Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-08-12
FRIGHTFUL FIGURES
Tho BocOrl of u ProfligaJe Congress.

n. y. sun.
1t is we'll to have the exact figures for the
appropriations made ut the first session of
this profligate Congress, SO that they can
not bc successfully disputed. To be en-
tirely on the safe side and to prevent con-
troversy hereafter, we will take the state
ment made by Mr.. Allison, Chairman of
Appropriations in the Senate, rather than
our own summary, even when both rest on
the same data. After making a comparison
between all the bills of 1888 with those of
1852, Mr.. Allison sums up in these words:
over 1882, $77 ,539 ,G21,3 He declares
his party guilty of wild extravaganza, while
he attempts to excuse these unprecedented
grants of the public money for question
able objects.
No lame explanation, no weak invention,
will satisfy the people who have been VIC
timized by plundering Congress. From
the first hour to the last, one supreme pur-
pose dominated the councils of the Repub-
lican party, led by Secor Robson in the
House of Representatives. That was to
get the most money out of the Treasury,
without regard TO the nature of the apprO-
priatiOn.
The Democrats carried the House of
Representatives in the tidal wave of 1874
by majority of seventy, ousting a Repub-
lican majority of one hundred. That revo-
luton was mainly caused by the exccsses
of Grantism. The people rose up and re-
buked the corruption of Grants first term.
They compelled the Washington Ring, the
Whisky Ring, the Indian Ring, the Postal
Ring, the Army Ring, the Navy Ring, the
Land Ring, and the other organized Rings
to suspend operations. They broke up
much of the stealing that had been COM
mon in all the departments, and they forced
the Republicans to abandon venal practices
that had disgraced the Administration.
The Democrats came in pledged to re.
trenchment and reform, and they kept faith
with all their obligations. The record of
the Forty fourth Congress is an honorable
witness of the fidelity and of the zeal with
which every pledge was redeemed. They
reduced the appropriations many millions
the first year, against the bitter opposition
of Republican Senate, and against the
false cry that the reductions would cripple
the public service. That good work was
continued, though perhaps with less vigor
than should have been exhibited. During
the six years of Democratic asccndency in
the House, jobbery found no favor, and
the lobby became impecuniOus. The old
brokers in legislation withdrew from active
business and gave up Washington as their
headquarters. The rules with which the
Democrats began their career shut the lob
byists out and excluded the multitude of
riders - that were mounted un the appro-
priation bills prior to their advent of
power.
The Republicans obtained narrow ma.
jority in the present House, which they
have augmented by coalition with the
Greenbackers, and by turning out six
Democrats who were fairly elected. The
transition from one party to the other re.
vived instantly the scenes, the methods,
and the lobby that were familiar before the
tidal wave of 1874.
This session of Congress has brought to-
gether the jobbers, the traders, the thieves,
and the spectators, who were accustomed
to flourish and to dictate legislation under
Republican rule. The election of Keifer,
and the leadership-of Secor Robson, an
nounced to the country that prodigality
was to be the law, and that corruption was
to he the practice of this Congress. The
result shows that the announcement was
true.
At the end of eight months this Congress
disperses, leaving the foulest record in our
legislative history, surprising the worst
days of Grantism in reckless expenditure,
and defying public opinion by outragcs
that are likely to receive condign punish
mcnt at the ballot box. Needless of the
lesson of 1874, the Republican leaders
have exceeded their own worst extrav-
agancc, and neglected the duties which thc
people demanded at their hands. Senator
AllisOn's reluctant concession of seuenty-
eight millions excess over the last apprOrpia-
tion will stand in judgment against them
at the fall election.