Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-01-15
The Difficulty of National Economy.


most telling arguments against the Forty
seventh Congress was its extravaganza
The republican majority, in despair at the
size of the surplus in the treasury, and I'M
willing to cut it down by an honest lower |
ing of the tariff rates, stimulated the de- |
partments 70 larger and larger estimates
with the apparent intention of wasting what
could not be usefully consumed. Individ-
ual members set their wits to work to de-
wise new methods of spending unknown to
the constitution and forbidden by the ira
ditions of the government, and wild
schemes were elaborated for the expansion
of the already existing agencies for expen-
diture. The pension list was to he length
ened; the State public school systems were
to be made national and national UNIVERSE
ty added; the government was to buy the
telegraph lines; new bureaus were to be
created, and a number of the old ones ex-
banded into departments, with full compile
ments of clerks; rivers and harbors were to
be dug where nature had never designed
them to exist; the army was to be in
creased, the navy TO be rehabilitated. The
natural result of this disposition to dissipate
the public revenue was that the Forty-sev.
enth Congress brought the net ordinary OK
penditure for 1888 to a higher figure than
the republicans were in control in 1878 the
net ordinary expenditure was $3.50, 1888, 636;
five years later, when the democrats were
in power, the figure was 1874, 463, 452; in
1888, when the republicans had returned to
power, the net ordinary expenditure was
5000, 24S, 006. Not that this extravaganza
was without rebukc. The democrats of the
entire Union pointed with Indignation to
the increase of $72, 100000 between 1878
and 1888, and not a few republicans were
found who were willing to agree with them
that the Forty seventh Congress was shame
fully wasteful of the public money. Now
that the democrats have returned to power
in the House an era of economy is prom
ised There is every reason to hope that this
promise will be kept SO far as it is in their
power to keep it. Mr.. Randall, VINO cut
the expenditure down over $20, COO, GOO in
1877 and ten millions more in 1878, is again
at the head Of the appropriations commit
tee. By cutting down the estimate of Com
missioner Dudley for 1885 from $40, 600, 600
to SIS, 900, 900, on the ground that by his
own statement he has left from former
appropriation more than he can spend
within the period for which the estimate is
made, Chairman Randall hasalready shown
that the economical bent OF his mind has
not been 1essened since 1877. Doubtless
other items will receive the attention of his
pruning knife, with the result that the rep
utation of his party for opposition to extrav-
agance will be considerably enhanced. But
is policy of economy universally desired
There are many and varied interests to
which nothing could be more unwel.
welcome. To begin with, the departments
at Washington are sure to raise pathetic
cutlery against what they will term ''mis-
cradle cheese pairing policy and will pa.
triotically exclaim against ''niggardliness'
toward the army, the navy, the interests
of science" the demands of modern prog
ress," and the various other stalking horses
of extravaganza. All excessive outlay pnts
money into som ebody's pocket, and the
somebodies whom Mr. Randall's saving will
effect will be sure to be heard from. The
practice of extravaganza is further rein
forced by the growing disposition in parts
of the country to look to the federal govern.
ment to do everything, instead of relying
upon local and individual endeavor. Most
potent Of all is the protection" interest,
which finds its advantage in large expendi-
ture. An economical government would
not need large revenue, that is to say, a
high tariff. Republican simplicity is in
compatible with high taxes and "protec-
ton 1t is not, therefore, without consid-
cradle difficulty that the democratic major
ity in Congress will enter upon and persist
in a policy of strict economy, however at
tractive at first sight such policy may ap-
pear
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