Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-23
RUIN0US EXTRAVAGANCE.
While DenOuncing the Last Congress,
BE Hedges on the Next,
WHOSE POSSIBLE EXPENDITURES
lie Is Seeking to Apologize for Thus Early
in the Season.
lilly INFORMED ON DEPARTMENT WORK
rrRou A STAFF CORRESPONDENCE


WASHINGTON. March pa good deal
of amusement il excited by communica-
ton 70 the press by Senator CockreIl, OF
Missouri, upon the subject of appropria-
tions. Cockrell is one of the most fanatical
members of the Senate on the question OF
economy. he always proceeds on the theory
that economy is to hoard the public money
Instead of expending it Tor great projects
conducive to the general benefit. During
the last Congress the Senator had his hands
constantly upliIted toward the zenith, a ia
vorite posture of more than one Senator, in
holy horror at the extravaganza OF the Re
publcans, not day passing that the Sena-
tor did not ring into a speech upon any and
and all subjects a Genunciatlon of the reck-
and ruinous extravaganza Of the party of
the majority in Congress.
Directly contrary to his Congressional ut
terances, the communication published to-
day hedges" in the most amusing manner
against the possible appropriations of the
next Congress. with its enormous Demo-
cratic majority in The House, exceeding the
unparalleled appropriation in this presenter
IrdNagdnI l6IuDllCdn congress
An Excess of S17O,OOO,Ooo.
Mr Cockrell asserts that the appropria-
tons OF the Fifty first Congress exceed those
o the Fiftieth to the amount Of SlT0, 600, ,000.
But of this he admits S1l3, 600 600 is de-
voted TO pensions, and tha: possibly even
this enormous sum viii be insufficient to
uav what viii be due under the law. With
this exception, the Senator declares that no
important approximation of the Fiity-frSt
exceeds to an important degree the appro-
prlation ior a similar purpose of the pre-
viOuy Congress, and that the useless appro-
priations are ccnfned to a number OF the
small and comparatively insignificant ap-
propriatiOns.
Looking carefully over the work of the
last Congress and into the possible demands
Of the next. Senator Cockrell is forced to
the conclusion that the appropriations of the
coming one will necessarily be as large, and
possibly even larger, than those of the one
Just ended, which is q very extraordinary
conclusion for a great Senator, whose stock
in trade iu the las: Congress was denuncia-
ton OF extravagant, dishonest and unneces-
sary appropriations
An Depends the Tariff
Senator Cockreli saws: "On account of the
laws enacted and continuing in full force,
do not see how any very great reductions
from the appropriations of the Fifty-first
Congress can be made. Whether the rev.
enue of the Government viii be increased or
diminished by the tariff law Of October,
1890 remains 10 be determined. Until the
business of the country settles down under
the new tariff law to something like steady
basis, no reasonable estimate OF revenue can |
be made. At the same time it is impossible |
to predict with any degree of certainty, how
much money will be required for the needs
OF the Government.
"All predictions, therefore, as TO the ap-
rropriations to be made bv the next Con-
Cress are of comparatively little value at
Tins time 1t is certain that the House of
Representatives, with its large Democratic |
majority Will refuse TO consent to the waste |
ful or eXtravagant expenditure OF money.
But 10 one can make at this time fair
comparison between the aggregate appro-
priations, winch may be required to be made
during the Fiftv-second Congress, and those
made during the Fifty-frst Congress. The |
work of many of toe departments of the
Government is so Tar in arrears that there is
no means of ascertaining its status with |
certainty.
Advocating Business Methods.
This should not be. l believe that it |
would be economy in the end for the Gov |
errment 10 bring the business of its depart |
ments up to date in the shortest possible |
space of time. This could he done without |
any additional expenditure, ] am quite con-
fdeut. There is no reason why the business |
OF the Government should not be conducted /
like the business OF any great commercial
establishment, and each years work OF
the departments be completed within that
year"
The concluding paragraph shows that the
Senator is not thoroughly Informed in re-
gard 10 the machinery OF the various depart
ments. In many instances the very nature
o the work precludes Its conclusion. The
suuaring OF accounts within the fiscal year
IN three fourths OF the offices is impossible,
as the clerical force is insufficient either
from lack OF numbers or inefliency. Not
withstanding the civil service law obstruc-
tiou, congressman are so besieged by con-
stituents for Government Positions that by
Que means or another they get in great
number Of merely political favorites, who,
feeling that they are put there by political
influence believe the same power will keep
them there, and therefore their work is
meager, and Indifferent
Clerical Forces Too Small.
Chiefs Of divisions and others outside the
classified service are almost invariably OF
this manner Of appointment, and Mr.. Cock
rell was as efficient in Influence" in this
direction as anv Democrat in the country
during the Cleveland administration. But
ia many cases the Government bureaus are
short OF a clerical force, which, though indi-
vidually efficient by no possibility
keen up with the current work. Only a
sufficient number can De secured to do the
work by every one working every day. full
time, and no allowances being made for
sickness, necessary absence, or absence on
the 30 days annual vacation allowed to all
clerks of the classified service.
Frantic appeals have been made year
after wear by heads of bureaus both under
Democratic and Republican administrations,
Tor an increase of force in nearly all of the
bureaus, vet the demand mas been met bv
Congress with a refusal in nearly every
instance. though the work of the bureau
NAV have been doubled on account of the
growth OF the country and incidentally:of
the Government business. Consequently
the public accounts are greatly behind in
many of the bureaus, and yet Mr.. Cockrell
seems to believe it can be kept up without
of expense. LIGHTNER,
A SENSATION BREWING,