The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-11-16
A Million an Hour.

Under the lead Of Mr. BLouNr Of the Com
mittcc on Appropriations. who had charge
Of the Navy Deficiency bill, the House Of
Representatives voted more than two mil
lions of dollars after two hours debate on
Tuesday upon the figures of the Department.
and almost without why or wherefore. 1t
was simply alleged by Mr.. THOMPSON that
this deficiency existed for pay Of the navy
and the Marine Corps. aud for drafts made
on SEL1GMAN Of London by paymastcrs on
foreign stations. The committee accepted
the statement, and agreed to foot the bill.
On the 81 of March last Congress voted u
million Of dollars deficiency " for pay of OIL
GERS and men Of the navy" and immediately
after directed the accounting officers of the
Treasury to adjust and settle the accounts
of the officers of the navy on the active list
whose pay has been affected by the general
order of the Secretary Of the Navy, No 2l6
since Sept l, 1876. on the basis of waiting
orders pay. and such sum as may bc ncccs-
sary TO make up the difference between the
furlough and waiting orders pay of such
officers is hereby appropriated for that pur-
pose out of any moneys in the Treasury not
otherwise appropriated" This clause was
sjOOeoo It's terms are specific and positive
SEcoR robson acted az Secretary of the
Navy under Mr.. HAYES from the 4th to the
10th of March, and during those six days
(thc lth being Sunday these appropriations
were grabbed and paid over mainly to
favored contractors. who had colludcd with
robson during most of the eight years Of
his corrupt and disgraccful administration
Tn we facts are notorious.
And now the House, almost without n
word OF explanation. except the unsatisfac-
tory one given by RoBEsoN's successor in
office, grants this very money over again.
Why Because 1.-THE officers OF the navy
are suffering" That was the plea assigned
for driving the Army bill through the House
without the least inquiry as to the circum-
stances under which the army has been
maintained from the lst Of July, or the CON
tracts made to extend over half the fiscal
year.
There are millions OF honest workingmen
in this country suffering from want and not
from that absence Of Injuries which disturbs
the comfort and ease Of the well-paid and
petted officers of the army and navy. These
officers and their relatives and rich friends
can 60 to Washington and persuade members
of Congress to appropriate tens Of millions Of
the public money to relieve their " suffering
condition" But the "laborng classes" as
they are contemptuously designated by
Congressional snubs and dandy army and
navy officers, must take what they can get
and see the taxes gathered from the sweat
OF their brows voted away without murmur
Appropriate the peoples money first and
investigate afterward, is the rule Of our
modern "reformcrs at Washington. If
they have not studied the instruction OF the
recent elections. we advise them to count
the number of absent voters, who were dis
gusted with HAYES rather than with the
Republican party, and to remember that
confidence Is plant of slow growth. In the
last House the Democrats had IA majority Of
s"venty-flve In the present House they
nave not mustered a bakers dozen on any
test vote. With a few more Army and De-
ilclehry bills this beggarly account may dis
appear altogether.