The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-07-04

reducing the oublic expenditures, the SEN
ate struck OF ten millions from his budget
Of economy, and now they have repeated
that act of hostility TO the same extent,
These are the naked facts.
To appreciate the great change that has
taken place since the House passed out of
Republican control, and DE GoLYER GAR
FIELD and his confcderates ceased TO hold
the purse strings, a comparison between the
appropriations made during their rule and
since then will tell the story most effectively
and clearly. A period of three years of Re-
publican and OF three years OF Democratic
asccndancy will best represent each side
fairly, and under similar conditions Of peace
when public policy and duty Co the taxpay-
ers required the strictcst rctrcnchment in
every branch OF the public service. The
table below gives the totals
APPROPRIATIONS ron YEARS
R,I,t4irm
sise.Cas. 100 sisiSoi7s7 sir,s7O,es7
Democratic
1879
sii4 HUoI3 si53Us0s1 ti5s. .493
Total years Of Republican appropriations $3.50 7nioe7
Total Democratic reduction ............ ssss27o5O
Average annual reduction .............. s27,975,os3
The regular appropriations for the current
fiscal year were largely increased by oxcep-
tional items, which might fairly be deducted
from the total. For example,
The fishery award ............. ... .... s5,5oocoo
Pensions soldiers ofs72 dropped suce 1891 100000
Halt the sum voted 20 rivers and harbors. no .-
bal having passed last fl1OOo
New items and increased grants for light
houses. nav, yards, public buildings. signal
United States Courts judgments kc....... i,75oooo
Total sigeOoOOO
Giving credit for this large sum, and the
regular supplies would foot up less than one
hundred and forty-six millions, which is a
healthy showing under adverse surround
ings. The entire appropriations made at
tho extra and regular sessions amounted To
Si7290 lG5. In this aggregate Is included
sl4, 53i. 672 for deficiencies, extending back TO
1870, and down to 1873. But among the So
called deficiencies" are items which do not
belong to that category at all, which swell
the figures 81 1926 900, and include the star
mail service, the cost OF the fire IN the Patent
Office. with new models, the silver vault for
the New York Sub-Treasury, expenses of the
extra session, and 10 meet the possible fall
Advances were also made under the head of
deficiencies for public buildings to the extent
OF SLIP, 900, OF $4,000 for subsistence to
the army, and OF Il further sum Of 81, 200, 900
for the same purpose.
An actual deficiency existed OF about
sl,5cOOOO for the pay of the navy diverted
by SECoR RoBEsoS, and OF nearly $i,000.0O0
for contracts made without authority Of law.
Many OF these items were stale and ought
not to have been paid. The navy contract
job was carried through by a combination.
the chiefs of which on both sides are likely
to retire to private life, but doubtless with
consolation enough to make exile endura-
bic. The old scores which the Republicans
left as legacies. are now sponged out, and If
there be an honest and earnest desire for
retrcnchment next year, the House Of Rep
rcsentatives will have an opportunity to cut
deep and TO initiate a system which will bring
down the expenditures to n real peace basis
Altogether, we have cause To be grateful for
what has been done in that direction. by a
House embarrassed by a Fraudulent Admin
istration and by prodigal Senate.