The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1892-04-22
Stewart REPLIES.

Stewart Replies.
+ The following appeared in the Rem
Vile Star. Mr.. Stewart floors John:
WASHINGTON, D. C. Mar. %, 1892.
A. E. KINN1E ESQ.,, Renville.
DEAR SIR:-In answer to your fa-
vor stating that a certain Mr.. A. D.
Stewart charges that the last con-
gress appropriated money to the city
of New York for a park etc., let me
say the whole thing is a fabrication.
No money was appropriated to the
city of New York for any purpose in
the last congress. Yours truly,
JOHN LIND.
EDITOR GREAT WEST:
l quote the following from the
North American Review, November
number 1890, to sustain my
charges that the Fifty-frst congress
was the most extravagant in expen-
ditures ever convened.
It will be noted that the only mis-
take made was in the location of
the city which received the magnif-
cent gift. This very much regret.
The magazine which contains this in
formation was loaned to a friend
months before and I made the state
ment from memory.
What tried to impress upon my
audience, was the lavish hand with
which our billion dollar Congress
gave away the peoples money, and all
who read will agree that l am we'll
supported by the testimony of Mr..
Clements in his excellent article en-
titled. "What Congress has Done"
Mr.. Clements says: The first ses-
session OF the Fifty-frst Congress
was the longest but one, and the
most extravaganza in expenditures
ever convened. The appropriations
which it made, including indefinite
sums estimated at $4,000, 900, ag-
gregate in round number $465, 5OO,-
900, being SIS, 100000 in excess of
the estimated revenues and more
than 100000 in excess of the ap-
preparations made during the preced-
ing session. That this enormous in
crease of $7O,OOO,OOO in the draft
upon the people for public expendi-
lures is extravaganza and unwarrant-
able is conclusively shown by the
citation of a few of the many items
that go to make it up.
The sum of 81 200, OOOis appropri-
ated for public park and pleasure
ground in the fashionable suburbs of
Washington city. Nearly, if not
more than 1900 new Offices were
specially created, with salaries aggre-
eating about 81 100000 and certain
general appropriations, used wholly
in the securing of personal services in
the discretion of executive officers,
we're increased 81, 347,OOO. Among
the former are three assistant secre-
taries at "a, 500 each, one each for
the War, Navy an Treasury depart
ments. The first two cannot be justi-
fed in this time of profound peace in
connection with an army and navy
that have not been increased in
numerical strength in sixteen years.
If there ever existed any necessity for
the last, it was relieved by the pas
sage OF the act creating nine general
appraisers OF customs, with q salary
OF 900 to whom was transferred
the greater part OF the principal la
bors heretofore incumbent upon the
head of the Treasury Department
and his two assistants. The large
and extravagantly paid force of Off
Gals connected with the Senate was
also increased thirty-seven in num-
Der, presumably in part to maintain
the increasing dignity of that body
because of the advent of four sena-
tors from the new states of Idaho and
Wyoming, admitted by this Congress,
with an aggregate combined popula-
ton of less than $4,000.
The salaries of about LOO exist
ing officers were increased in aggre-
gate more than $4,000. Among
others, the salary of the head of the
Land Office is increased 25 per cent
over what had been acceptable to his
distinguished predecessors. In the
Patent Office thirty of the highest
salaried officials participate in the
general raid of the treasury. These
increases have been made in the face
OF the facts elected before the COM
mittee on appropriations, and pre-
sented to the House, showing that
from 10 to 25 per cent of the en-
ployes in the departmental service
at Washington are below a fair
standard of efficiency.
A. D. STEWART.
THE above only applies, be it re-
membered, to the LIST session of that
billion dollar congress!-ED. G. WI
Secretary Stromberg's Report.
FOREST LAKE, April Is, '92.
EDITOR GREAT WEST:
Cash receipts from local alliances
for the week ending to-day:
All;onoo M- Hoo