New-York tribune., 1879-11-01

legacy from its Democratic predccessorJ 12o,SfI
Year ending Jine 80, 1864
Payment for horses and other property lost .o,ooo
EXPENSES eS incident TO- United States loans 2747oO0
Tear ending June 80. 1865.
Pay for horses etc. lost in pnblic service |o4'5so
Currency r.O ,. .'. 49," o'~ 7.oss.6n
Year enfi,sg June 80, 1866
Pay for horses, lost IN public service 919,559
Expenses United States currency ss6.so1
Expenses collecting Internal revenue.---- 5,SOO1o2
Year ending Jrne 80, 1867
currency ........ ~ .................... 1.s97.oOo
1Oa99o
Expenses collecting internal revenue..... 7,S92.OJO
Year ending Jane 80. 1864
Expenses National loan 2.O17s22
Reiunding proceeds captured aud aban- ..
Expenses coiieciing Internal revenue s.730.357
The foregoing examples are probably enough to
show that the miscellaneous expenses ought TO bear
large reduction on account of items chargeable TO
the Rebellion. Another class of items amounting
altogether to some millions has been omitted from
the expenses chargeable TO the Rebellion. Among
these items are the large required to restore
the lighthouses on the Southern coasts, the still
Larger needed to restore the postal service in
the Southern States, and the heavy expenditures
made necessary by the destruction and damage of
forts arsenas and publicbuildings belonging to the
United States in the South. Notwithstanding all
the omissions however it's found that the ordinary
Der capita expenses of the Government reduced
by the Republican party during the first ten years
of its ascendancy from 81 81 to 50 33 year, as
compared with the last ten of Democratic con-
troll and from So Go TO 50 33 compared with the
Democratic administrations from 1911 to 1920,
when Madison aud Monroe were at the head of
affairs SO far then, the first ten years OF Repub-
lican ascendancy are concerned it Is proved either
that the Democratic charge of Republican cx-
he 4ipa .ttr.fra
trations of Madison. Monroe. Pierce and Buchanan
we're still more extravagant.
The PAST NINE YEARS.
The following statement shows the ratio of cx-
penditures to population during the nine years
ended June 80, 1870. These figures. as well as
those already given. have all been obtained from
official sources, and may be depended upon as
correct:
Average population. 1s7OJ79. 44.233 900
Average Average Yearly net ordinary cIpcndi-
Average Yearly expenses c6araeabe to Re
AveTses Yearly expenses less 1oiSSSooG
Yearly expenses per capita not including so on
expenses cbargeabe 10 the Rebeuion.. S2 80
The items which go to make up the sum charge
ablo TO the Rebellion are quite numerous, and IT is
not necessary to give them in detail here. Some of
the most important may be mentioned. as follows:
Average yearly payments to pensioners 1927 5l1 907
Average yoarly salaries etc, Pension onoe $4,000
revenue. including drawbacks, etc----.-. 6520531
Average yearly expenses National loan--,, l943OOO
Average yearly payments Of Dounties 10
YEAR, 10 I2e VeS
MISCELLANEOUS 1O,loo9oo
Total .s49, ,oo3566
The sum above given as chargeable to the Rebel
lion is undoubtedly considerably below the real
amount which should be so charged, ii is impos-
slble to separate some of the items. For example
the clerical force necessary TO examine claims aris-
ing out of the war is the cause of heavy yearly
pense which cannot be eliminated from the regular
expenses of the accounting offices Of the Treasury.
Incidental expenses the same account proper
tionately heavy. These and many other charges
due 10 the Rebellion probably amount to at least
S. 900 900 year in addition to the sum ascertained
and given above. IL this sum were deducted the
yearly per capita expenses would be reduced, to
50 10. which is probably very the true figure.
One of the most gratifying facts connection with
the foregoing statement is that within the last
wear the difference between greenbacks and gold
has disappeared spite of the urgent efforts Of the
Democratic party in Congress to prevent 1t. by de-
featpg the resumption of specie payments. The
S27 1858, ,752 which paid to pensioners in 1877
were worth only 500. 7O5,3S3 i'll gold the same
amount paid them this year worth its faceln gold.
a clear gain to the pensioners of $1.255369 which
they would never have enjoyed if the Democrats
could have prevented IL. IL appears, then from the
facts gwen that notwithstanding the tendency to
extravaganza bred by great war which sent every
body 10 specializing who was not fighting, and in
spite Of an inflated. irredeemable currency which
unsettled all values. the Republican party since
1861 has administered the Government more eco
nomically than the Democratic party did before
that time.
NEW WORKS WITHOUT AN INCREASE OF EXPENSES.
But there il still something else TO be taken into
account besides the actual per capita cost of govern
ment. What does the Government do now for less
money than it dld twenty years ago for more
money! The Post Office Department brings the
Government into personal relations with moro in-
dividuas than does any other branch OF the public
service What facilities for communication be-
tween individuals does IL afford now which it did
not furnish in 1861. when the Republican party
came into poweri
Fist-Tbere is the postal money order system
which was established in 1864. Although this
branch Of the postal service only fifteen old
the number of money orders issued during the last
fiscal year annroached 5000, 900. and the amount