Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1886-07-10
cLEvELAND's ECONOMY.
What the Democratic Administration Has
Done Towards Rstrenehment and
Reform.

over the mOney Dlllb WHICH pTOVlue LOT
running the government during the
next fiscal year. The subject sounds
like a dry one, but the congressional
debates have not been dull. Appropri-
ationsbills. always provoke much disa-
greement and afford an opportunity for
discussing the comparative extrava-
gance and economy of the two parties.
The nations balance sheet has just
been drawn up again. The govern
ment's book-keepers have footed up
their accounts for the fiscal year that
camet to an end on June 30th., and the
figures are even more satisfactory than
could have been expected. The receipts
exceeded the expenditures by 800, 52S, =
SAG. The receipts and expenditures for
the fiscal year compared with the last
preceding one, shows an increase of
revenue Of about S14, 100000. Customs
receipts are some 81, 100000 better,
internal revenue "a, 100000 and miscel-
laneous some s., 100000. The ordinary
expenses are s22, 4oO, 900 less than last
year, interest is nearly 81 100000 less
and pensions are S., 100000.
Yes, during the year just closed the
pension Office issued 81, 422 pension GER
tifcates, larger number by 6,721 than
ever were issued in any previous year,
And when it is remembered that this
immense work has been performed
with force Of clerks less by over 100
than for the three previous, there seems
to be sufficient reason for congratulating
the present commissioner OF pensions,
Gen. Black, upon retrenchment in his
office.
At a recent Cabinet meeting the
question of how many telephones were
in use at the several executive depart
ments of the government in this city
came up. The president asked each OF
his secretaries how many the depart
ment over which he presided used. The
Attorney General said two, Secretary
Lamar gave what he thought was his
number, and SO on around. They made
up about fifty altogether. The presi-
dent asked them to lock into the mat
ter and report at the next meeting.
They did and Attorney General Garland
was the only one who had made a cor
rect return. The total was one hun
dred and fifty. The average cost OF
each telephone-because the depart
ments has number Of special wires, is
500 year.
Thus for telephone service for the
departments in this city alone the gov
eminent pays nearly $4,000 year.
This was thought to be to high by the
Cabinet officers and retrenchment in
this line has begun. Fifteen telephones
have already been taken out of the
treasury department, leaving only one
on each floor.
The salaries of government clerks
come out Of the legislative, executiv
and judicial appropriation bill. The
failure of congress to pass it by the close
Of the old fiscal year caused an annual
outlook for the new. The departments
opened on trust July 1st., it being
against the law to make any contract.
for services in access OF appropriations
80 you are without pay" was the re
mark made to government clerk
that must be uncomfortable" He
showed no anxiety on the subjet how
ever. Said he. 'the pay OF members
of congress is provided for in this APP.
preparation bill just the same as mine
is. So you see am all right Every
congressman will see that / am provid
ed for in time"
1t was Senator Riddleberger who in
troduced the bill to reduce the salarie:
of Congressman and certain high Off
Gals twenty-five per cent. This re
minds me of the difficulty to get goot
business men to take the responsible
places in the departments. There is ne
trouble at all to get mere politicians
for these places, but it has been the
Presidents idea to get good business
men. Such men come here occasion
ally tempted by the allurement OF Office
although they eau do much better il
private life. For instance, the U, S
Treasurer, Mr.. Jordan, has standing
ofice in private life OF exactly double
what he receives in his official position
He is considered, by the way, the ables
treasurer that has filled that Office since
it was first created.
Secretary Lamar recently asked
wealthy business man to hunt him VI
a,gQod business man for chief clerk O
the Interior Department How mucl
can yon pay such man? inquired, tin
capitalist, who, himself, employees abou
four hundred men. Twenty-Five hun