The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-08-19
Pretended Raorn1


About two months ago Representative Nc
Comas made good speech. In wlich.iie fore
told the extent of the estimated APPROXIMATIONS
and gave figures to show th3t the reforms rre-
tended were mere makeshfts. aud that the
true figures would show TINT Democratic re-
form was accomplishing nothing The speech
was widely copied. Finally several ~ ti,a
Democratic papers took it MP and tried 10 1nal-a
Mr.. McCo.nas' figures out rs INCORRECT. mr.
McComas managed to &c; his report IN, and til,
Record contains the following Interesting re-
view of Democratic retrencilment and reform.
Mr.. McComas said
''In the closing hours OF this session do not
wish to make g. speech. but desire to make a
brief review OF the failure of retfenchment
and reform under the Democratic President
and House of Representatives.. Two months
ago reminded this House and the country
that the estimated revenues for 1887 were $3io,-
000,0O0, and the estimated postal revenues for
1887 were $i7,5i2, 252 L then predicted that the
total appropriations by this Congress for 1887,
together with the permanent annual, would
exceed S3S4, $50, 332.62. | therefore predicted q
deficit of So, 600 900 between acknowledgements
Tor 1887 and the actual appropriations for 1857.
Ihe estimated revenues were the only official
statement which no one could controvert. Bpt
gentlemen on this floor promptly corrected my
prediction that the permanent annual appfo-
pr1atiens, as Increased by the regular annual
appropriations of this Congress, would exceed
$685., 1850, 33262. The Post, of this city, the New
York Stdr the reputed organ of the admins
tration, and other Democratic papers declared
that l had over-stated the amount at least one
hundred and sixty eight millions. Somebody
had made gross blunder. l did not blunder.
now reiterate my statement, that the total
appropriations for 1887 will exceed S3S $50 S32 62.
The table append to my remarks shows that
the regular annual appropriations which have
passed both houses for 1887 aggregate 1864 1885,
So The total permanent annual appropria-
lions, as reported by the Treasury for 1887, are
Sl1s,9l0.955; therefore, the total actual appro-
prations for 1887 are 1888 69i 53I59 If the for
tfffcltiOn bill had pnSSed. from To six
millions would have been added to this total.
Thus my. prediction has been verified. 1t was
a remarkably acurate forecast of the antici-
pated extravaganza OF the party now Ill power.
The permanent annual appropriations include
the sinking fund, the interest on the public
debt, and expenses of the customs service,
which are regulated by permanent law. 1t has
the regular annual appropriations which 1ndL,
temperature of Democratic retrenchment and
reform: The total of regular annual appropfi-
ations for 1884 1921 1888 SO, Tor 1885 WAS
1885, 5SS co. for 1886 was s2l9 sos S3 49, and for
1887 is S264, 1888 579. &c. But, enormous as is the
increase of appropriations for 1887, 1t falls fer
administration. The heads of departments,
united, estimate that their needs for 1887 are
mates that next winter we may find huge de-
fciencies in nearly every department. The
same warning we now have in the enormous
deficiency bills for 1887 aggregating Sl9950,-
$685. Keeping pace with these extraVagant
estimates OF the departments and with these
lavish appropriations, we find an increase OF
officers and salaries.
"The present Congress met when there was
strong public sentiment in favor of prompt
and liberal outlay for the defence of our sea-
| ports, a sentiment admirably expressed by the
| letter of Mr.. Tilden, the DISTINGUISHED citizen
who has just passed away. Congress already
had a remarkable mass of Information to guide
1t In legislation 1t had. in the first place the
very elaborate report of the gun foundry board,
representing years of the labor of experts. It
had the reports of the House select commits
sion on ordinance and gunnery, sometimes
called the public defence commission, and the
GOD1miftpR Ordinance and
War Ships. both representing months of labor
in taking testimony and in visiting foundries
and navy yards. by. some of the ablest men IN
Congress. 1t had the very elaborate report OF
the board on Notifications and other defences.
Finally, on the subject OF heavy guns and
harbor-defence batteries it had the importa tar
haps there never has been in Congress such q
collect ion-not only of documentary evidence
to the needs of our coast defence, but so spe-
cifc O. statement of the precise method of be-
ginning the work. and the exact appropriations
required. But more remarkable still, If posi-
BILE, has been the substantial unaninlity of
these reports in describing the foundation
work needed for providing heavy guns and I'M
pregnable forts.
.sThe Senate wanted to begin at once the
House did not. 1t interposed bill which was
a cruel disappointment to the country.. 1t
would have been more frank to appropriate in
lieu of the House bill petty sum for the pur-
chase of lawn-grass seed, climbing ivy and roof
moss to make more pleasing to the eye. of
mantling and defenseless Notifications.
1.-THE President laboriously vetoes few In
dividual pension bills, but promptly seconds
the muItftudinous efforts of this House to pass
huge River and HarbOr bill. He has just
signed it. These things consume much time,
out fertilization bill. Come, let us go home,
that the people may consider these thin
Mr. McComas submitted with his speech a
number of carefully prepared tables, showing
the history of fourteen regular appropriation
bills in 1856 and 'S7; also. the date when sub
mitted to and passed by boSh House a nd Sen