The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-08-03
APPROPRIATIONS FOR HOUSE FoLDIN
ROOM.

1861. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 10000 90
| 1866 ............................ 30 600 90
| 1867. 10000 90
| 1865, $4,000 90
1869. ........................ 600 90
| 1870. $1,000 90
1871 $4,000 90
| 1872 ............................. 10000 90
| 1873 100. 900 0C
| 1874 100000 90
1875. Al 900 90
| 1876. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. $4,000 90
| Observation-Disclosures. -, 900 90
Here. sir, we have presented the re-
| markable fact that from 1861 to 1867. du-
ring the whole period OF the civil war,
| when labor was high and our currency
was deprecated to about forty cents on the
dollar, the actual expenses of the folding
room were only $4,000 per annum,
while the appropriations for the same
purpose from 1865 to 1915, when labor
was cheap and when, too, our cur
rency had appreciated in value to within
| a few cents OF par, averaged the enormous
sum OF $77.7O; and tor the year 1869 the
appropriation amounted to Sl22, 900. and
! for the years 1872, 1873 and 1874 the APP
preparations reached the sum OF 100000
per annuIn. During the last session of
the Forty third Congress, when the re-
publican majority saw that the control
of this House was about to pass into the
hands OF the Democratic party, they were
seized with vi olent spasm of economy,
and in their appropriations for the fiscal
year ending June 80. 1915, they allowed
but $25, 800 Tor the folding-room. They
thus admitted that the Democratic party
could run this department OF the govern
ment much more cheaply than they
could. But. sir, this reduction of expen-
ditures in this branch of the service by
our republican friends during the last
session of the Forty.,hird Congress tor
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1876, was
not sufficient TO satisfy the wishes OF the
majority of this House. and they have re-
dnced the appropriation for this pur-
pose to >l5, coo per annum.
The object OF these excessive appro-
priations tor the fodiug-room While the
house was under Republican control was
TO enable them TO use the public treasury
to defray the expenses OF their political
campaigns Tor the distribution OF docu'
nents and otherwise. The object OF re-
duction 10 $4,000 by the Republican
house last session was TO prevent the
Democratic party from using this weapon
for the advancement OF their cause. In,
|
As they are in this house by majority
aud confident of its continuance 10y III,
people, have further reduced the expense!
Of the iolding-room $4,000, thus show
ing by acts that they commend them
selves TO the people by true economy.
While, sir, it has been universally adj
mitted that this house has the con.titu
tional right to determine the rules OF il:
own proceedings, and to designate The
number OF its employees and the appro
priations necessary TO defray its annua
expenses, it has been left for the presen
senate to reverse this long-establisheC
custom. and have constituted themselye!
the guardians of this house. In the leg
islatiye, executive, and judicial appro
priation bill, which originated i'll and
passed this house April 2S, 1876, til,
number of employees and their salarle!
were fixed by this house, and the ncces
sary sums Of money appropriated to
meet the current expenses of this branch
of the public service tor the fiscal veal
ending June 80. 1877. But sir, what is tn,
condition of this bill when il has passed
the senate? We see, sir. that the
number and compensation of the em.
ployes of the house of representatives
have been increased by the senate amend
ments, and the appropriations made b,
this house to detray its own expenses
for the fiscal year ending June 80, 1877
have also been increased by the senate
amendments over S22l,000 This is
1924 900 more than tins house deems re-
quisite or necessary to defray its expenses
for the present fiscal year and yet the
senate insist that We must appropriate
and expend this sum uselcssly and eX
travagantly. In This we have another
specimen of Republican economy and
reform--a policy which looks only to al
extravagant expenditure OF the peoples
money, and needless increase OF thu
burdens of taxation. A policy tina
covered before the purifying influence
of Bristow, the greatest reformer o
his party, and finally forced him from TIT
treasury department. and caused the dis
missal of almost every emplOye who haC
aided his efforts or had dared to speak OF
him in terms OF praise radmiratlon.
Mr.. Speaker, this is not the kind OF re
form demanded by the people OF thi
country. They oppose, in tie most EN-
phatic manner, the removal from Ottic,
by the administration Of such men a.
Bristow and Dyer-men who have
proven themselves the best and trues
reformers of their own party, and wh'
are ready aud willing to strike dow
, every yiolator of law wherever found
regardless of partisan influences or pc
|, litical. considerations. No greater trutl
was ever uttered than that which tel
, from the lips Of Appointment and influen
. tial Republican OF Massachusetts few
: days ago, THAT reform within the Re
= publican party is ont OF the question a
present, and that the only hope of tn
only hope of the country is in the Demo
S Gratis. & The imperative, tn
: solemn need of the country is a chang
: OF the national administration"
Why, Mr.. Speaker, we are told in tn
!, most solemn anu impressive manner b.
! grave senator's in the other end OF the Cap
u ifol that our efforts to reduce the eNpend
: lures in and to reform the abuses of tn
government mean "repudiatiOn aud revo
: luton" Sir. this is very seriou
d charge, and deserves to be inquired int
!. to ascertain its truthiulness. Is it true
sir, In our efforts TO revive the bushes
! OF the country which is now paralized
and to remove as tar as possible the bun
dens OF taxation from the people, tina
we are guilty of Republication and revO
i luton" Is II reputation and "rev0lu
+, ton" for us to reduce the appropriation
e over $50, 900. 900 below last year withou
; impairng the efficiency OF any one 9
. the departments OF the government:
= II "repudiation aud revolution" to stan
\ here in this hall and plead for the or
e pressed and Oyer-burdened people OF thi
country whose business Is paralZed
whose workshops are Idle. whose iarIn
! are rendered almost worthless, who's
I homes are being snatched from them b
U the remorseless money-ehangers. an