The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-07-06
IS RETRENC HMENT NECESSARY?

The post office expenditures in 1868
were $22 100000; in 1875 they were $93-
Gil, ,000-an increase of so per cent in
seven years. At this rate of increase the
cost of the department would be doubled
every fourteen years, although there has
been no corresponding growth of popu-
lation to warrant it. In 1868 the expen-
ditures for coast survey were $455, 700, in
1875 they were $7S0,6S5. In 1868 the ex-
pense of surveying the public lands was
$373, ,252, in 1875 it was 81, 100000. In
1868 the expenses of the surveyor gener-
ais Office were $95,2O9; in 1875 they
were $6OO9O3. In 1868 the expenditures
of the Judiciary department were $729-
97S, in 1875 they were $9,7O4,OOO. In
1868 the cost the mint and assay offices
was $762, 1872, in 1875 it was S., ,4O8,OOO.-
In 1868 the subtreasury expenses were
$26O,00O, in 1875 they we're $460,000 In
1868 the miscellaneous expenditures
were $53,OOO,O0O, in 1875 they were $7l-
100000. r.. .y
These statements show how the cost
of the routine work ofthe administration
has been allowed to increase during the
seven years that President Grant has
been in Office. But more striking IL
lustration of the increase is furnished in
the tables, showing the clerical force en-
ployed in the government offices, In
1861, when the Republican party came
into power, there were 1882 employees
on the civil list at Washington and A
1877 elsewhere, making total of 46, ,049;
in 1875 the number had increased to o.
119, of which over 5000 were employed
alone.
So much for the increase of expendi-
lures. The ability of the country to pay
this increase has been diminished. Sem
ator Thurman estimates that there will
be a falling off in the revenues this year
of 50, 100000, and nextyear of 100000.
Senator Sherman admits that if the pres
ent depression in trade continues through
the next fiscal year, beginning July 1st,
it will be necessary to reduce the appro-
priations, $15,OOO,OOO-otherwise the
sinking fund would not be kept good, and
additional taxation will have to be re-
sorted to. Mr.. Wood, of New York, a
member of the House, estimates the de-
fciency for the present fiscal year will
be $24,602,000, and estimates the def
cheney at the end of the next fiscal year
at SAL ,683 900. 1t is evident, therefore,
that the government is in the same con-
dition, Strengthened, with the citizens;
its income is reduced as their incomes
have been. The ability of the people to
consume taxed articles has been mater
tally diminished by the paralysis that
affects industry and trade, and this di-
minished ability reflects itself in the re-
duced revenues of the government
Surely, then, this is no time for official
extravaganza and waste. The public
business, indeed, must be carried on, but
it need not be conducted on the prohigate
system that has prevailed for eight years.
If the people have been forced to cut
down their expenses, the government
may properly be asked to cut down its,
and no amount of rhetoric about main
tanning the efficiency of the departments
| will be accepted by the country as an ex-
cuse for keeping up the wasteful and cor
rupt expenditure of the last eight years.