The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-06-29
The Democrats House as an
Rranuanf NJ na,nn..afta Fam.

The Democratic House rs an
Exponent Of Democratic Econ
omy.
Cleveland Leader.
With the advent Of a Democratic
House Of Representatives at Washington
a change was promised in the national
expenditures, aud alas, change was
really made. BUTT was not Of the char.
acter promised. The Republicans had
made reductions In expenses steadily
from year to year, doing away with all
public Offices made superauous by the
close OF the war, following with undevi.
ating inaexibility the steady decline in
prices, the gradual shrinkAge in values
and the increased purchasing power Of
money. These reductions were not made
by the committees except with the advice
and cooperation Of the heads Of depart
ments. This course secured harmoni.
Gus union Of the Executive and legisla.
tive officers in the interests Of national
economy resulting in cutting down ex.
penditurea for the seven years ending
June 80, 1875, an aggregate Of S5st 1856.
239 81, a yearly average Of 81. 40,74S IS.
It Is public misfortune that the De-
mocracy did notfollow this excellent ex-
ample In the change they inaugurated.
As the Finance Committee was composed
Of men ignorant Of the necessities Of the
Government they should have consulted
the heads Of departments upon their
prospective needs, but this they declined
10 do. They were "reiormers' and bold.
" announced their determination TO re-
duce expenses 10 the tune OF $50, 900, 900
per year. Before the appropriation bill
passed this large sum had dwindled down
to SIS, 900, 900. But this was not saving.
This reduction was an absolute loss 10 the
whole nation. Eyerydepartment Of thepub-
lie service was crippled and some were
compelled TO contract debts TO meet indis.
pensable expenses. Public works all over
The country were stopped, the work thus
far done being allowed TO fall 10 pieces,
men discharged by the tens Of Thousands
and sent to enforce the army Of idlers
that were croWding at the doors OF every
branch OF industry. To show how this
worked, one illustration will suffice. In
the Postofice Department SAC, 900 was
the sum demanded by the Postmaster
General for the printing required for the
Transaction OF official business, and, as q
number Of new Offices had been establish
ed, the committee was admonished OF the
imperative necessity Of this amount.
But the wise-acres ON the committee cut
this down to 500 900. The result was that
early last January the House was told
that the appropriation would be exhaus.
ted before the end Of March, and that
from thirty to forty thousand dollars
would be needed before the end Of the
fiscal year. The appropriation was de-
layed until some time in April. and the
Postofice Department had entirely ex.
hausted the supply Of blanks for register
ed letters and other papers OF importance.
Before the work Of printing was resumed,
orders for registered letter blanks had
At the Department from 90
900 Offices. All that was asked for by the
Postofice Department was finally appro-
priated, but only after subjecting the bust.
uescommunity all over the country TO
great annoyance. But the Democracy
tent their boasts broadcast Of having re.
iuced appropriations s50.00o,000. The
,equel shows that this reduction was not
permanent, but that it has nearly all
been added before this 10 the expenses Of
The various departments for which it
should have been originally appropria.
led.