The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-12-17

II the comparison Is made between the Army
BILL ~ passed by the House ut it, last session.
and its Deficiency bills. the sum will be found
to be- s6.i3J.s less than the Army bill and
the Deficiency bills passed during the last sixty
daya The total Def -iency b lls Of the last Con-
cress were. in two years. s5.307 .l2s.G2; the De-
Aciency bills already passed in two months by
the Forty NTH Congress are ti.s59219
These things Ought not SO to be. II the House
proceeds Ms II has begun it will hc the first
American chamber which. IN peace. has so dealt
with the peoples money as TO bring the peoples
Treasury to II deficit
Nor il this all.
The army had existed for four months. con-
trary to the Constitution. TO the laws. and TO
precedent. Evidence WIS cStant that during
this time Illegal contracts had been made Ey-
idcnce WAS brought before the House that He
| gnl recruiting had been carried on. The House
made Appropriation for these contracts as they
were madc-for tho army az 1t stood. without
inquiry. s25.GG2 500.
The records showed that while the Forty-sec-
ond Congress had appropriated sl2jG0OcO To
! the pay OF the navy. and while the Forty-third
| Congress had appropriated sl2.750.0O0 10 the
| pay of the navy. the Forty fourth Congress had
| appropriated si3.350.ND. Common report said
| that the excess Of this lavish sum had been
| spent upon contracts fraudulen,ly made. fraud
uenty increased frnuducnty paid. The re-
| port of the Secretary of the Navy did not deny
these reports. IL admitted that diversion of
public money which the public law declares to
be criminal and upon this admission asked
deficiency appropriation.
| Tho House made appropriation for this def
cheney as reported filed the gap torn by these
stolen contracts without inquiry-t2 O03 SCI 81.
| The wrong done To ofi ,ers and men OF the
army deprived OF their pay by the illegal act Of
their Commander Chief was left unre-
dressed. The wrong done TO officers and men
| of the navy deprived of their pay 10y the Illegal
and criminal acts OF the Secretary Of the Navy
was left unrcdrcssed.
Again the Committee on Appropriations and
tho House decided to appropriate tl,541.60s. 20
for miscellaneous appropriations. To this the
Senate added 81 .139 5i2.5j. and the House ac-
ccpted II these amendments ~ 07O03762.
OF this sum one-fourh. s2jOOO0 for star
routes. the responsible officers of the Post Once
Department had decided could not bee used. and
it, head, the Postmaster General. had declared
another fourth. $3.50. 600, for the same purpose
unnecessary, and vet the House yielded 10 the
extravaganza Of the Senate and gave Il.
or this sum. tl3.559.J0. for John Sherman :
commissions. the House and It's committee had
decided to be- an Illegal expenditure. aud yet the
House yielded ~ the extravaganza oi tho Senate
and gave il.
In relation n more than onc-half the rtnaln-
der OF this Senate Increase. 1878 900 10 thAS state
War and Navy building. the House and iislCom-
mittee on Appropriations had decided the sum
I must be- appropriated in the regular Appropri-
alton bill. and yet the House yielded 10 the ex-
travaasance OF the Senate and gave il.
Besides these reasons for inquiry before the
Appropriation OF these sums. the House and it.
Committee of Ways and Means has refused t,
| ami anraful invastinutian hafara tre
cecdng 10 the appropriation bills FOR the ensu
ing year A resolution providing for such in
, | qury into the past conduct and present condi
ton of every department Of the Government wa
introduced into the House Nov. IA by Mr.
Glover OF Missouri. II was no new experiment
such resolution had been the basis OF the sue
ccssfu investigations Of the last House. whicl
+ convicted a Cabinet Minister IN sixty days an,
clecteda Democratic President. The resolution
was referred 10 the Committee on Ways an,
Means. II remained there one month. Tn
b urgent circumstances Of one or two member
of the committee at last reused the chairman
Mr. Fernando Wood. to n report. lie made IN
report yesterday. at a time which made it pas
sage improbable II not impossible. By maxim.
the rcportthen tho opportunity for investigation
u during the recess has been lost
in the management of its own domestic affairs
!. the House has been not less careful 10 avoid un
. pleasant inquiry and not less ready to yot
- appropriations to meet questionable. II II,
- criminal Deficiencies. Contrary g. law tn
" Doorkccper appointed men h. had NO right I
>, appoint. For like offence Doorkcepcr wa
p, once removed. For less offence the last Hous
pitched its Doorkeepor out Of his sent Thi
House to-day Appropriated more than $4,000 I
y cloak and cover tho Illegal acts of its officer an
If meet the obligations he had incurred az the -
n lcitation Of its members.