New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-13
HONESTY IN APPROPRIATIONS.

There has been much occasion to cIiticise
CONGRESS. II is pleasure to find opportunity
to give it hearty praise The majority III the
Uonse meets the needs of the public service
with manly and straightforward frannness
which is really refreshing, after the paltry
tricks of demagOgism to which Democratic
naiorities have accustomed the country. When
the Democratic party gained control OF the
House. some years ago, it entered at once
upon n course of bogus "refOrm." With loud
professions of superior virtue, 1t began to cut
down expenses in appearance, while pursuing
n course that would inevitably increase eX-
penses in the end. Regular appropriation bills
wore cut down to the utmost, so that many
departments of the public service were rendered
unable to perform their duties with efficiency,
or were left without supplies before the end OF
the fiscal year. This was done in order to make
a show of great economy and to secure votes
in the elections of the next fall. The whole
performance was cheap swlndie, Tor 1t
was intended at the outset by the Democratic
managers to supply the rest OF the money
needed after the elections by deficiency bills
nasspd at the next session. The elections did
not turn out a. these managers expected, but
the deficiency bills were passed of necessity,
and the regular appropriation bills were again
deliberately made too small for the needs of
the service. From year TO year this cheap
fraud was carried on while the Democrats con-
trolled the House, in the hope of ultimately
gaining the Presidency.
This fraudulent policy did not deceive the
people as the Democratic management eX-
| pected. 1t is the chronic fault OF that party
| that it is unable to comprehend the popular
| intelligence, and counts upon stupidity where
if finds good sense. The people have observed
that the pretended refOrmers of the Demo
| cratic party did not make laws TO reduce
needless expenses, but only to stave off pay
ments and lessen the efficiency of the service.
| The country has never known more shameless
stealing by wholesale than was perpetrated by
Democratic Congresses in river and harbor
| bills, the ATears-of-Pensions act, and
hills for the erection of public buildings.
| The legislative service was wasteful III the last
| degree. the officials employed about the House
Disguised even their own party by their con-
duct, and large sums were thrown away Ill
| fruitless investigations for partisan ends Mean
while, the departments were left without the
clerical force necessary to execute the Arrears
| of Pensions act, hundreds of clerks whose ser
vices could not be spared without consequent
| delay and inefficiency in departments were
DISCHARGED, the country was disgraced by
| stinginess in providing for its representatives
abroad the Army was so reduced that the first
Indian outbreak involved great expense that
| should have been avoided, naval vessels and
unfinished public works rotted and went to
ruin for want of adequate appropriations, and
| the public Offices in many of the largest cities
were forced to close up altogether at dark OF
| to depend upon the generous confidence OF the
public for supplies of light and fuel. This was
| fraudulent reform. 1t saved the country not a
| dollar, but brought it much discredit
| The appropriation bills this year show the
| disposition of the Republicans to meet the
| needs of the public service candldly, honestly
and manfuly. If money is really needed, it
is the purpose to put it into the bills where it
belongs, instead of trying to hide it away in
deficiency bills to be passed next winter. In
asmuch as the Pension-Arrears act stands on
the statute-books it is proposed to supply the
necessary clerks to have it executed with some
care and reasonable prOmptness. Provision is
to be made in the regular appropriation bills,
where it belongs, for $40 clerks III the de-
partments whose pay it has been the Demo-
cratic policy to hide away in miscellaneous OF
other unexplained appropriations. The con-
dtion of the Navy is being investigated to see
what it is possible to save after years OF Dem
ocratic neglect. If money is deemed necessary