The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1878-02-23
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON. Feb. Is, !

w WASHINGTON, Feb. Is, 1878.
That influential and straightforward
Democratic paper, the Bangor (Mainc)
Commercial, is ably arguing in favor of
a general reduction of State expenses and
Il looping off of eXcrcscenccs which grew
with the. flush times from 1851 to 1865
There are similar movements elsewhere.
\ private letter ssfrom Florida giving
much interesting information as to that
State under its present rulers, mentions
general reduction in the State and
county expenses for the past year. In
the county in which the letter was writ
ten the reduction in 1871 from the eX>
penses of 1876, was from $500 to $500.
In other counties similar reductions are
noted The truth is that the Governs
ment of the American people has always
| been the most expensive in the world
With the Federal, State, county and mu-
nicipal taxes combined, the rate of taxa,
| ton has been such that only exceptional
circumstances have enabled the people
to stand the burden They are no longer
able to do it, / mention the Florida case
simply as movement in the right di>
rection. 1t should be followed in every
county in the country. States should do
the same. Above all, the expenses of the
Federal Government should be reduced.
They are at the rate of IS per annum for
every man, woman and child in the
country This is the result of continu-
ing war after war is over. War always
really impoverishes people in the end
but its worst financial effect is in the
wild extravaganza it engenders, and
which does not disappear with the evil
which caused it. There is noble OPP
portunity for the Democratic majority
in the House to confer great benefits upon
the people and secure permanent ass
tendency by agreeing upon and insisting
a general and large reduction in the ex>
penses of every Department of the Gov
eminent
There is considerable interest felt in
Secretary Sherman just now; independ-
ent of his course on financial affairs. He
is the leader of those who wish to save
Wells and Anderson, of the Louisiana
Returning Board, from punishment.
That he should have held office under
Hayes, and have supported Southern
policy which was distasteful to nearly
every other Republican leader, only to
become fiercer in his radicalism than
any of the others at this late day, excitcs
surprise. 1t is noted, too, that the occa-
sion of his wrath is ono in which he per
sonally has an interest. He is one of the
visiting statesmen" who counseled with
Wells and Anderson, and their legal
conviction is a moral conviction of him
self. 1t is believed that, through his in
fuence, countless old suits of the FEEDER
al Government against citizens of Lou>
isiana will be revived and season. of
Federal bull-dozing generally will be in.
augurated, unless the State shall cease to
attempt the punishment OF members of
the Returning Board. This will be a
strange proceeding, inasmuch as Hayes
was declared President because the
Board was distinctly State institution
and not subject to Federal interference
: in any way.
On the 18th inst. Carpenters painting
ofthe signing of the Emancipation Proc>
lamation was formally presented to the
| United States, Mr. Garfield making the
presentation speech in Ichalf Of the do.