The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-09-30
Tuesday, September 80, 1879.
Secretary McCrary and that $500, 900
Excess,


mediHm of the stalwart press that Secre-
tary of War, McCrary, finds that he can
save over 100000 on the estimates for
army maintenance; that the amount ap-
propriated by congress is in excess of the
requirements Of the department; and that
the secretary will not use this fund but
hold it as a contingent. The object of
this praise of the secretary ought to be
apparent to every intelligent reader,-lt
means glorifcation of the whilom candi-
date for Judge Dillon's place,-for the
purpose of furthering his chances. But
right here, it is proper to inquire by what
rule is Mr.. McCrary entitled to praise
Of course everybody knows why, aud fur
Their, they know that it is to class him as
an economist and the Democratic congress
which made the appropriations as the
embodiment Of extravagance-but this
boom will react. The secretary OF war
who is now seeking to establish himself as
an economist furnished his own estimates
of the amount required to sustain the
army for the fiscal year ending June 1884,
He not only did this, but under a resolu-
ton of the Democratic house, his estl-
mate was itemized and the amount Tor
each branch specifically set forth, and
further, i was insisted upon by him aud
the stalwarts in congress that the amount
asked for, was barely sufficient for actual
expenses, leaving nothing for contingent
fund, aud that, only by the strictest econ
omy could the amount asked for be made
to cover the required expenses of the de-
partment. The Democratic house, how
ever, used to stalwart estimates, and
knowing that generally those estimates
included campaign fund, cut down Mr..
McCrary's estimate nearly 81 900, 900, and
III disregard of the howlings OF the shirt
shakers, who declared the army would
starve, passed the appropriation and gave
Mr.. McCrary to understand that the APP
preparation, if legitimately used, was
amply sufficient for the requirements OF
the service and that no more would be
allowed. With great unanimity the stall
wart press all over the country lamented
what they then termed the scant appro-
priatiou, and heaped the usual amount OF
abuse on the Democratic party. The
wisdom Of the Democratic congress is now
shown in the recent discovery of Secretary
II tkrA g SO00
il excess Of the requirements Of the ser
vice. With characteristic unfairness, thu
stalwart organs are seeking to have Nc
Crazy appear as a great relormer; that Il
him belongs the praise for saving thi
amount; that his wise and economical
management of affairs has wrought thi
reduction-closing always with slur OIL
the Democratic congress, and intimatinI
that disregard Of economy in public at
fairs caused what they kindly term tn
excessive appropriation" Mr. Nc
Crary is welcome to all the glory he cal
obtain from this matter-indeed Democrat
are willing that he should have the fu
benefit of the transaction-ouly they pro
pose he shall have it according to tn
record he has himself made Mr. Nc
Crary has oVerreaehed himselt-he
guilty Of one of two things-either be vii
fully overestimated the amount require
for his department $l,2OO,OOO, or else h
acknowledges his ignorance of what
necessary to maintain a department G
which be is the controlling spirit an
supreme executive officer. The Dem
ocrats in congress were confident he ha
overestimated to the amount Of at least s
100000, and In spite Of protestations lroE
HIM cut down the appropriations one ma
LoR dotldrSl Aud now comes the gret
economist (?l McCrarY, he who insiste
that congress was trying to starve Il
army by reducing his estimates, he wi
insisted and sOlemnly averred that he ha
cut down the estimate TO the lowest DO
sl6le figure, which was subsequently, r,
duced 100000 by Democratic col
gress. now has the cheek to step forwar
and N spirit of partisanship state tn;
the congress which was SO anxious
create reform in, and reduce the expense
OF the government recklessly appropriate
500 900 more than was necessary TO kee
the army. The lying stawart organs VIII
have been bowling about tho Democrat
congress Starving the army take I'D tn
cry at the bidding of their master il
Washington and in disregard TO their pas
utterances stultify themselves and make
record for downright lying which none cal
excel aud few equal Secretary McCrary
instead OF being great economist and en-
utled to praise as such; stands in a cues
honable light and is guilty in the eyes O
the people, of having at first ignorantIy O
Intentionally overestimated the pecessar,
expenses OF his department, and second
after the appropriation was made. and Iii,
amount was $l.OO0,C00 less than he insist
ed upon as absolutely necessary, declared
that the army could not exist CD tn,
amount appropriated. Now, when it i
desirable to do something for his Judge
ship boom, he seeks to appear as u careful
manager. He has chosen the wrong tao
TICS and in his efforts to be classed as al
economist. pushes himself forward to ,
position questionable to say the least
Secretary McCrary has made a great mis-
take.