New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-08-08
EXPENDLTTRES DEFENDED.

In remarks in the Senate on Saturday, Mr.
Allison, the chairman of the COMMITTED on
Appropriations, gave some explanation of the
increase over amounts granted in previous
wears. 1t is but just to say that his justifica
ton was in all respects worthy of attention
and in some complete. 1t is only to be re-
GREETED that a Republican leader should be
compelled to make any defence of the action of
| a Republican Congress, OF, making any, should
be compelled to make one not In all respects
satisfactory. According to Mr.. Allison, the
aggregate of appropriations is $294,293, =
O97 SO, and the excess over last year
ST. ,59S, 700. OF this increase, $47,719, 693
was for pensions alone SIG, 900, 900 to supply
deficiencies created by Democratic dema-
gogism, and $50, 600, 900 to pay arrears dur
ing the coming year Mr. Allison says, the in
| crease being in pursuance OF statute law, no
alternative remained but to vote the money or
repeal the law This is not quite true. The
| law might have been amended so as to prevent
| fraud. But this Congress, having the matter
| brought fully before it III Executive reports,
absolutely refused to repeal the law or to
amend it, 1t rejected excellent plans to prevent
fraud i'll the future, and to detect and eliminate
enormous frauds which have been perpetrated
under the Arrears act already. 1t refused to
repeal An act by which the door was opened wide
to corruption perjury and plumber. Then
it made its own refusal to do justice an excuse
for voting away $4,000 900 OF the peoples
money. 1t is for the people to say whether
this is a satisfactory defence, ana their answer
will not be framed or dictated, many Pc
titiOns we're, by corrupt claim agents who in
habit luxurious mansions at Washington.
The next increase Mr.. Allison mentions is
ST, 900 1876 for rivers and harbors, including
special appropriations for the Mississippi and
Missouri Rivers and the Potomac Flats. This
he shows, was n0n-partsan Appropriation,
and this is so far true that it WAS carried over
the veto of a Republican President and by
about three-quarters OF the Democratic votes
But the responsibility for legislation neverthc-
less rests with the party to which the people
gave the majority and intrusted the power
Republican committees framed the iniQutous
measure, reported and advocated it, and 80
Republicans IN both Houses voted to pass
it over the vetO while only Al voted
against it. The Demo cratic proportion was
larger 20 to "a but the Republicans will never
theless be called to account by constituents for
lllclT ulbtHdISC VI IL htCIcu tIuSt, anu LHclI uc-
fence in this matter will be not as good as that
of Adam, "The woman gave to me, and did
eat" After declaimiDg for years, and justly,
against Democratic jobbeIy and dishonesty in
these bills the Republicans have not only
failed to stop the fraud, but have added
larger number than ever of dishonest apprOpri-
atoms, az well as some OF great merit to sugar
the pill. 1t is for the people to say whether
this conduct is satisfactory.
Next, we have $3.50. 46S for the Post
Office Department, which, Mr.. Allison maintains,
is merely nominal, not IA real increase, because
every dollar will he made up from the postal
revenue. j. This does not seem quite as clear as it
might be. If the postal revenue increases
through the growth of the country in popula.
ton and prosperity is it the less an increase of
expenditure if the money thus received is voted
away fast as 1T comes in A saving amount
ing TO millions has been made possible through