The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-02-11
ECONOMY Promised, But Not Praoticed

Economy Promised, But Not Practiced.
There is no good reason to doubt that
by rigid economy the revenues Of the gov
eminent. under the Wilson bill as it
passed the House, could be made TO meet
its necessary expenditures even if the in
come feature of the bill were abandoned.
The reason why the revenues are so small
now is the uncertainty as to what the
tariff on imported articles is to be.
Millions of dollars annually are wasted
by the enactment of laws calling for ap-
preparation, for which there is no general
demand, and by the employment of men
and women for whose services there is no
actual need. The departments at Wash
ington contain hundreds of employees who
could be discharged without serious loss
to the public service, and there is not a Gus
tom house, pension Office, internal revenue
office, or, in the cities, postoifice, where
business could not be conducted at two
thirds its present expense. That
this statement is true is APP
parent to any one who has
had an opportunity to know the amount
of work done by government employees,
and who is aware how large the number
of employees is who do practically no work
at all.
But, it may be asked, why is it that
congress does not investigate the different
departments of the government with the
view of finding out whether there are not
a great many more employees than are
needed 1t would be a difficult matter to
name committee of congressman who
would recommend a reduction in the
number of employees in any one of the
departments. Notwithstanding the
fact that senator's and represent
atives, when seeking election, promise to
use all their influence for an economical
administration of the government, seldom
or never does any one of them even
suggest that it would be possible to effect
a great saving to the government
by reducing the number of employees.
Nearly any congressman can be depended
upon to vote for any measure providing
for the additional expenditures of money,
but they manage to find some excuse for
not voting for measures looking towards
economy.
Congressman talk of reform and en-
deavor to impress upon their constitu-
ents that they are striving with all their
might to cut down the expenses of the
government, but they don't legislate as
they talk. They haven't the courage to
do so. Nearly all of them have relatives
or friends or those to whom they are
under obligations in the government ser
vice, and they are afraid that if they
should endeavor to have the number of
the employees reduced those in whom
they are interested might lose their
places.
These statesmen who are so courageous
in making promises in behalf of economy
before they are elected, and who talk sg-
gressively about the necessity for econ
omy after they are elected, become re-
markedly timid when they become firmly
fixed in their positions. They will vote
for pension bill because they think by
doing so they will increase their chances
for reelection, but they will not vote
to suspend pensions alleged to have been
illegally granted. They will vote to es-
tablish a new department or a new bu-
reau necessitating the employment of ad-
ditional clerks, but they will not vote to
reduce the number of employees.
When they have reached the places
they have begged from the people, they
forget the peoples interests and work to
advance their own political fortunes.
1t is regrettable fact that promises of
economy made in party platforms and on
the stump amount to nothing. And it is
strange that those who forget their
promises are returned to congress year
after year. The people are too busy max
ing a living, to scan closely the public
records of their representatives.
1t is true the democrats are showing
disposition to economic but they don't
go at the work of retrenchment in that
vigorous and earnest manner which is
necessary to success. They know where
millions of dollars could be saved to the
government, but they do not act upon
their knowledge. They haven't the cour-
age to do so.