Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-06-21
Democratic Economy Illust ate,.

Democratic Economy lllust. atcs..
The democrats came into power in Con-
gress with lusty cries of the necessity OF
reform and retrenchment, and declara-
tons Of the superior economy with which
they would carry on the government.
After having had several years experience
of their methods the country now knows
what their professions were worth. Mr..
Baker of Indiana recently exhibited some
Of the facts in a speech which is just
printed in the Congressional Record.
which is worthy Of general notice.
Mr.. Baker first presents statement
which shows that the annual expenditures
Of the government were reduced while
the republicans had control Of Congress
/ from e292, III, 1873 in 1901 to $685.
459, 797 in 1876. Thus. in five years.
the annual expenditures had decreased
nearly sS4, 100000 In 1867 and "
rs the democrats made an apparent re-
ductlon of expenditures Of about 81, 0OO.-
900, the amount for the latter year being
1926, 964, 1926. Everybody who has heard
of the deficiency bills passed since knows
how that reduction was effected. In the
fiscal year ending June 30, 1879, the ex-
penditures ran up. to about $267 900 900 !;
for the next fiscal year the amount appro-
priated was S297 $3.50, 23S, or nearly So
900 900 more than in lS7O-'71. For the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1881, the ap-
preparations already made amount to
1921 ,423 1888, making no allowance for
deficiencies.
Mr.. Baker next proceeds to an analysis
of democratic economy as illustrated in
the expenditures of the House OF Repre-
sentatives, where the democrats have held
full control for five years. During the
last year of republican control the num-
Der of permanent annual employees of the
House was 1875, and their pay amounted
to 1894. 100 year. Now the number OF
permanent employees is 173, and their pay
amounts to S207 79S year. Other ex-
penditures have increased in similar pro-
portion.
In this connection Mr.. Baker forcibly
remarks;
Thus we see that the democrats have in
creased the permanent House employees forty
eight, or about 40 per cent, and have in
creased the annual expenditures Sl5,-
747.30. We are told by the democracy
that there are now one hundred thousand
men in the Civil Service of the
Government. If that party had control OF
the executive, and made as elaborate an in
crease in other departments OF the public
service as they have about the House, WI
should speedily have forty thousand more
men in the Civil Service than we have under
republican control; and there can be but
little doubt, if that hungry party ever gel
control of all the departments of the govern
ment, that We shall see an increase proper
tionately as great as has been made in the
employees of the House"
Mr.. Baker next contrasts the reduction
of taxation effected by the republicans in
the last five years of their ascendency in
the House with that brought about by the
democrats during the past five years. He
finds that in the first period the republ-
cans removed or reduced the duty on l66
imported articles of prime necessity. thus
effecting an annual reduction of taxation
to the amount of $3l, LOG, 129. During
the last five years, since the democratic
party of revenue reform has been in pow
er in the House. quinine has been placed
on the free list. making an annual reduc-
ton of taxation to the amount of 1872 ,657
Turning to the subject of internal taxa
ton, Mr.. Baker finds that in five years
the republicans reduced the annual bur-
den of internal revenue taxes SS9, ISL 600
This reduction was made upon articles
which entered into every industry, and
the relief was felt by all classes of con-
sumers. In the same time the democrat
ic party has reduced internal revenue tax
es S9,OOO.OO0 on tobacco. cigars and snuff
In the session of Congress just ended a
change was made which will reduce the
tax on whiskey about 1900. 600 year.
Thus it appears that while the republi-
can party in five years reduced taxation
in the form of customs dues and internal
revenue taxes over 1921 200, 600 on arti-
Giles of general consumption. the demo-
Gratis. in the same length of time, effected
reduction of about Gil, zoo. 900, and
confined their reforms to quinine, to-
bacco and whiskey.