Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1882-09-03

If TO this increase OF SIS, 1868 677. 10 YOU
add the estimated deficiency in the pension
appropriation of last year of $20,O00,0)0,
and in the PoStoffice appropriations OF about
S2O0O,OU0 the increase will be over $780,
100000.
Appropriation Permanent and In
definite.
/, and my Democratic colleagues, have
made repeated efforts to induce Congress
to repeal the appropriations known as
Permanent and Indefinite and place
them under its own direct supervision and
CONTROL yet so far, although bill, looking
to this end, has twice passed the Senate, We
have failed. The result of leaving them
unrepealed is to place large amount of
funds to the credit of indefinite apprOpria.
tons to be disposed OF at the discretion of
the Administration. Among other items
that come under this head, the collection of
custom duties alone. last year, amounted
to over $6,500,000, and the aggregate, ex-
elusive of interest on the public debt. and
the sinking fund, in round numbers, TO
$4,000 0O0 while the entire amount, in
Guiding these last items, was SAC, S47 ,307.09
At each Congressional election, the eX-
penses and salaries of the Federal super
visors of elections and assistant Marshals
appointed during the time of said elections,
amounting TO several hundred thousand
dollars, are
Paid From This Fund.
While / do not say that any considerable
portion OF this fund is being used for inl-
proper purposes, yet the opportunity to
use IA large portion OF it for the purpose of
carrying elections is placing too much
rover in the hands OF any political party.
1t is d great deal better and safer to have
Congress annually supervise all appropria-
ti"us OF Money, upon regular estimates. to
he furnished by the different departments.
River ana Harbor Bill.
The passage of the "river and harbOr"
bill at the last session of Congress has
caused much discussion and criticism
throughout the country, and in our State.
At times and in places, fair criticism has
given away to unjust centure and violent
abuse OF the bill and those who voted for
il. 1t is due to frankness for me to say
that I think the bill was too large in
amount. | thought so at the time it was
before Congress. but it was better that it
Should have passed with this defect than
not to have passed at all. Much OF the ap.
preparation was to continue unfinished
work on rivers and harbors, and which
might have become worthless unless
finished. Nearly one-third of the appro-
priation is for the improvement of the
Mississippi river and the Potomac flats at
Washington, and it is generally conceded
these are proper ubjects.for appropriations,
besides those made for unfinished work on
our barbors and Manageable rivers.
The fact that this appropriation is to he
expended under direction of the corps OF
engineers, at whose head stands Gen. II. 6.
Wright, faithful, honest and accomplished
tfficer ought TO be a sufficient guarantee
that II will be
Properly Expended,
unless You exclude the per cent. assess.
ment fund IL can be said to the credit OF
the engineers that since the beginning OF
the government, there has not occurred Q
case of defalcaiion in the corps, although
they have been charged with the disburo.
m.nt OF hundreds of millions OF dollars.
The State Of West Virginia, since 1870, has
enjoyed her proper share in this appropri-
alton; and the improvement OF her rivers
have been, and always will be, great adj
vantage tn our people, and AID In getung
| their products To market.
The bill is national and general in its
| character and there is no reason to call it a
steal, or indulge in violent abuse OF those
Who voted for it-ahout the only objection
| TO it is its large amount
| Public Lands Given Away 90 Railroads
and Other Corporations.
There have been given away, of the pub
! lie domain, to railway and other corpora
! ton 207, Acc, OBJ acres, and area greater than
/ the total area of the following States, viz. :
! New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecti-
I cut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
! Delaware Maryland, Virginia. North Caro-
DINA, South Carolina and Georgia. OF this
large amount the Pacific Railways received
/ las 675. l6S acres.
/ The people are beginning to realize what
Z q reckless waste of the public property this
has been. now thst they are forced 10 pay
these corporations high prices for homes.
! One of the evils connected with these vast
donations is that the corporations owning
| the lands have, to q large extent, avoided
paying taxes On them.
81. Reconciliation OF silver.
The follow ng table taken from the report
| Of the Comptroller of the Currency for 1854
shows the tptal amount of circulation in the
| United Stairs, on November ls,. 1881, q nj
the increase since 1879, as also the amount: