Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-03-27
The Appropriations.
YnlleY Xirpinian.


The aggregate of appropriations by the
last Congress was greater than that OF
any previous Congress, for the reason that
the needs of the country are greater
T6ere has been no wasteiul or unnecessary
sums appropriated, aud certainly Vir-
gInia ought not tn complain, for very
liberal allowance has been made to this
State both in the river and harbor bill
and in other ways We have never had
so many items inserted in appropriation
bills for the State before. Stanton gets
So 600 for public building and Sll ,OC0
for road to the Federal cemetery, both
of which were refused by Democratic
Congress. Roanoke gets SIS 600 for a
public building. Lynchburg and Norfolk
are both favored with appropriations for
pablo buildings, while our rivers and
harbors have been literally provided for.
The large pension list, while it may
look extravagant and unnecessary TO
some, is a natural result of the struggle
tor the life of the nation. The war be-
tween the States was the product OF
causes beyond the power of man to con-
troll, probably, yet its demands and
emergencies had TO be met on the part OF
the government, and it is natural that
the soldiers should be remembered tor the
part they performed in preserving the
Union. Certainly the South ought not
TO regret the result. 1t was her enamel
patton, as we'll as the triumph of the
North. Whether we object or not, the
policy of pensioning soldiers will be en-
dorsed by majority of the people of the
country, and it would not be wise poll
tics for any party TO assail or confront
I this conviction. The money, too, had
better be with the people than locked up
in the treasury. 1t will perform it's
legitimate mission as circulating me-
dunn in the one way and in the other it
would only be a temptation that might
have in it danger. The large sums as
signed for a navy and coast defenses are
IN the line of wise national precautions
and ut he same time they bear upon the
material development of the country, as
all the articles which may be used In the
work Of building up respectable navy
are to be of American products and from
American labor. No provision was made
for this important and essential expend-
ture of revenue blythe Democratic Con-
gress which preceded, and this Republican
Congress had toprove true to tho country,
by taking the responsibility, as it always
has done, of passing laws and appropri-
ating moneys for the necessities OF goy-
eminent, present and prospective.
One important item, which largely
adds to the sum OF the appropriations
was rendered imperative by Democratic
neglect or party design. That is over 80 =
600, 900 caused by DEFICIENCIES IN the APP
proDriatIons of the preceding Congress-
Instead of meeting the demands of the
government, as was their dnty, they cut
down the appropriations below actual
necessities, to have the appearance Of
economy, leaving the succeeding Con-
gress to provide for them. This the next
Congress had to do-simply paying the
debts of the government, which the
Democrats failed to do.
While the appropriations are large the
fact remains that the revenues have been
reduced about 500, 900 by the provisions
of the Mckinley tariff, and to that degree
relief afforded to the people. And almost
every article that the farmer uses has
been reduced IN price while every thing
he sells has been enhanced in salea6le
value. No one feels the Federal tax,
however, and but foI demagogues the
great mass of the people would not know
That they ever paid dollar to support
the Government. 1t is collected through
the custom house and the Internal reve-
nue. machinery, without the Intervention
of tax ticket or tax collector, so far
as the great mass Of the people are con
cerned. But this will not prevent bHiied
and defeated Democratic politicians, eager
for power and the spolls of office, from
deciaiming about oppressive Federal
taxes, the wrongs of the dear people and
the ruin that is impending Intelligent
men will measure this kind Of blather
for what it is worth. The Republicans
have managed, through the enactment OF
Wise laws, to provide a surplus without
its being felt, and they will be equally
able to provide for deficiency should
the necessity arise, Of which there is no
danger. The Democrats have been equal
to neither.