The New York herald., 1876-08-15

have secured much larger REDUCTION OF appropriations
and The discharge OF all supcrnumersry clerks and en-
poyes oi which there are stl large namber IL IS
well known that all the hand private establish
mens OF every sort and description have reduced the
rates OF compensation 10 their employees. signal in
staucs OF Tins IS shown at Lowell Mass which is the
guide, III measure OF all New England. The working
people there nave themselves consented TO reduction
OF ten per cent just and the rst either to
which they have recently been subjected rho House
amount under the circumstances. But this reduction
has almost wholly failed because OF the OF tho
.cha,c ana me senate conierces ia RELATION 'here'o
reduction In the number OF clerks and employees has
been only partially realized, as tho House couicrecs
we're forced TO yield part Of thor recommendations
II Will snsprsc many whom they learn the fact that
many as 100 coo persons receive from the federal
Treasury.
In order hat no harm should possibly come from
reduction OF iorccs, directed the executive officers to
tho existing law In reference 10 the hours Of labor
qured from the clerks and tho employees 1t is 10 be
i0und in section l52 Of the Revised Statutes fol-
lows:-
the day Of October until tho day
War Treasury. Navy aud Post Onco Departments and in
tho h business AZ easr cgnt hours in each day and
tho April until the LIST day of October each
public hoSnys by law
Heretofore clerks have been required to devote six
hours a day to the service Of the government Re-
Gently on the coming IN o the democratic House, by
orders 10 The bureaus that time had been extended TO
hours II, however, tue terms OF the law are
adhered to, moro actual hours OF service will be so.
cured under the reduced number of clerks and em-
ployes agreed upon than have now with tho present
excessive force.
cnAsGs LAWS APPROPRIATION BILLS.
Great complaint has been made against our change OF
laws upon appropriat bills though 1t were at tins
time "a novel and unheard OF thing ana never before
attempted IN the legislation OF tho government Let
US how that is | append herewith list Of
cnangcs OF laws which have been Incorporated Into
appropriation bills during the years from 1865 down
la and including 1870. Tho extent 10 which such
legislation has been carried on viii, have no doubt,
surprise many and regret TO say that curing those
years OF undispued rcpnbcan rule IN both branches
OF Congress the change has almost always been IN the
! will here mention few notable Instances oil such
legislation They embrace changes in the stan and hno.
both OF the army and navy
The Pacific Mail steamship subsidy found its place
such act
rhc reorganization of the Post once Department
Tho reorganization OF tho diplomatic and consular
service.
The prohibiting the pardon or amnesty Of any claim
IN the Court OF Claims being admissible TO establish
ms standing In court.
Department.
| Legislation as 10 the Enforcement act.
The Of settlement Of judgments by the Court
OF Claims anu the Supreme Court as TO capture of
cotton.
The section declaring that the General OF tho Army
shall he permanently stationed in Washington, and
only by The advice and Of the Senate,
directing all army orders so through the General
OF the Army whether issued by the President OF tho
| United States or by the Secretary OF War.
On Appropriation bill last year the rates
papers were doubled TO the great injury oil those IN
the rural sections especially, and the rates third
/
mails aad drive It to the express companies
mention these lew 10 show the general character
ana scope Oi tho legislation which has been put
appropriation hls and beg 10 refer 10 the appendix
hereto annexed, which will SHOW the enormous mass
OF legislation OF greater or less Importance which has
been TO limo during che pas, ten years ias
tened such acts relating as 1t does to almost every
conceivable subject
THE REVENUES OF THE GOVERNMENT.
Again, Mr.. Speaker, as a natural result OF the pros
traiion OF business, the revenue Y the government
has diminished 10 an alarming exeiG, and the warning
l
might turn out in the coming fiscal year the reduc
ton would be great that the would fall be-
loy tho amount required meet the expenditure of
the government In this emergency 1t was absolutely
essential To provide Tor reduction expenses rather
than any of interest bearing debt
any addition 10 our present taxation Nay, more, II
the ull measure OF reductions recommended had been
accedcd 10 by the republican minority IN this House
aud Ihc majority IN the Senate then, even with full
revenue, the internal could have been
reduced TO extent OF say $40 600 600 with compara
tive safety.
CHARACTER EXPENDITURES
Before leave the general discu OF these sub
ects and 20 to detailed examination OF the respective
Appropriation acts wish 10 direct public attention 10
wnat deem some abuses IN reference 10 expcnd
\ ture which have gradually accumulated until
they have become OF dangerous proportions Under
existing laws VIC have system OF what is
known as permanent specific and permanent In.
definite appropriations. They embrace, among Others
the sum necessary 10 pay the interest on the pubic
! debt, the necessary to pay the interest the
bonds OF the various Pacific railroads. and guaranteed
by the United States, and the amount necessary To be
pid IN obedience OF law to the sink ng fund on account
of the liquidation OF the principal OF public debt,
l. In tar the foregoing objects concerned do
not serious objections. Their provisions go 10
make the mind OF the public creditor by The
tainty mitch IN the prompt and regular payment
OF our public interest But the laws go further and
include others, which, In my Judgment should pass
undcr the annual supervisor ot congress, among
which The necessary TO collect the revenues
IRON customs, when Is only limited To amount OF
expenditures by the discretion OF tho Secretary The
Treasury, power too great Tor permanent safety; for
armlng aud cquippng the militia OF the several states;
the salaries and expenses OF the southern Claims COM
mission; Tho return oil tho proceeds from
tho sue Of captured and abandoned property
TO thereof; the commission to be paid To per-
sons negotiating tho Tciunding Of the national
debt onc-hali OF one per cent the salaries and
expenses of the steamboat insprctors the cunding
oi money due to owners rcputcd owners Of cotton
Improperly seized alter The Both OF June 1865 allow.
anc,s and drawbacks IN the Internal Revenue Sureau
the rounding of Illegal internal taxes; the repay
OF duties levied in from customs. well rs
brm,urcs, drawbacks bounties and allowances in the
Most. If not ALL OF the latter charac-
ter shou Il have the frequent Inspection OF Congress
and people lwoud suggest, therefore, ut our next
session legislation to remedy these dangers. About
SIS PASS each year out of the Treasury under
these heads, OF The amount paid account
OF interest the public dcbt and the sinking iund,
which enormous sum TO be under the control
OF executive Officers without check.
shall now proceed TO an examination OF the sew.
Appropriation bills, III order oil date as they
enacted INTO law.
Appropriations last $50 000 900
Department estimates Tor the year ending
Eccoinmcndari of the House Committee
on Appropriations. s...... ............. 1888. SEQ
House 20 5S5, 500
committee recommended ~, 5.,3. 800
senate passed. Observation-Disclosures. 30 $50, 800
Law unally enacted ............. % 5s3 500
Tho respective committees OF the two houses and
both houses OF Congress agreed IN the amount 10 DO
appropriated for pensions which was IN full, as ind
Gated by the estimate A peasant incident in con-
nccticn with this Appropriation was the TACT OF lis
being in committee ana IN the House ia charge OF
member OF the committee MT Atkins, OF Tcnncssce)
formerly an officer IN the Confederate army aud
member OF the Confederate Congress. such exhibit
tions ave the deula to the political charge that The
leading OF the south still bear any hostility to the
Union, for he was scrupuious In seeing thai no pen
s.oner OF the Union suffered IN the least degree
Many reforms impcrattvely needed IN connection
with lnc distribution OF pensions.
The Committee on PENSIONS recommended the trans
fer ot the Pension Bureau from the Interior Depart
meat TO the War Departments, where u formerly was
appears by their report Tor reasons among others