New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-03-27
DEMOCRACY IND ECONOMY.


The spectacle of the Democratic newspapers
Of this State cndeayOring to convince the peO-
pie of this State that Democracy is to be re-
garded as the special champion of economy
in the public affairs of this State would be more
impressive were it not so intensely prepOs-
ferrous People have memories. The State has
records. These two facts are fatal to the
theory of their party's relation 10 economy,
which these papers would fan establish.
What do the public records demonstrate
They demonstrate, and the people are well
aware OF the fact, that the expenses of Gov
eminent have reached the highest figure under
Democratic administration; that the years
when Democrats were in full control III the
Executive and Legislative branches Of Gov
eminent were the years when prOiiigdcy and
extravaganza had vogue which they never
had before and have never had since. News
papers which are the opponents OF party
that not so many years ago robbed one OF
the sinking funds to obtain the money 10 sat-
isfv the appetite Of its boards of barnacles,
dead beats and worse scoundres, all standing
up to their arm-pits in the public treasury,
cannot now prate Of DcmOcracys hunger and
thirst after economy without insulting the In
tellicence of those whom they address.
Just at present the Democratic organs are
finding an occasion for fresh Trades on the
partys zeal for economy III the proposition to
erect residence for the use OF the Governor
of the State. They characterize the bill
which, by the way, was introduced by 4 Dem
ocrat-,s a dangerous raid upon the common
purse, and want to know if the present Gov
ernor's residence, which has served the purpose
MI ID 4 4 n
not good enough for any of their successors.
Now we are not arguing that new house
should be built. The present residence has
been seriously objected to on the ground that
it furnished the occupant too much sewer gas
for his health. But it may well be that all it
needs is an overhauling by skilful wOrkmen
The people are certainly not in the mood TO do
any unnecessary building just now. But this
is wide of our present purpose. We desire
simply to call attention to the fact that to
speak of this matter is TO revive a chapter i'll
the career of the Democratic party which acts
as uncOmmOnly cold water upon its present
economy pretences. The chapter to which we
refer relates to the expense incurred by Dem
ocratic Legislature IN fitting up quarters for
Governor Hoffman in what was then Congress
Hall, adjoining the old Capitol. The amounts
that were inserted in the Supply Bill on this
account aggregated nearly, if not quite, as
much as tire entire sum spent ill purchasing
and improving the present Governors resi-
dence. And all that the State had to show for
its money was next to nothing. When Con-
gress Hall came to be torn down, to make
room for the new Capitol what was there that
stood for the vast expense incurred in making
Governor Hoffman comfortable 7
We invite Democratic newspapers to an
swer this question, to explain what was done
with the money appropriated to altering and
improving Congress Hall, before they resume
their ostentatious burning of incense on the
altar of economy, and attitudinize as if they
were not representatives of an organization
which few years since fitted up residence
for q Governor to the motto darn the ex-
pensen