Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-03-25
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AUG u ~ II A.
Monday Morning, March %, 1878.
Delusive Retrenchments.

ocrats In Congress went into the lest ma
tional canvass. To use the words of one
of their own speakers the issues OF the
canvass were chiefly material. That is to
say, the democrats based their arguments
for change OF political complexion in the
administration on the ground that dollars
and cents had been wasted by the repubi-
cans, and that dollars aud cents would be
saved by the democrats. In the midst ct
all this outcry, the democratic party had
gained an ascendency in the House, which
they have since barely managed to keep
The party went to the country with the
CRY Of reform and asserting that dem
ocratic economy in the House under the
leadership of Mr.. Randall, had actually
resulted in saving $40, 600 600 to the Ma
tional Treasury. For the purpose OF ar
gument, we may admit that the amount
has been pared from the regular annual
appropriation bills. But how has that
saving been effectedP There is scarcely II
branch of the government which has not
suffered in consequence OF the withhold
ing of the annual supplies. We say ''wiib-
holding" because money has been tenn
porarily withheld, which must eventually
be paid. That is the whole case.
In the Navy Department, for example,
there is certain number OF officers. The
men are enlisted for long terms; their
number cannot be materially reduced until
those terms have expired, though certain
small reductions do take place from nat
ural causes, when recruitings stopped.
The officers, on the other hand, have made
binding contracts with the government.
+, and the government has coyenanted with
them to pay them certain amounts OF
money, according to rank. There is no
honorable way of reducing the force OF
commissioned officers, line and staff, ex-
cept by retiring portion of these officers
and even in that event, the retir d officers
would draw reduced pay. The pay
rolls, therefore, must foot up--So many
men and officers, so many dollars. There
is no getting away from this. Yet the
democratic House of Il personalities.
knowing that the Secretary OF the Navy
could not pay the officers and maa IN The
naval service with smaller amount OF
money than that represented in the foot
ings of the pay-rolls, deliberately struck
off 81 900 600 from that particular item in
the appropriation bill. Ii is precisely a
men at 5000 per day should give his fore
man $3.50, when night came, and tell him
to paw off his laborers with that sum, and
no more. OF course there was a def
cheney. A small saving was effected, but
when Congress met one year ago, after
the election was over. the pay-rols were
still short to the amount of 81 SO. 600
The democrats confessed their lrickery by
putting back 81 900, 900 without word
The balance is yet to be restored.
What was true of the Navy Department
was true of several branches of the pub
lie service. This case WAS more readily
understood by the people than most others,
because it was one which admitted OF no
possible muddling or concealment. A
similar game was played with the army
appropriation bill, and officers who had to
live by their profession were obliged to
them. la one or two Instances men W no
had higher sense OF national honor than
the demagogues who'managed the House
Of Representatives, volunteered to adj
vance money to officers, without interest
or charges, uatil such time as Congress
might see fit to pay them. The contempt
BILE charlatans who had thrown discredit
on the country and on Congress, mean
while, went into the elections with the ~
ing pretext that they bad "retrenched."
How true this was ia the postal service.
when the printed blanks needed for daily
business were not forthcoming, and when
the facilities to which the people had long
been accustomed were Withdrawn, it is
not necessary now to say How true this
was. too, of the liie-savng service on the
Atlantic coast, left poorly manned and
equipped, many fatal shipwrecks have
abundantly attested
Of course there must come a day Of
reckoning. Deficiencies must eventually
be met. The House has passed bill to
cover its own deficiencies to the amount
Of $40, 900, and in the so-caled General
Deficiency Appropriation bill, now pend
In that body, there is another item of $40
900 for the same purpose. We do not
pretend to say that this sum Of 800, 900,
in addition to the large amount annually
appropriated. is an extravaganza but il i,
certain that 1t is designed to cover up
something The deficiency bill now be-
fore Congress amounts to many millions.
and these millions are to be put back a,
stealthily as may be, to replace sums dis
honestly withheld for speculative political
purposes. A party OF legislative shysters
may withhold the pay lawfully due the
sailors, soldiers, and officers employed
under the laws of the United States they
500. HaHa