Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-06-15

their families shall not be left penniless,
Democratic. papers howl with derision.
Who Is responsible for the necessity for
these expedientsl
OF course, Mr.. Randall and the men
whom he led in the House will say that
1t Is better that the army should go with.
out pay than that IL should be used, as
they think, for illegal purposes. That
Is to say, the Democracy will arrogate TO
itself the right to say what the army
shall do, even though officers and men
be deprived of their lawful wages. But
the same pretense cannot be used In the
case of the navy. The scurvy treat
ment Of the officers and men of that
branch Of the service was part of con.
spiracy. The payroll of the navy is
precisely like the payroll of CONNER
cial house or factory. So many men, so
much money needed. The Secretary
sent the pay-rolls TO Congress, asking
for the amount of money required. This
was $7,600,000. The Democrats in the
House held the national purse-strings.
They were preparing for the Presidential
election by pretending to cut down the
expenses of the Government. They ap.
propriated $5,700, 900 for pay of officers
and men, though they were perfectly
well aware that deficiency would be
created, and that the men temporarily
deprived of their just dues would have
claim on the Public Treasury, which
must be paid, sooner or later. To be
sure, after the election was over, the
House grudgingly appropriated $1,000
600, as II the demagogues who follow
Randall thought that they would not be
detected if they put back the money in
driblets. But a deficiency exists, and
must exist, unless Congress desires to
see the naval people recover their pay
through the courts, like so many petty
creditors. Meantime, officers and men
of the navy, who are borrowing and
otherwise living from hand to mouth,
will thank the Democracy for their an
noyances and privations.
The same reckless dishonesty which
prompted this blow at the army and
navy characterized the Democratic man
agers in their conclusions on all appro-
priations, excepting those which person
ally concerned themselves. Thus, the
members of some of the committees par.
ticipated in wild scramble for appro-
priations for their deestricks," while
they cut down those for paying soldiers,
sailors, and clerks. The same men who
were willing to keep up an appearance
of economy for party's sake were eager
ly snatching the public money to i'm.
prove creeks and trout brooks in their
own localities. The Postoffice Depart.
ment required $135,000 for printing
blanks. The House appropriated $105,-
600. The request was reasonable one,
and the withholding of the odd $50, 600
simply created a deficiency. Not a dol
lar has been saved by all this contempt
BILE meanness. The men who were
guilty of itknew thatthey were not saw
ing money. They knew that the time
must come when these bills must be
paid. The business of the Government,
which is the business of the people, must
go on, somehow. The failure to provide
money to pay the expenses of the Gov
ernmcnt creates temporary embarrass.
ment and delay, but it saves nothing. 5.i
z The country is now suffering the conse.
quences of the fraud committed by the
Democratic House. Not only are def
ciencies piled up against some future
day of settlement, but thousands of men
in the public service are " shining"
around among lenders trying to get
money enough to help them on until re-
lief comes. Government officers are at
their wits end to meet the expenses
which the laws make necessary, but
which dishonest political management
has withheld the money needed to pay.
For the officers and servants of great
nation to be reduced to such straits is
most contemplate. If Mr.. Randall and
his associates had deliberately conspired
to make every man ashamed Of the serv-
ice of his country, they could not have
gone about it more effectually than they
did,-N. Y Times.