The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-06-29
AuGdFal
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
WAsHrYGToN, June %.
SEN ATE.

$3,658,000, decrease compared with the
Appropriation bill of the present fiscal
year of $S920l6. In nearly every item
in the bill as it came before the Senate
now there was reduction and the Com
mittee had, in majority Of cases, assent
ed to the reduction made by the House
of Representatives, but in some cases,
they found it necessary to increase the
amount allowed by the House. The bill,
as it came from the House, did not pro-
pose to reduce the number Of the officers
of the navy or their pay, but it appro-
priated inadequately for their compensa-
ton. For several years past appropria-
tions for this purpose had been made
quate, but the deficiency had been made
up from appropriations for the Jay of the
navy for previous years, as balances for
that service did not have to be covered
into the Treasury at the end of the fiscal
year. The roll of officers and seamen
called for an appropriation Of 81 100000,
and it must be made. He then referred
to the increase in the appropriation for
the bureau of construction and repair,
and said if we would have navy ahoat,
it must be kept in repair.
Mr.. Thurman said it was admitted on
all hands that the expenses of the Gov
ernment must be reduced, additional
taxes levied on the people, or we must do
what no government in time Of peace
should do, and that was to borrow money
to pay ordinary expenses of the govern
ment. There was falling off in revenue
this year of nine or ten million dollars,
and for the next fiscal year it was esti-
mated that the deficiency would be six
teen million dollars. He supposed not a
single Senator would be willing to borrow
money to pay the expenses of the gov
ernment, and that proposition must be
abandoned. Therefore, Congress must
either decrease expenses or levy addi-
tional taxes. Every one knew that the
burden of taxation was potent cause of
the depression of business all over the
land. Therefore, it was not practicable
to levy additional taxes, and expenses
must be reduced. He would not vote to
abolish West Point, but he thought the
number of appointments to that institu-
ton should be reduced. The Committee
on Appropriations proposed to strike out
of the House bill the clause providing
that 100000 ofthe amount appropriated
for the bureau of construction and re-
pair shall be used in the employment of
labor to put live oak timber in different
yards in wet docks, and labor for that
purpose shall be employed during the
months of July, August or September,
and shall be discharged before the first
of October, 1876, and during the months
of October and November next there
shall not be over fifty persons borne on
the lists as laborers at any yard at the
expense of the Government. He Thur
mani was opposed to striking out that
provision. 1t was notorious that men
were taken in navy yards on the eve of
every election when they were not need
ed, but they were kept and paid until
after they had voted. 1t was to remedy
this practice which was demoralizing to
the service that the House had put in
this provision. Any one who would ex-
anime the testimony taken by the Com
mittee of the other House of Congress
would see that hundreds of men had
been taken in the navy yards upon the
eve of an election, paid out of the public
funds and discharged rs soon as the cleo
ton was over. He also hoped that the
Senate would not consent to the amend
ment increasing appropriations for the
bureau of construction and repair of
yards and docks, and equipment and re-
cruiting. 1t had been charged that the
House of Representatives had gone wild
on this question of reduction, but he
thought they had not. The Senate should
meet the House half way in making re-
ductiOns. If there should be a deadlock
on appropriation bills, the Senate would
not be free from responsibility. If the
Senate would meet the House of Repre-
sentatives in spirit ofretrenchmentand
economy, there would be no deadlock,
and appropriation bills could be passed
before the end of the fiscal year.
Mr.. Sargent said it was his purpose to
explain the amendments in order as they
were reached, but the Senator from Ohio
(Thurman) had called attention to the
amendment referring to the employment
of force in the navy yards in October and
November. He was not surprised that
this, being political item, his friend
(Thurman) desired to have it returned
to bolster up the fortunes of his party.
If he (Sargent) desired to take advantage
of the Democratic party, he could not do
so better than by allowing the clause to
remain in the bill. Then he could 60 be-
fore the people, who would be out OF
work in November, and tell them it was
the Democrats in Congress who put a
provision in the bill and threw them out
of employment at that season. From
time immemorial, when Democrats were
in power they gave preference to Demo-
Gratis in the navy yard, as well as every
where else, and they should not COM
plain of Republicans favoring their
friends. He denied that more men were
employed in the navy yard in November
than other seasons for political purposes.
The appropriations made in this bill be-
came available on the first of July. From
that time to the first of December more
work could be done than at any other
season. II was the best time to carry on
work. So far as he knew, the men had
been usefully employed and the Govern
ment money had been expended prop
erly. He would not say the Republican
party was immaculate in every respect,
or that the Democratic party was dia-
bolical in every respect, His friend
(Thurman) aspired to be President, and
if Democratic Administration was to
come in, he (Sargent) would be glad to
see him elected. He had no doubt his
administration would be an honest one.
He argued that Republicans had endeav-
ored, as far as they could, to administer
the Government honestly, The Com
mittee on Appropriations had agreed to
reduction Of 100000 this year for the
bureau of construction and repairs, and
to do that the work of putting iron clads
in repair must be stopped.
The amendment proposed by the Com
mttee on Appropriations increasing the
appropriation for pay of officers, seamen,
&C., from S5,75O,00O to S7,2OO,OOO, was