The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1884-01-25
Bogus Economy to BE Depre Gated.

an attempt to reduce the lunnino OK
penses of the Government, and thee i,
no doubt that plenty of room will be
lo''nd to practice economy. The ten
| dency OF the times has been toward lib.
eral expenses, and toward this. condi.
uon OF things the Government depart.
ments have gradually drifted, until
shere IS prevalent notion that a re-
Iorhi Is greatly needed. is. however.
iuuch easier to talk of reform in this
direction than to accomplish it, and the
dll1icult question will be low TO secure
,ne e,Ih;, reform ne needed without crippling the
Some men IN Congress whoseviews upon
this question are extreme, and who
would recklessly cut off and cut down
without troubling themselves to inquire
what the result would be. While it is
the privilege, as well as the duty of
Congress to exercise authority over the
management of the Executive Depart
ments, and secure if possible the adj
ministration of true principles of ccono-
my in the conduct thereof. care should
be taken that the estimates furnished
as the bases of appropriations are not
needlessly and recklcssly cut down
simply for the sake of making show-
ing of economy. The Government is
for the benefit of the people, and its
various functions should not be ham
pered or hindered from any mere de-
sire to make party capital. Recognize
ing the fact that the Republican man
agement has been extravagant, and that
the idea of economy and a lessening of
public burdens is one OF the things
which commend the Democratic party
to public confidence, there is danger
that in a desire to reform these evils
Congress may run to the other extreme,
which is equally as bad.
This question is one which may well
command the exercise of the best judg-
ment of the House, for, according as
this matter is treated and disposed OF,
public commentator or censure will
follow. A Just and wise examination
of the estimates will. no doubt, afford
much light upon this subject but in or
der to act iDtelligently and escape the
charge of crippling the departments for
the sake OF mere opposition, or to make
party capital, the House, through its
Committees, must fully acquaini itself
with the facts of the case, and bv u
judicious course of conduct do justice
to those charged with the duty of con-
Quoting the affairs of the Government,
if it would secure the appreciation of the
country. This is a serious and impor-
tant business, for while the country will
commend the exercise of wise economy,
it will not look kindly upon anything
which savors of niggardlness or parsi-
mony, and the record o. the Democratic
party in its dealing with public inter-
ests neither lustitier nor can it cour.
te1Ta' W. ~ Mie qrr;,;S,, methods ,. i gazing
dental campaign. Many things W. 8 con-
spireto give the Democratic party victory
or plunge it into defeat. Among these
things, the use of the power now en-
trusted to its hands in the lower House
of Congress will cut no unimportant
figure. Reforms wisely conceived and
intelligently administered will secure
public approval, but if hot haste and i'll
considered acton control party re-
sponsibilitv and the country is made to
believe that a Democratic House has
made war upon clerks, messengers and
scrub-women in the name of reform,
it will not give those who labor very
fiattering opinion of Democratic party
management, and may open the way
for charges and accusations of spigot
economy, which might not result in par
ty advantage.
Thrse reflections are thrown out be-
cause already the country has been in
formed of the devastation and destruc-
ton which Democratic reformcrS pro-
pose to bring about when they get to
work upon the departments. 1t has
been intimated that the knife will be set
to work with vigor, and the estimates
of the department heads cut all to
pieces. There is, happily, nothing in
the past history of q Democratic Con
gross which iustifies such notion OF
reform, and it is to be hoped that when
the work of the Appropriations Com
mittee is presented to the House for its
consideration and action, that the cry
of Democratic parsimony will not be
sustained, but bill presented which
Republicans and Democrats alike will be
constrained to approve.
The laborer is worthy of his hire, and
the controversy which the Democratic
party has with its great polit cal rival
is not how much this or that man shall
receive, or how many persons are need
ed to carry on the work of the Govern
ment, but whether an equ valent is rem
dered for the money paid, and whether
the money appropriated is wisely ex-
pended The heads of departments are
responsible to the people for the con-
duct of their business, AMI the highest
wisdom does not consist in opposing
their Just demands, but in laboring
with them to further the public good.
If there are drones in these public
bce-hives, the Secretary must find
them, and if there are sinecures he
must get rid of them.
The Register wishes the Democratic
House to make such record before
the country that it will prepare the
public mind for the election of Demo
cratic Pres dent. 1t is possible to do this,
and, if the leaders are wise, such re-
suit will be obtained. american Regis