tor the people is by reducing
expenditures, aud thereby decreasing the
the burden. Of taxation.
1t has been the effort of the majority of
this house from the first day OF TINS ses-
sion until now TO decrease the financial
budget for the present year. Although
enthralled AZ We have been by constant
opposition from the minority, there has
been reduction Of over S39,OOO, OOO,
without Interfering with the efficiency Uf
any OF the departments OF the govern
ment. To this reduction tactious and
unauthorized opposition has been devel-
oped in the senate. the Republican branch
OF congress, and while their leading rep
resentatives are constantly promulgating
theories of rigid economy tor the labor
ing millions they oppose with desperate
energy every effort to deprive the official
household Of any of their guady trap
pings, useless display, and riOtOus eX-
travagance. The Democrats demand rs
the representatives Of the people that the
slrictest economy shall be practiced in
the administration OF public affairs: that
useless offices shall be abolished and that
useless ottice-holders shall be driven to
producing pursuits; that, instead of alb
sorbing the hard-earned wages of the
poor, they shall by labor be compelled to
add their quota to the wealth Of the
state.
Before conclude it will be my attempt
to show that offices and Otfice-holdtrs in
the midst OF the general depression that
has surrounded us for the last few years
have been almost constantly increasing !;
that the apparent attempt has been TO
make places to reward partisans rather
than to consider the welfare OF the peo-
pie or the economy OF public admlnistra-
ton. 1t cannot be doubted that without
damage to public Interest from four to
five hundred millions OF dollars could
have been saved To the people in the last
ten years, the saving OF which would have
prevented the present depressed cOndi-
ton OF affairs and the untold and little
understood misery and unhappness that
it entails. What. then, is our duty and
what do the people demand
Retrenchment, economy, and reform
are demanded by the people. The elo-
quent appeals OF INSCRIPTIONS politi-
clans TO secure partisan triumph and the
rhetorical Nominations OF partisan lau-
dation, partisan honesty. and partisan in
tegrity IN TINS oiten-referred-to centen-
NAL year will not suffice to meet their de-
mands. They demand of their servants,
TO whom they have conilded the control
OF this great and free nation. that they
shall be frugal, honest, and economical
In all their expenditures, and expel from
the pubic service at once aud forever all
yenai, incompetent, and corrupt men,
They demand. sir, that fraud and cor
ruptlon shall at once cease in every de-
partment OF the government, and that
there be an immediate return on the part
ofall officials 10 that economy, patrio-
tism and virtue which characterized the
conduct and action of our fathers. They
demand reduction of expenditures In
every branch of the government, and that
not one dollar nor one dime more than j.
absolutely required for carrying on OuI
federal affairs shall be appropriated from
their depleted treasury. They demand
that the extravaganza and reckless ex
penditures which have crept into the va
rious departments within the past iifteer
years shall absolutely and forever cease
They have witnessed with sorrow and in
dignaiion the frauds, the specuations. and
the arbitrary ACTS of the party in power
they have seen their treasury despoiled
Their constitution wantonly violated.
their states subverted, and their legisla
lures dispersed to maintain the power
patronage. aud supremacy Of a party.
Fraud aud corruption In office are al
mo- rs frequent as tie Offices themselye.
are NUMEROUS. and the greatest violation.
OF the law have their apologists among
the highest officials In the land. The
history OF civil service, as administered
by the party in power. is a recital of ex
trayagance, fraud and corruption, Meu
occupying high and responsible positions
a. government officials. whose character,
are blackened by crime and who are IN
some instances arraigned before the tri
bunals Of their country TO answer indlct
nent, are still recognized as suitable per,
sons To perform the functions Of Their
nigh offices. Rings have been formed
with aud without congressional aid fol
the purpose of plundering from the PEG.
pies treasury the result Of their hard
earned gains Money il deified and
wealth Is so centralized that free institu.
tons are endangered and the riOhtful