Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1876-01-12
Reduced Expenditures.

The situation itself shows that the
Appropriations Committee Of the
National House Of Representatives is
to be the working oar in the boat dur
ing the current session, and Mr.. Ran
dali may therefore be regarded as the
leader of the majority on the floor
Until public expenditures are cut
down, the first step remains untakcn
towards the restoration of a sound
currency. Resumption must he pre-
faced with economy. 1t can be
readily shown that nearly one hundred
millions Of the peoples money have
been annually expended for years
which could have been RENTED to
their pockets if the Government had
been wiling to exercise proper pru-
dence and economy. If even one
half of this sum can be saved, it will
prove a sensible popular relief, besides
putting the finances Of the country on
the right road. Some time ago, We
contended in these columns for a re.
duction of at least fory millions in our
current expenditures, and that happens
to be the very amount which Mr..
Randall, after Il general calculation,
thinks can be easily saved. This
conclusion he reaches after having
paid visit to the different Depart
ments and collected all necessary in
formation. In his Judgment, the
army can be prudently cut down in
its annual expenses by ten millions,
and the navy by ten millions more
the former must therefore be reduced
to force of fifteen thousand men,
but the reduced coat will not of course
be propertioDed to the reduction in
numbers, owing to the fact that the
forts and other establishments remain
10 be provided for as usual in the
standing appropriations.
The details Of the plan are yet to be
developed when the Committee bring
forward their report. The reduction
will necessarily bear hard on the Of
ticers of both branches Of the service,
but 1t is thought that proper arrange
ments may be made for the plus
army officers in the Indian Bureau,
should tha. be turned over, as pro
posed, to the War Department. Mr..
Randall's Committee is positively op-
posed according to rumor, to the ap-
preparation Of any money to cover the
recent expenditures of Secretary Robe
son III connection with the mysterious
hints Of war with Spain. This will
leave him to the necessity OF making
a plain story out Of hls transactions,
and taking upon his own shoulders
the whole responsibility. The country
can in this way obtain an accurate
idea of how and why their money goes
off by the millions for purposes hlther-
to unexplained. The Committee will
find mine for investigation in the
affairs of the Indian Bureau, whose
lavish expenditure, amounting to six
and seven millions annually, will un
questionably be rigidly challenged
when the Bureau presents itself Tor
further appropriation. The Pension
Office is likewise susceptible OF 4
healthy reduction, at least million
being named as within reach. Public |
buildings will have to wait, both in
the matter of their erection and equip |
ment. The contingent fund is espec-
tally susceptible of being treated to
to the prnning knife. Forty millions |
Of reduction being half provided for
in the cutting down Of the army and
navy Expenditures, the remainder ought |
to come comparatively easy. The |
The means for the full and free opera
ton of the Government need not be |
invaded, but in these times every dol
lar OF reduction that can be fairly com
passed ought to be. The Republican
majority can reasonably offer no op
position to Mr.. Randal's general
scheme of public economy, and the
country will be glad to see the work
begin with the reassembling of Con.
gress : Boston Post
We had always supposed that be-
hind the screens one sees strung
,...za.. 1 IL & ,