The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-07
Plnin Figures.

comparison between the expenditures
for carrying ON the Government during the
last four fiscal years OF Republican ascend
ancy in Congress and during the four fiscal
years since then. including the appropria-
ton for 1880, tells a story which no attempt
cd peryprsion can destroy or weaken. These
figures show q progress ia the right dlrcc-
ton. though they fall short OF the public OK
poctatiOn in some material respects. twill
be borno in mind that the appropriations
IRE always mado year ahead, SO that al
though the Democrats had the House of
Representatives at the beginning OF the
Forty-fOurth Congress, the supplies up to
the 90th OF June. 1876. had already been voted
by their predecessors. Therefore the re-
trcnchmcnt which they made only began to
appear in the appropriations for 1871.
Tho regular supply bills are eleven, name
ly: Military Academy; Fortincations Con-
sular and Diplomatic; Navy; Post Onicc;
Pensions; Indian Army; Legislative, Exec
utive and Judicial; Sundry Civil; and River
and Harbor. Deficiency and miscellaneous
bills are irregular, and depend upon excep-
tional circumstances. But in tho two peri
DDS Of four years each. given below, the ap-
preparations Of every kind are included in
the statements.
TOTAL PUBLIC EtfEspuuurs APPROPRIATED nv RrrrBlrcAS
coNGGEssfs
i''t 3.'aaui
lsi3oi5s7 os
l''J'o'2'el
s7ai u2Q 3s- -
TOTAL PUBLIC ExFESnirrRFs APPROPRIATED sXNArE
pENocHArc HOUSE
si5Lo@ooi3 SO
loa"if'4' o1
lss' l0o POI 80 as
lssD ............... ............... lGl9l9t95 -
SOS, sis ,i31 10
In 1879 fully five millions were voted TO
pay for SEcoE RoBEsoN's iobbery and other
deficiencies that ought never 10 have passed
the House, and could not have been carried
at all except by Il corrupt coalition. The
result OF the comparison is as follows:
years appropraonsb By Ecpun ans s73l o2o %,
-Four years appropriations By Democrats Gs sls 1875 10
Difference in favor OF Democrats sio..lslai0 CD
This reduction averages twenty-five and
a half millions year, and it is fully one
hundred and twenty-five millions u year
less than the estimates of the departments.
Whatever may be said OF the shortcomings
in other respects, this showing is good for
the Democrats, when coutrasted with the
extravaganza Of the Republicans. But it is
by no means as good as il should bc, or as
it would be if there was II determined pur-
pose TO purge the public service Of its
abuses, to cut OF all cXcresccnces and sine
cules, to enforce stern economy, and to
mako simplicity, competency, and honesty
the rule OF employment 1t Is capable Of
demonstration that the civil service is now
conducted at an expense at least onc-third
greater than it ought TO hc.
Certainly the departments at Washing
ton with efficient clcrks instead of political
| appointecs could be run smoothly and with
better work If the existing force was re-
ducod one-third. In regard 10 the army,
| there ought TO have been u saving of at
least S7j,0J0,000 in these eight years. The
army is an organized uristocracy, growing
more dangerous every year, aud moro
and more demoralizod by partisan service.
Foreign ranks, habits, and tastes have been
gradually introduced into the service, until
the army is further removed from the peO-
! pie than ever before.
Both parties feel the persuasive power
OF direct social contact, and Of indirect in
| iluenccs, resulting from an established or
gou.zation at Washington, always viSilant,
active, and Intelligent as to It's interests,
/ and knowing well the arts by which COM
mttocs in Congress may be captured, The
| Army Rings have only to operate upon the
Committees on Military Affairs and on APP
preparations in the two Houses, to do their
work effectively. These enormous sums
were appropriated for the support of the
army in the periods named:
uNpER nm REPUBLICANS
1873. SIS C,3Gl5 y
....... 81 1880 81
277ss 5000
2793i $50 o
sllO FOL 05i 10
UNDER pEuocRArs
s21 057 1877 o.
Observation-Disclosures. 21Gl2 500 10
1870 2j5Ja lsO ul
1850 the pending bill................. 787 800 %