The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-09-16
WHO'S TO BLAME.

Some of our Republican exchang-
es are attempting to prove that
the present condition of the u. s.
Treasury is the result of Demo-
cratic ascendency, but the weak
lings seemingly forget The facts of
current history.
They fail to remember that at
the end Of Mr. Cleveland's first
term the treasury surplus amount
ed to more than one hundred and
twenty-five millions of dollars, and
that the revenues were greatly in
excess of expenditures, so much so
that the Democrats favored q re-
duction of the taxes in order to
prevent the accumulation Of cash.
This demand of the democracy
was met by the protection howl
until the voters lost their heads
and elected Harrison president,
and with him a congress Repub-
lican in both branches.
No sooner was the new admis.
tration installed than active meas
ures were adopted to dissipate the
accommodations of Democratic
rule, and with Corporal Tanner at
the head of the pension depart.
ment the watch word was "God
help the surplus"
All that could be done by an ad.
ministration, unaided by congress,
to squander the money was done,
and when congress met in Decem-
ber 1889, it was with the avowed
purpose of so shaping the legisla.
tion as to prevent any future con-
gress to reduce taxation or inter.
fere with the tariff.
The Republicans had unchecked
control when making appropria-
tions for 1891 and 1892. The lead
ers admit that at the end of the
latter year the net cash balance in
the treasury had been reduced one
half. Whether the actual fact was
as favorable as that is open to
question. There had been juggling
with the figures in such a way as
to make the comparison with the
condition of the treasury at differ
ent ears somewhat difficult. 1t is
a notorious fact that claims against
the government in the closing
years of the late administration
were held back from payment to
make more favorable showing
for the treasury. Even employees
of the government had to wait for
their pay longer than sual, be-
cause the treasury did not honor
the drafts of the departments
promptly, or else they were with
held from presentation in accord
ance with an intImation that a lit
tie delay would be appreciated.
But the mischief done by the
first congress of President Harri
sons term was not confined to the
appropriations for the fiscal years
1891 and 1892. The pension bill and
other legislation of that congress
involved enormous expenditures
in the succeeding years, beyond
the power of another congress to
check. A profigate administration
of the trust confided by the legisla
ton swelled the expenditures be
yond the estimates made when the
laws were passed. The Democratic
house OF the next congress foun(
itself compelled, to make larger ap
preparations than its judgemen
approved, because to do otherwise
might impair faith in the pledge
of the government. But a Repub
llcan senate was not content Will
the appropriations reluctantly ap
proved by the Democratic hous'
and added very largely to thu
amount, and the bill thus increas
ed by the Republican senate wa!
signed by the Republican presi
dent.
i Until the end of the fiscal yea
now but just two months old tn
government will be running unde
scale of expenditures fixed TO
it by the late congress and admin
istration, both controlled by tn
Republicans. The laws unde
which the revenues are raise'
were passed by u congress abso