The Portland daily press., 1878-08-09
FRIDAY MORNING, AUGUST o.

this is hardly fair, even in proving that an
, addition OF SIS, 600 was really reduction.
WHAT THE DEMOCRATS CALL ''sENATE EXrRAv-
AGANcE''
Correspondent-What amount was added by
the Senate to the bills as they passed the
House, and what was the character of the addi-
ton?
Senator Windom-The total of such additions
Is $13 925, 442 No part of this amount was ex-
trayagance, but the whole was in compliance
with some obligations of the Government
which could not be honorably evaded, or in the
line OF economical expenditures.
This will very clearly appear by reference
to the items constituting the additions. The
following ara the amounts added by the Senate
to the several bills:
Sundry civil bill. .,,..............S lo, 305, a42
River and Harbor bill. ................" $4,000
Army bill. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 9083i4
Post Once bill. ............... $50 600
Naval bl,l; 2oe Sda
PENSION Dill. 35,OOO
Military Academy bill. ...:............... s3,446
Legislative, Executive and Judicial. .... 6O4.776
Consular and Diplomatic. 1900. ......... $500
Total ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 80. Sl3 925, 442
Glance at the items which make up these
several additions First:
The Sundry Ciuil Bill Total additions 81 3o5,443
For public buildings. ,...........$1 ,675 O3S
Life-saving service. ............, 162,346
Lighthouses, fog signals, &c.. 206 900
Navy-yards, arsenals, repairs of
Indemnifying the States for en-
rolling and equipping militia,
Deficiencies Tor Post.ofnce couits ''''''
Of justice, &c ............n. 1,5I3,964
Haax award. .....,.......... 6,500,J0O
Sundry small items. Observation-Disclosures. 450,65S
Iolf III, 300,f Az
The above amount for public buildings is
in the line of economy in various ways; First,
the buildings are needed, and if completed
would save to the Government an mount in
rent greater than the interest on their cost; Sc
cond, that they can be built very much cheap
er now than ever before, and much cheaper
than hereafter, when business shall have re-
vived; third. 1t being in the line Of economy
to finish them now, another powerful motive
is added in the employment it woald give to Is
Dor. The items for "life-saving service and
lighthouses, &c, are for the encourage
ment and protection of commerce and for safe
ty to life and property. The items for stnavy-
yards, arsenals," Sc, is rendered necessary by
the dilapidated condition of this kind of pub
lie property by reason of the failure to make
the necessary appropriations TO take care of it
during the last two years. The $250,000 for
''icdemufying the States" was simply in COM
pliaDcs with a law which requires these claims
to be paid when audited
DEFICIENCIES CA USED BY UNwARRANTED RE-
DUCTIoNs.
Tho large amount of over 81, SOC, 900 for ''de-
ficieucies'' was necessary because the House
has been compelled to pass SO many defcien-
cy bills on account Of former unwarranted re-
auctions that they were unwilling to make
these, and SO throw the responsibility on the
Senate. About 81 100000 of these deficiencies
were for the Post-Ofice Department and the
Department of Justice. The courts in some
States had already been compelled to adjourn
for want of funds, and the execution of justice
would have been substantially suspended if the
Senate had not insisted upon the approprls-
ton. Several branches of the postal service
would also have been seriously crippled, or &C.
tually suspended, without them. These facts
were all understood by the House committee,
but because the necessary deficiencies would
have swelled their bills TO an amount larger
than was agreeable or seemed exped lent. they
declined to insert them, leaving them to be put
in by the Senate, for which the Senate was to
be charged with extravaganza. The other
item, SIS 500 900, for payment of the "Halifax
award was necessary to maintain the nation
al honor. Had the Senate not inserted it as an
amendment an extra session would have been
unavoidable. The balance of the amount ($450.
$3.50. added for ''sundry small items,' is made
up Of many items, such as expenses of foreign
intercourse, Paris Exhibition, Silver Commits.
sion, military roads, bridges, and telegraph
lines on the frontier and in the Indian couatry,
investigations of diseases of swine, grasshopper
and forestry Investigations, publishing records
OF the rebellion, furnishing artificial limbs to
soldiers, &c.
Tho ;ta,nu NJ tho Sapota addiiionu ara q fol