Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-04-20

sons. One might as we'll ask that an APP
preparation by Congress for completing
the Washington Monument should be
used to build lighthouse at Long
Branch, as to ask that money appropri-
ated for naval repairs, for example,
should be diverted to the payment of off,
GERS and sailors. Accordingly, when the
Secretary of the Navy or his subordi.
mates examine the pay-rolls and foot up
the figures, it is evident that the sum to
tai must show what amount of money is
required. 1t is a simple calculation
And IL the Secretary should demand and
get more money than is required he
could not use it. The laws are very
strict on that point So, when the Sec
retary presented his estimates for the
financial year beginning June 80, 1915, it
was perfectly well understood that the
item of $4,000 was for the payment
of officers and men whose compensation,
employment and number were deter
mined by existing laws. The pay.rolls
called for this sum. Moreover, appended
to the Secretary's estimates was q
printed statement, which was, or should
have been, in the hands of every Con-
gresham, to the effect that previous ap-
propriations, when too small had been
made up by balances from previous
years. So much of these balances as
we're legally available had been con-
sumed, and Congress had passed law
requiring all unexpended balances to be
covered into the Treasury. The sum
asked for, therefore, must be appro-
priated; anything short of that would
create an absolute deficiency. But the
Democratic House was conducting a
Presidential campaign. Mr.. Randall had
agreed to save several millions of money,
so that his party could 90 to the country
with "a good cry" With the naval pay
rolls and estimates before them, the
House Committee on Appropriations de-
liberately cut down the amount required,
making it $5, $50, 900 instead of 81, ,600,-
600. The difference between these two
sums was taken from the pay of the
officers and men of the United States
Navy; and Mr.. Randall's party triumph
antly appealed to the country to vote for
Tilden and Reform, because they had
saved nearly 81, 1000, 900 in single item
of the naval appropriations.
This enormous humbug crippled the
naval service and made it necessary to
reduce the pay of the officers. AS the
numerical force of enlisted men could
not be reduced at once, the saving in
mems wages was effected by discontinu-
ing enlistments to supply the places of
those whose term of service were about
expiring. In this way the force was
slowly reduced; and, meanwhile, officers
were put ON waiting orders" in large
numbers, thus drawing the lowest mini
mum of pay allowed to men who are not
on the permanent retired list. But the
reductions and other economies of the
Navy Department were not sufficient to
cover the case. When Congress met last
December, after the election was over,
the Secretary showed that deficiency
in the pay department of the Navy still
existed. 1t was impossible for him to
pay the officers and men while Congress
refused to give the money. He asked
for 81, $4,000 to supply the deficiency.
The same committee which had cut off
before election-$2, 900, 900, as an econo-
my, put back 81 100000 after election,
as confession of their knavery. But
even this was stopping short of the
thing required; and as 81 ,000, 900 cannot
be made to pay men to whom 81 $50, 900
is due, Secretary Thompson has been
obliged to announce that the amount of
money found by him in the fund for the
payment of the navy is insufficient to
pay the officers for the months of April,
May, and June.
Mr.. Randall and his band of little pol
iticians may think this proceeding of
theirs is " Smart" They knew, if they
know their business, that deficiency in
the naval pay account was as inevitable
as the coming of the day of reckoning.
They knew that the money which they
appropriated was not enough to main.
tain the lawful numerical strength of the
navy. Yet they deliberately committed
this fraud, knowing that it would work
hardship to the men in the service; and
then, with brazen assurance, they asked
the people to applaud their frugal man
agement. They had not the manliness
to confess their fault all at once, but,
when confronted with its consequences,
after they had lost the election in No
vember, they made partial restitution.
And now, when the difficulties which
they created hamper the new Secretary
of the Navy, they are clamoring that
there is an unexplained deficiency. The
only and sufficient explanation is that
the Democrats in the House attempted
to make partial capital for the campaign
of 1876 at the expense of the public
service.-N Y Times.