Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-08-17
Frightful Figures.
THE RECORD OF A pRorLlGArE CONGRESS.

THE RECORD OF PR0FLIGATE CONGRESS.
1t is we'll to have the exact figures for
the appropriations made at the first ses
sion of this prohigate Congress, so that
they cannot be successfully disputed.
To be entirely on the safe side and to
prevent controversy hereafter, we will
take the statement made by Mr.. Allison,
Chairman of Appropriations in the Sen.
ate, rather than our own summary, even
when both rest on the same data. AT
ter making comparison between all
the bills of 1881 with those of 1882, Mr..
Allison sums up in these words: " Net
increase of appropriations for 1881 over
1882, SIT, ,532, 2,62l, a." lie declares his
party guilty of wild extravaganza, while
he attempts to excuse these unprece-
dented grants of the public money for
questionable objects.
No lame explanation, no weak inven.
tion, will satisfy the people who haye
been victimized by plundering Con.
gress. From the first hour to the last,
one supreme purpose dominated the
councils of the Republican party, led by
Secor Robson in the House of Repre-
sentatives. That was to get the most
money out of the Treasury, without re-
gard to the nature OF the appropriation.
The Democrats carried the House of
Representatives in the tidal wave of
1874 by majority of seventy, ousting a
Republican majority of one hundred.
That revolution was mainly caused by
the excesses of Grantism. The people
rose up and rebuked the corruption of
Grants first term. They compelled the
Washington Ring, the Whiskey 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
retrenchment and reform, and kept
faith with all their obligations, The re-
cord 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 appropria
tions many millions the first year,
against the bitter opposition of Re.
publican 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 ex.
hibiteG. During the six years of Demo
cratic ascendancy in the House, ,jobbery
found no favor, and the lobby became
impecunious. The old brokers in legis.
lation withdrew from active business
and gave up Washington as their head
quarters. The rules with which the
Democrats began their career shut the
lobbyists out and excluded the multi.
tude of orders" that were mounted on
the appropriation bills prior to their
advent of power.
The Republicans obtained a narrow
majority in the present House, which
they have augmented by coalition with
the Green hackers, and by turning out
six Democrats who were fairly elected.
The transition from one party to the
other revived instantly the scenes, the
methods, and the lobby that were
familiar before the tidal wave of 1874.
This session of Congress has brought
together the .jobbers, the traders, the
thieves, and the spectators, who were
aCcuSlOneu TO HOuflSu anu 10 dlCJdLe
legislation under Republican rule. The
election of Keiier, and the leadership of
Secor Robson, announced to the coun.
try that prodigality was to be the law,
and that corruption was to be the p -
tice of this Congress. The result sh'
that the announcement was true.
At the end of eight months this Con.
gress disperses, leaving the foulest record
in our legislative history, surprising the
worst days of Grantism in reckless ex.
penditure, and defying public opinion
by outrages that are likely to receive con-
dign punishment at the ballot box.
Needless of the lessen of 1874, the Re.
publican leaders exceeded their own
worst extravaganza, and neglected the
duties which the people demanded at
their hands. Senator Allson'S reluct.
ant CONCESSION of SeocaW eight millions ex.
cess over the last appropriation will
stand in judgement against them at the
fall election.-N. y Sun.