Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-04-19
Democratic Economy.

fCNN D'tS 4S 80"
actual observation and personal
knowledge by our friend Byington
of the Norwalk Gazette. Has it not
the true ring of democratic mancu-
vering and tact?
The business interests of the
revenues of the government are all
terribly affected by the niggardly
pairing down and scraping of appro-
priations, salaries, &c. Work on
public buildings in the course of
construction throughout the coun-
try as well as upon rivers, harbors
and Notifications is almost entirely
suspended, because the House fails
to make needed appropriations. 1t
is estimated by competent judges,
that Congress could in one days ses-
sion pass wise and judicious appro-
prlation bills enough to set one hun
dred thousand idle laborers in the
country Immediately at work. And
If it would further aid in the con-
struction of either one of the pro-
posed Southern Pacific Railroad
lines it is estimated that taoo mil
lions of idle men would be put to
active and remunerative employ
ment. Yet in every possible way,
the House seems determined upon
running ali business and adding to
the misery and destitution of the la
boring masses of the people. AT
the last session the House refused to
pass the Army appropriation Bill
and so an extra session of Congress
was necessitated which cost the gov
ernment not less than a million of
dollars. 1t so cut down absolutely
necessary appropriations that all the
first months of the present session
were consumed in the consideration
of deficiency Bills. And this our op-
ponents delude themselves, passes
among the people for democratic
economy. Secretary Schurz said
the other day that the condition of
things in his Department was truly
distressing. He is still without the
money to put roof over his head,
while the walls of the noble struct-
ure are being weakened and injured
by the storms and the healths of the
employees seriously endangered. 1t
need not take more than FIVE min
utes for the House to pass an appro-
priation to put on roof on the In
terror Department in place of the
one destroyed by fire last summer.
But this is not the worst embarrass-
ment under which the Secretary Ia
bors. For lack of the usual and i'm
peratively needed appropriations to
run his department he is compelled
to discharge faithful and much
needed employees, and the work of
the department is behind hand and
heaping up in disgraceful accumula
tions. In regard to the work be-
fore the Patent Office paid by in
ventors, of oUer too millions of dol
lars. Yet expert clerks from this
branch are furloughed and dismiss
ed to join the great army of the un-
employed because the House fails
to allow a use of the money those
seeking patents have paid for the
work which is withheld from them.
And it is upon such a showing as
this that the democrats hope to car
ry the next House, on the specious
cry of Saving" and ECONOMY"
The millions of unemployed work
ing men throughout the nation, will
be heard from at the polls next fall,
in answer to this criminal and un-
feeling demagogueism. Then comes
notice of another
EXHAUSTED APPROPRIATION.
The Post Office department appro-
priation for printing is exhausted,
and the public printer has sent
word that he cannot fill any more of
the departments orders. This is a
very serious matter. The immense
registered letter business will be
brought almost to a standstill, the
money-order system will be affected,
and the general business of the de-
partment will be embarrassed. I'm
der the same appropriation facing
slips for the use of railway post off
ces are prepared. This work must
now be done by each Office separate
ly, at about double the usual cost.
The printing of advertisements for
the miscellaneous mail letting must
also be delayed. To show the ex-
tent of the business suspended it
may be mentioned that 3,266,56
sheets and 4,O5l books were for
warded by the P. O.. blank agency
in the month of Feb, and in the
same time nearly three million fac
ing slips were prepared. This ex-
hauStion of the appropriation was
forsseen, and there is now pending
in Congress a deficiency bill by
which it is proposed to appropriate
$50, 600 to carry on the operations
of this branch of the postal service
But as the bill has not passed, the
public must suffer inconvenience,
and the department must be embar-
rasSed in some of its most important
,,,o,1-,,