The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1885-07-23
THE ADMINISTRATION.
THE BEsoM OF REFORM IN THE
TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
Important Matters For Congress to Con-
slider at Its Next Session ALLEGED
Evils That Are Bslng Corrected.
Warrington - National News

pVVhhoopiHki Nhluh IN hpii hIBoiy On tho
old war footing OF more than twenty years
ago, Is susceptible of Improvement. While
somo organs arc crying out that Mr., Glove
land, whom ttpy did not holp TO elect, Is not
distributing tho offices 10 their liking the
president and Secretary Manning regard as
OF greater importance that thorough ''en-
animation OF the boo1sn about which thore
was good deal OF talk last year.
Tho president insists on wedding out OF tho
public service all incapable or dishonest
officials and all who have misused their OH
cial place and influence for partisan ends,
and he is putting into the places OF such por-
soma capable and honest democrats as quick
ly as he can satisfy himself OF tho character
and capacity OF those recommended 10 him.
But he doea not think reform stops with
that He requires a general tightening up
or tho administrative business
An order has been isaued 10 dlsburnlng Of
noers 10 turn all tho funds In their hands
into the nearest sub -treasuriea, and those are
TO report 10 the treasury department by tolo-
graph that those sums have been actually do
poaited. In this way Mr.. Manning oan
make himself reasonably sure that thoro arc
no hidden defalcations or cooking OF 40
counts; and he will thereafter open new 40
counts and advance money as II Ia required
for payment He 10 OF tho opinion
that much tho greater part Of
the payments OF disbursing officers can bo
more safely and economically made by
checks from the treasury department, and 10
10 probable that ho will endoavor 10 oatab-
liah systom OF this kind. II Ia possible that
he may need tho holp OF congress 10 accom-
pliAh this An examination OF tho manner
In which tho sinking fund has been managed
ehows that In somo years at least tho charges
have boon made, not only on what
tho government owed, but also on
somo parts OF its assets no that
tho amount 10 DO Sot apart according 20 law
has been calculated on basis considerably
too large Thus, aside from the old conton-
tlon that tho sinking fund has been largely
oVorpaid-about which Mr.. Manning has
not expressed any opinion as yot--it appears
that the ono per cent sot aside has been up-
on the gross debt without dcduoting tho froo
cash In tho treasury which has at times
amounted 10 what would have made largo
deduction.
Such Tightening up Of tho work OF tho
administration which Ia going on In all tho
departments Ia tedious and difficult work for
the D@' crats, who have 30 long boon un-
used T. administrative work. But ~ was
impoanible for tho Republicans under whose
management tho numerous abuses 10 DO
romediod had grown up, and who, II thoy
attempted reforms, had 10 strike down thoir
own friends on every hand. 30 long ago az
In December, 1875, whom tho Democrats for
the first time since 1891 had control OF tho
house OF representatives and determined on
rigid economy aud oKtlrpation OF abuses, the
lato Con. Garfield said 10 correspondents
~ am glad tho democrats have como In.
Thoro are great abuses which ought 10 bo
romodIod, Ono party has had full sway for
many years aud has boon oxtrayagant an
wnatoful OF tho public money. We can not
cure those evils, because too many OF our
own people arc concerned In thom We
should bc hitting our frionds all tho time,
and wo can not therefore, mako thoao ro-
forms and economies, which yet ought 10 bo
mado, Hence am glad tho democrats have
once moro control OF tho house aud tho np-
propratIons, Thoy can cut and slash with
out hurting thoir own aldo; and good deal
OF cutting IL noodedn
In connection with this general "tIghton-
Ing upn Of administrative matters, 10 Ia pos.
slblo tho proSiGont may suggest 10 congress
tho oxpcdloncy OF adopting bottor, because
moro easily understood, nyatom OF balancing
tho authorized expenditures aud appropria-
tlona with tho object OF avoiding such tar
lovioa upon tho people az for some years
woro made, aud which drew from thom m-
monho sums Of aurplus royonuo Over a
hundred millions por annum, during several
ycar OF taxoa, woro forced from tho poo.
ple's pockets moro than what was noodod for
tho most liberal sea 10 OF expenditures.
Tho plan which Ia undor consideration as
proper 10 be suggested 10 congrcss In tho In
forest OF economical government Ia that for
each OF the great, permanent aud necessary
branches OF expenditure oongroaa should sot
apart the revenues from certain named
sources, For example, taking tho estimates
FOR the current fiscal year m they worc pro-
psntcd 70 congross by Secretary Mccullooh
last year, and II 10 found that the
revenue from homo distilled spirits
and from imported vino aud spirits
niilces TO pay aud safely cover tho interest
on the public debt and tho regular pcnslons.
The legislative, executive and judicial or
pcnditures, those for foreign intercourse and
largo list OF miscellaneous but permanent
expenses are In liko manner covered by tho
tar on home and imported tobacco and
cigars, aud tho duty on silks and high grades
OF imported cotton goods, The coat OF tho
army and OF Notifications on a very liberal
scale for tho lattar 10 good deal moro
than covered by the revenue from cigars
The cost OF tho navy including now ships, Ia
covered by tho revenue from homo and i'm
ported fefmonted liquors and on imported
laoes Tho cost OF tho interior department,
including Indians but excluding pensions be-
fore provided for, OF any deficiency In tho
postoillce, aud OF tho District OF Columbia,
repaynionls Of customs and internal revenue
charges aud some other matters are covered
and other fecs and number OF miscellano-
Gus sources, all fairly constant aud 10 DO
found on tho treasury books,
In this way certain specific tares are found
30 cover certain specific and constant expen-
ditures, and 10 cover them safely, an Ia shown
by long experience. Thoro rcmain other
expenditures sinking fund, which has
been greatly overpaid, tho arrears Of pcn-
siona, Internal improvements, public build
inps aud subsidies OF various kinds For
those with the exception Of the first, con-
greas makes appropriations AZ each session
according 10 lts humor Sometimes 10 IL
sstrayagant, sometimes penurious. But
after the account above given 10 closed 10 has
still large mass Of customs duties 10 work
ON, aud Il would certainly be % very great
advantage II 10 should doal first and separ-
ately with The great, permanent and neces-
sary branches Of expenditure, got apart for
each corresponding aud sufficient branch
Of income or revenue, and having done this
and got II out OF the way then arrange tho
remaining tescs according TO tho eract
amount II chtsAss 10 appropriate under those
hssda, Tor wbitls the appropriations vary
greatly from year 10 year II ought OF
scurns .o do this on The sams system. ssttins