The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1878-07-11
SHAM ECONOMY.

democratic Campaign Claim of a Reduc-
ton of Expenditures, by Charles Foster
In speech prepared by Charles Eos
ter, OF Ohio, and printed in the Con-
greSs5onoS Record, is exposed the utter
tallacy, not to say deliberate dishonesty.
OF the claim set up by the Democrats
and everywhere dwelt upon by their
speakers and writer's, that since that par
ty obtained control of one branch of the
General Government vast reduction in
the current public expenditures has
been effected through their efforts. The
following are the main points in Mr..
Fosters speech:
Two years ago, at the close of the first ses-
sion OF the Forty-fcurth Congress, the Demo-
cratic majority claimed to have reduced the
appropriations for the expenses of the Govern
ment by the sum of 100000 or to be exact
1929, 944, 252.86, as stated by Mr. Randall. the
then Chairman of the Committee on Appro-
pr1atlons. This claim of Democratic economy
was made by every speaker Of the party on the
stump and by the Democratic press, without
he (Mr. RandalD and his friends prepared ss dat at
that time were given out for the purpose of
deceiving the public. I say this deliberately.
making due allowance for their ignorance of
the subject, the density of which their treat
ment made apparent.
Two years have elapsed, and what do we
find? This same committee, composed mainly
of the same persons, reported to the House an
increase of more than $12000,000 over the
amount reported by them for the years 1877
and 1878, exclusive of deficiency bills Includ-
ing the deficiency bills the excess over 1876 is
nearly 1926, 100000. The committee this year
was unusually painstaking, extremely careful
and economical. Not one dollar was reported
for any purpose that was not thought to be
actually necessary. Their action IN increasing
their bills 81, 900, 900 over 1878 gives the
stamp of untruthfulness to all the representa-
tons made by them in 1876. It shows that
their boosted economy was sham and q
fraud, and that the controlling motive was no
higher than purpose to aid them before the
people in 1876 Now that this party exigency
is passed, the legitimate and proper expenses
OF the Government cannot be avoided, and
after careful consideration their action this
year justifes me fully in statements made in
1875. The appropriations, as they finally be-
came enacted into law, for the year ending
June 80, 1879, amount to $172, STE, 1925. For
the year ending June 80, 1877, they amounted
to $148, 534, 798.41-a difference of $24O4O.-
sos. "a.
The last year of Republican rule shows re-
duction over the previous year of $16, 1913, 900,
and the last two years, 1928, 100000. The fig
ures for the year just closing cannot now be
ascertalned, but the indications are that they
will show further reduction of perhaps So
DOC, 900, just about the amount saved by the
failure to appropriate for rivers and harbors.
Attempts have been made by several gentle
men of the reform school to explain away the
large deficiencies reported this session. It is
claimed that much of it belongs to the year
ending June 80, 1876, and prior years. If so,
why did not the Democratic. reformers provide
for them at the proper time, the last two years !?
1t is probable that So, 600, 900 or $4,000, 900 of
them belong to the year 1876 and prior years,
but no amount of explanation can avail in the
attempt to charge the rest of them to 1876 and
prior years. These deficiencies occurred by
reason Of an attempt in 1876 of our Demo-
cratic reformers to deceive the public into the
belief that they were actually engaged in a
work of reform. The sham and fraud were
pointed out then, and the developments showed
by actual results are a complete vindication of
those who carefully examined the subject at
the time Explain away, gentlemen of reform
persuasion, your deficiency bills, amounting to
over $14, 10000 sum much greater than
the entire deficiencies during the four years of
Gen. Gar6elds Craftsmanship of the Committee
on Appropriations, and they are not all pro-
vlded for yet.
After several years of careful study of the
subject of Governmental expenses, I affirm that
we have reached the minimum, and that here
after for the ordinary expenses of the Govern
ment we will be compelled to gradually increase
the cost of running the Government machinery.
In the face of the fact that we have
reached the minimum of the expenses admitted
by the acts of the Appropriations Committee
this year, the Democratic party rushed through
the House bill reducing the tax on tobacco
cents per pound, which measure, if passed,
would reduce the revenues $40, OOO,0O to $15,-
100000. In short, they increase the appropri-
atoms $24.0O0,O and propose to decrease the
revenues $15, 000 900. If they could have their
own way, we certainly would have been met
before the close of the following year with
deficit of several millions of dollars.
The following is the condensed statement of
what was claimed by the Democratic leaders in
1876, compared with the facts as demonstrated
by actual results: Democratic claim of re-
ducton of $3.50, 900, 900 over 1876 for each of the
years ending June 80, 1877 and 1876, $50, 000-
900. Actual results for two years, 1924, 0O0,-
900; overstated, 1886, 100000, the reduction
being two-ffths of the amount claimed. This
is just about equal to the claim of the Indian
who thought two truths to one lie pretty good
for all Indian. With equal propriety the Demo-
Gratis can claim that two truths to three lies is
pretty good for q Democratic reformer. Take
another view of this subject, as contrasted
with Democratic promises on the stump. The
sum total of the bills as reported by the same
committee in 1878, are, without the deficiency
bills, some $12, 900, 900 greater than the same
bills reported by the same committee in 1876.
No charge of being overborne by an extrava-
CANT Senate can be made in this case. 1t was
the cool, careful, and deliberate work of these
Democratic reformers themselves. Why was
this increase made? Simply because a less
sum was found to be wholly inadequate. Even
this will have to be supplemented with de-
iciences. What answer will these Democratic
reformers make to the charge that they either
willfully or ignorantly attempted to deceive
tho country in 1876? l leave the answer to
them.
Mr.. Foster pays his respects to the
army reformers as follows: .- az
Some of its provisions referring to the Army
bill] will turn out to be absolutely ludicrous
when they are executed. For instance. the
General of the Army is left without horse.
while Lieutenant of the Marine Corps in the
same city is entitled to two horses. Again, an
officer in the mounted artillery is not allowed
a horse, while all the privates are mounted.