The daily gazette., 1878-07-17
Parties and Appropriations

,NDtllStS VI tiiC oONOiihAShN 90 hseaN w |
" the several departments for the fiscal
year ls7S-79, fixed the aggregate expendi-
,ure at SlT6, 6,226,000. The appropriation
bills passed by Congress in that behalf
to $l57, ,2l4,000. The ordinary
in series of years were as
follows:-Fiscal year ended June 80,
1877, l44,209,963; 1876, $164, ,sl3;
1875, $l71,529,s4s; 1874, $l94, 1906;
1878, $3.50, ASS, 1886; 1872, sl53,20 $50;
1871, $157,5sS,s27; 1870, $164, ,421,5 ,5o7;
1869, S190, ,496,354; 1868, $229,915,0Ss;
1867, $202,947,733; 1866, 3S5,954,7Sl
1t will of course, be understood that the
outlay referred to in these statistics is ex-
elusive of interest on the public debt, re-
demption Of bonds and currency and
premiums. They include the annual ex-
pense of conducting the several depart
ments, and nothing else. This has con-
siderably more than doubled, as compared
with the average outlay in the years inn
mediately preceding the war, though the
cost of merchandise, property, wages and
transportation is less than the ante-bellum
average. The population has increased
by perhaps 35 per cent. since 1860, but
the governmental outlay has been aug
mented by $50 per cent, though the
scale of general values has been low
cred.
1t will be observed that the appropria-
tions for the fiscal year are considerably
increased in comparison with 1S77-7S.-
The question is often asked how it hap
pens that enlarged appropriations occur at
this particular juncture and junctures,
when prices are at the very bottom of the
scale; when poverty and hardship are en-
countered in all the walks of life, and
when economy apd retrenchment are
forced upon all classes of people by the
sternest necessity? 1t is also made a
charge against the Democratic branch of
Congress, representing party whose
watchwords are economy, reform and re-
trenchment, that pledges have been vio-
lated and constituencies betrayed through
an unjustifiably free use of the public
purse. Revenue bills originate in the
lower house, and in any event the ma
jority-there had the prerogative of abso-
lutte veto as to all measures whatever
This charge has not only been made dis
honestly as a political trick by the Radi-
Gals, but is also re-echoed by many we'll
meaning but superficial people, without
proper knowledge of the circumstances.
An analysis of the records of the last
appropriations and of the two years pre-
| ceding demonstrates this fact very con.
| clusively A Democratic House of Rep.
resentatlves cannot accomplish essential
reforms in the fiscal management of the
public service so long as hostile and
profiigale party retains control of the
administration. Even if party of re
trenchment had control of both Houses
of Congress, an opposition party in pos
session of the administrative branches
of the Government would have the pow
er to constantly embarrass its efforts, anC
in spite of all exertions short of strug
| Sit WOulu tnItdltu Il utdu-lOCk III
Government itself, measures of retrench
ment might be measurably defeated
The cooperation of the legislative anC
administrative departments is necessary
to secure effective changes in this direc
! ton but in point of fact, as the lowe
House has encountered nothing but Cd
position, and embarrassing counter ma
n1uvres from the admi nistration and tn
Senate, 1t has been compelled to compro
' mise, or to bring the governmental ma
chinery to stand.
The session of Congress preceding tn
|, | last after long struggle for retrenci
ment by the lower house passed an al
D propr alton bill which effected a SWEEP
e ing reduction In the supplies furnishe
h for ordinary expenditures. The latte
Il were in effect reduced by more than SO
e 100000. But the administration decline
d to conform its expenses to the stint
money thus furnished, and the cons
ie quence was the last Congress encounte
n ed nearly $50 0000, 600 in deficiency bill
a Nothing could more clearly demonstra
~ the necessity of cooperation betwe,
I'd the several departments of Governmel
q IN efforts to accomplish great results
y retrenchment; or the difficulty in Il
or way of the legislative department wht
er seeking such results, whilst the admin
tratlve department is hostile in poliui,
80 II ioiis"uO anu Ntnldl III DTdcIlce, al
lie thoroughly unscrupulous in the exerci
of that low and corrupt State craft
H. which Radical politicians seem to
ut naturally adopts.
20 Before Judging the Democratic Hor
'o' OF Representatives, therefore, it is OF
just TO take notice notice of its opp,
as tunities. The task must not be ma
lie greater than the capacity.
il 1t is also interesting, in consider
-, the animus of the two parties as respe
eu reform to review certain items of the ;
Of preparation bills as they Jared in the t,
IN houses. The estimate for the Militia
Academy was S540,0O0; the House ma
'as this S265, 900, the Senate S348, 900, and I
tly final vote " as S282, 900. The estimate
il fortifications was $40 900; the House
I'D duced this TO S275,000. The estimate
"u the navy was SIG, ,233 900, reduced by
House to sl4,038, 200, and passed witt
slight addition by the Senate. The y
TT tai estimate was reduced by the Uol
about S3,000,000. The army estimate y
OF $3l ,597 900, reduced by the House
10 $4 600, raised by the Senate to q
me 5000, and finally passed at S25 583 (
VT. The legislative estimate was SIC, ,233
The reduced by the House S14,755 600, raj
md by the Senate to S15, ,59S 900, and pas
at S15,43S,0 The sundry civil expel
IKE were estimated at S24 ,939, 900, redu
ate by the House to $17 100000, raised by