Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1876-08-24

the District: authorized the repaving of
Pennsylvania avenue, a proportionate
share Of the expenses to be borne by
the Government; provided for the pay
ment Of one-half Of the expenses OF the
police and Board of health; and, be-
sides, allowed the Government of the
District to increase the temporary debt
to the extent fover $40O. 900, SO that
no embarrassment should or is likely to
occur. The appropriations for the year
ending June 80, 1878, amounted to So
962 ,251, II, almost all ofwhich was ex.
clusively for the benefit OF the people of
the District.
The implied statement of the Presi.
dent that the aggregate appropriations
of the Sunday Chif bill are in amount
not more than 65 per cent. Of those
heretofore made should command ap-
probation rather than censure.
The appropriation for public printing
and binding we reduce largely on the
recommendation of the Committee on
Printing of the House, which established
the fact OF gross abuse and extravaganza
in the administration Of that office. The
amount given last year was $685.
501 .66. The amount asked for the cur
rent year was 81, 296, ,056.S6: the amount
allowed this year under advice of the
Committee on Printing, is Sl,133,-
737 .5o-about half million dollars less
han b.
report of this committee, TO which
have alluded, clearly establishes the
fact that this sum should have been suf-
ticient to have done the work last year
If the proper prices had been paid for
material and the running expenses had
been rightfully adjusted.
For the support of the National Home
for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers we gave
the exact amount asked, S66S. 733. "A.
The appropriations for the sundry civil
expenses Of the Government for the wear
ending June 81, 1868, were S., ,3U7,-
1871 ,3S. In 1870 they had crept up to
$9,976, 22S.S1. In 1872 they further
advanced to S2i, ,161.773.S6. Finally,
in 1874, they reached the enormous
amount of S32, 1856, 129. In 1875, when
the distress in the country became so
prevalent it could no longer pass un-
needed, even in Republican House of
Representatives, we find there was a
small reduction from $50, lS6, 129 TO
S27, ,o09, 744.sl:i in 1876 to S26, ,6ii,35
We have reduced the sundry civil ex-
penScs this year below the arpropria-
tion of last year s10,4i1,7So, appropri-
ating only about one-half the amount
appropriated in 1874, being a reduction
of about 1900, 900.
Appropriations last year, S364 ,7;0 !;
department estimates for year ending
June 80, 1877, $437 ,47O: amount re-
commended by House Committee on
Appropriation, 1921, ,24l: amount pass
ed by the House, S259,23l: Senate
Committee recommended, S3Os, ,Sil ::
Senate passed. S30S, ,Si1; the law as
finally enacted, S29o, ,065.
There was in controversy between
the two Houses the question of compen-
>ation TO professors at West Point. The
House deemed that in some instances,
being over $4,000 per annum, they
were higher than for similar services
in civil life, especially when We take
into consideration the fact that these pro-
fessors without encountering any of the
privations, hard>hipS, and dangers of
army life are, when they reach con-
dition OF impaired usefulness, placed
upon the retired list, and receive three
quarters of their pay at the time they
are retired. The Senate demanded that
the question of this reduction should be
remitted to the commission created to
inquire into the reorganization of the
army. and the House was compelled To
accede thereto.
River and harbor appropriations last
year, S6,6i3,5l1.50: department esti-
mates for the wear ending June 50,
1877, S14.301, 100: amount recommen-
dcd bv House Committee on Appro-
priations. So ,S12. $50: amount passed the
House S5,S72, $50: Senate committee
recommended Si993, 900: Senate pass
ed S5.ooo,0o0: the law as finally cnac-
ted. S5, ,00o, 600.
This bill was not made up by the
Committee on Appropriations, and there
fore | have not that full knowledge
which would warrant me in speaking
of its details in comparisons with pre-
vious bills with the same certainty that
| am able TO do concerning the eleven
other appropriation bills. II Is, how
ever, a large reduction on the amount
appropriated last year for the same pur-
pose, and an immense reduction, a.
will be seen by the foregoing figures,
upon the estimates OF the depart
ment.
Appropriations last year, S. $3.50, ,554.-
55; department estimates for year end
ing June 3U, 1877. $5,7s7 ,995 go :;
amount recommended by House Com
-mittee on Appropriations. S3,95,T7l.-
%; amount passed the House $3.e7e,-
6n2. 12: Senate Committee recommend
ei$5, 2e6, ,S6l.27; Senate passed - ,95S, :
.36l.27; the law as finally enacted, ST.
67o.ll7.02.
The principal disagreement between
of the Indian Bureau from the Interior
to the War Department. The House
believed that the management of Indian
affairs could be economically and eff
cien,ly administered by army officers
already under pay than by civil officers,
under whom had grown up a wide
spread system Of peculation upon the
Indians, a. well as upon the Government.
The. House authorized the transfer
in the Indian appropriation bill, having
passed separate proposition on the
same subject, which was transmitted