New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-22
RrTRENCUWENT SISTEM.

Altogether the most comprehensive as well
as most original plan Of retrenchment ana re-
form In National expenditures that mas !e' peeh
offered is that proposed by congressman "aiheA'
of Tennessee IL a bill introduced in the House
ON Thursday The title Of the bill is AN Act
ITO reoreanize departments. to Abolish uhheces
"sory bureaus to reduce salaries ana expenses
ITO reform the pension list and 10 regulate our
system of internal improvements. THIS WORK
is TO he done by commission OF hve men, I'D
liz apponted by the President. consisting OF one
Republican. one Democrat one Populis'. one
Labor party man and one Single TaXer ihey
arc tn receive $40 a day and expenses ana are
authorized TO employ all the clerical assistance
necessary and in the pursuit of their investlSa-
,ons 10 travel all over the country. Now, what
n clever thing that is. And what Il wonder II Is
that nobody ever thought Of it before. IL does
away with so many obstacles in the pain OF
retrenchment and reform that no one before the
advent Of Mr. Gaines had discovered any way
70 overcome 1t opens up to Congress Strug-
cling bplDlessly against expenditures OF IFS own
ordering n neat and perfectly practicable way
Of answering objections that may be raised
AGAINST It's own extravaganza and the proIuse-
ness Of it's appropriations
The first obvious objection to II that arises N
tho mind of the thoughtful citizen is that only
fvn Of the great political parties are represented
in tho commission when there might he M least
6ra hundred. II all the political parties that
boye sprunc into existence during the last few
roors wore to bc represented on the commits
sion II might not result IL an immediate re-
trcnchn,ont in National expenditures. but II
world he 4 great boon to the unemployed, ana
that of itself would reduce the distress oc-
cosoncd by National extravaganza. In conse'
opcnce there would be less complaint. and the
Government would run much more smoothly.
U-ho. Mr. Gaines aims Mt I'm This bill. though
os,ensibly extravaganza in expenditure. is not
sn mich to reduce the expenditure as IN rcdCop
the number Of patriots who complain Of II. Ana
the eoslost way to do that is 10 set the com
painants nj work at salary of $40 day and
| cxnonses 10 discover Just where the trouble is.
ard. with the assistance of clerical force which
would also be n boon to the unemployed point
or, tho remedy. a commission of walking dele
c,tos reprcson,ing all the political parties and
| MI tho organizations which interest themselves
| IN tho subject Of government ard pass frequent
impassioned resolutions on the subject. would
| 90 far 10 settle matters on definite and salts
| factory basis
They might not actually reduce the eXpendi'
| tures Of the Government. hut they would hlVf
such n rafting good time going round The conn
fry with n rct.nEc Of clerks. drawing $40 day
| and expenses. that everybody would feel better
| from simply looking at them. even II 'ohg't s.
kept right on MAXIM appropriations IN excess
| Of tho revenue and The country was viSibly rush
| ing into bankruptcy. BY all means let MS have
| such n commission Only let II be greatly en-
! Urged Enlarged 80 as 10 include, II not every
| body who is alarmed ut the cxtravngancc IF cur
rem; expenditures. at least everybody who has
been worked up into the mood OF Indignation
| about 1t and has vocabulary sufficiently ample
| TO express his emotions and arrest attention.
! Congress will do well to consider The Gaines bill