The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-08-24
Democratic Economy.

Democratic Economy.
RECORD OF THE NATIONAL HOUSE
A Reduc tnon Of $30,e43 aes as Compared
with last Year. Saving at the Rate OF
100000 for Each Congressional Dis
trict.
In the House of Congress, the l4th,
Mr.. Randall, after submitting the con.
ference report on the Indian appropri-
alton bill, the last to be acted upon,
proceeded to present the following
facts and figures in relation to the
several appropriation bills. These
facts and figures should be carefully
.conned by every voter in the land.
Mr.. Randall commenced by giving
an extended account of the reduction
policy of the House, charging the
Senate with having defeated the still
greater economy contemplated by the
House. He defended the various ap-
preparation bills as sufficient, and ar
raigned the Republican party as OBJ
structivc to economy and given to ex-
travagance. He dwelt at length on
the various reforms proposed by the
Democratic House for checking ex-
travagant expenditure and securing
economy and efficiency in the public
service. and showed how many hnn:
dreds of employees were in the de-
partments who were not needed. He
defended the position of the House on
the reduction of the Presidents salary
from $50 coo to $25, 600, and expressed
the sincere conviction that the people
would see the matter in its true light.
As to the proposed reduction of the
salary of Senators and members, the
Senate had urged against it the aboli
ton of the franking privilege, but the
Senate had since the passage of the
bill voted to restore the franking priv
i.ege. action which certainly would
not escape criticism. Another valua-
BILE result which had been accomplish
ed had been the enactment of pro-
vision against political assessment.
IIe gave the following recapitulation
Of appropriation of appropriation
bills: The estimates of the depart
ments for the year were $500, ,3O9. 900 I;
the bills as reported by the committee
on appropriations sl37. .233, 1856; the
bills as passed by the House, $l3S, 1872
332 the bills as passed by the Senate
$l5S, ,26O. sos /; the bills as enacted into
law, $l47. 7.7l9,O74-as against appropri-
aiions for the last year of Sl77, ,766, 1913
being a reduction OF $3O,944. 253.
Mr.. Springer suggested that the
saving was at the rate of 100000 for
each Congressional district.
Mr.. Randall in conclusion said {:
EARLY in the session he had stated it as
his belief that the expenditures y ould
be reduced between thirty and forty
millions. This statement of his had
then been regarded as an exsggeratlon
but events had demonstrated its cor
rectness. He regretted to say that in
the struggle with the Senate the
House had been compelled to yield to
the extent of S1O,5O0,OO0. He hoped
and believed that in another year the
Senate would concur with the House
in that regard, and he asserted that
with a chief magistrate acting in har-
mony with the purpose of the present
House, further reduction could read.
ily be made of ten million dollars.
These facts and figures spoke for
themselves, and needed no elabora-
ton. On the result which they dem
onstrated the majority rested its claim
of having earnestly and faithfully
discharged its duty to the people. 1t
had not reduced expenditures as much
as it had expected, but the failure to
do SO was not its fault. He believed
that the real, natural, safe and perma-
nent way to resumption of specie pay
ments was in the reduction of govern
ment expenditures. Human foresight
however, could not fix the exact hour
or day when it should take place, but
the truth was self.eyident, that if
twenty or thirty millions a year were
sayed, not only would the means for
speedy resumption be provided, but
would be established,
which must inevitably precede the de-
sired result. .a
AS Mr.. Randall closed his speech he
was warmly applauded on his own
side of the House.