, 1876-03-23
DEMOCRATIC IDEA OF nErRENoHMENT.

It is q worry weak and unworthy protonsc Of
reform which has suggested to tho Democrats
Of the House to nomina1ly reduce tho salaries
Of Government clerks by doducting 10 per
cent from the amounts appropriated therefor.
This, 1t should bo known, IL not genuine
aud permanent reduction, but merely creates
deficiency for which appropriations may bo
made in tho future. The rule by which up
preparations have been mado for forty years.
pasta rule mnde under Democratic admlnis-
tration-was TINT appropriations might not
be voted ut less, but could be- ut more, than
tho rates fixed by law. This rulo was not in
all respects desirable, since 1t permitted tho
incrcaao but not tho decrease Of salaries; aud
yet it is doubtful whether 1t has been in1-
proved by tho rulo adopted by the present
Congress, which permits IN appropriation Of
less than the ratio established by law, md
unlcr which o reduction Of 10 per cont
in department salaries ia contemplated.
Tho effect Of this is simply to with
hold 10 per cent Of tho .uoney for tho
| present, which may bo mado up by any future
Congress. Tho praeticd operation would be
| to cut off 10 per cent from Republican de-
cratic party shall got control Of the ofllcos at
tho next election. Tho proposed reduction
in tho appropriation for this year, and not o
permanent reduction by low, Ia consequently
q mere deception that cauuot be productive
of any good to tho country.
Mr. BLAINE, the thorn in tho Democratic
silo Of the House, again psicked tho decop-
ton, and showed in very few words the
full measure Of Democratic mcanuess. The
department salarics OF tho four clnsses OF
clerks wore fixed respectively ct $1,000,
81, 400, 1000, and 81 800 twenty-five years
ago by the Democrats, whom tho country had
gold currency. They have never beoE
changed since that time. The fact Is, there.
fore, that, allowing for tltb difference In thu
purchasing value Of tho money and the cos
Of living between 1876 md 1851, when thos'
Balaries were Established, the employe!
OF the Government departments ar'
not paid moro than two.thirda d
much now as they were then, Th
, Congressman a1cd their own pay at $500
: in 1854 when they fixed the department sal
7 aries, but since that time they layo raises
j. their own snInriea first to double tha
9 amount, and, after public protest, only re
dncod them again to $4,000. In other words
o thepny Of tho Congressman hns been increase
r. 60 per cent since that Of tho lapmtmen
+ clerks waa raisod. Now tho Democrats Wan
l. 10 achieye reputation for economy by re
n duciug their own salaries 10 Per cent an
h the whole line OF department salaries th
/. same. But, aa Mr. DIA1sE told them, the
o could only act fairly and equitably In hi
l. matter by first reducing tho Congseasion
It salaries to $4,000, and scaling of the 10 p.
d cant afterwards. Wa fancy there will be I
10 desperate and combined effort among u
j. Democratic congressman to 1etseneh To Ii
10 extent.
It Tho fact Ia that there Il no genuine |
', trenchmeut In cutting of 10 per cent OF t
y department salaries in the Appropriation bi
ID which may be made up q, deficiency ne
ID year. 1t IL likely that money could
aavsd md the public sesvics Improved
u 4 ssdunAon In thA numhes of clark, IN