The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-10-27
Enforce I.cOnou,y.

According to the estimates of the Treas.
ury there will be deficiency of ten millions
between the revenues and the expenditures
81 the current fiscal year. unless there
should be- ali unexpected revival II business
We are now in the second quarter. when any
Improvement would be manifest, II 1t was
likely to occur on an extended scale. The
appropriations are already made and cannot
De changed. But II is within the competency
OF the executive departments, having charge
Of the disbursements. tn ~ regulate them
As to diminish the demands on tile Treasury.
and to reduce this deficiency.
By combination between local interests
In the two Houses, and irrespective of party,
the money voted in the River aud Harbor
act exceeded all precedent both in amount
and for the objects to which IL is to be- applied
Many OF the grants will not bear tho test Of
honest examination, aud stand condemned
by public opinion They would not have
been tolerated at all but for the general
scramble to get an appropriation without
regard to merit OF the claim. or the least
consideration Of the public interest. In all
respects. this law is infinitely worse than
that which GRANT failed to axe ute by post
poning any action except for works about
Wnlcn there could Ice 10 dispute.
This bill was bad enough IN the shape 1t
was log-rolled through the House, but the
Senate inadr IL far worse by adding more
than a million oi dollars to the total. In
fact every bill appropriating money was in.
creased In the Senate, until all the efforts at
retrenchInent in tho popular branch we're
crippled. and many millions were compui.
sorily granted, Tor which there is no color
OF Justification in the present condition OF
the Treasury and Of the business of the
country.
Under the law which gives the head of the
Treasury "A large discretion in tho expenses
OF collecting the revenue, it is practicable to
reduce them largely, and to cut on slnecures
In a number Of small Custom Houses along
the frontier kept up on the pretext OF pre-
venting smuggling. but really a. shelters
for politicians, VINO will not work as long az
they are well fed by tina party in power.
Other branches of the civil service are over
loaded in the same way. and no effort has
been made to cut of these excresceuces.
Fully twenty millions are cIiminally
wasted on the army and navy every year,
without any equivalent. This money Is ap-
propriated largely Tor the benefit of huge
c.ticial corps, aud for an excessive force in
both arms Of the service. The military
Establishment is maintained solely in the
Interest OF preferred class, wholly incun-
sistent with our Institutions and at the ey-
pense Of "a people ground down with taxa.
tion. and Frustrated by adveIsity 10 all the
pursuits of industry.
II is evident that this scale Of cxpen-
diture, which involves either all increase
OF the public debt. by borrowing to
make up the deficiency. or else an in
crease Of taxes equal TO the deficiency,
cannot go on without the most seriou-
arrangement in the affairs of Govern
ment. The people ara in no mood to bear
new burdens. 1i,cy are not in temper 10
see magnificent stalls, and retired lists. and
multtudes OF Idle officers swarming at the
capital and AT the fashionable resorts, draw
Ing handsome salaries and rendering no real
service. while millions OF men and women
cannot lind employment. aud mauy oil them
can hardly get bread.
The Appropriation Committee Of the
House will meet in a few weeks at Washing
ton to outline THEN work for the coming se--
sion OF Congress. The iirst object to which
their attention should be- addressed in car.
nest is reduction %. the army, OF tile navy,
and OF tine civil service To- the lowest pos
sible point. The majority have proisssed
aud promised economy, and the time has
come when 1t must not only be practlsed
Lut enforced To the last extremity.