Year: 1869




The Fortieth Congress has but two months
more existence, and looking at it's past history
and at the vast budget of jobs before 1t and
those in process Of incubation, we fear the
Treasury and the taxpayers will be made to
sweat before it expires. The railroad, tariff,
bondholders, bank and numerous other rings
are preparing for grand onslaught upon Con-
gress and the Treasury. Since the war COM
menced tens and hundreds of millions have
been appropriated and squandered in the
most reckless manner. Even in the fourth year
of peace the expenditures of the government
have been kept up to an ordinary war figure
Congress has been so accustomed to lavishly
appropriate vast sums for everything that it
seems incapable Of understanding the word
economy or of returning to anything like the
economical expenditure of former times. In
fact 1t has become utterly demoralized in the
matter rofexpenditure. Without reckoning the in
terest on the public debt the sums appropriated
for the current expenses of government amount
to four times what was expended nine years
ago. Does any one believe this is necessary?
Do we not all know that this is most reckless
and monstrous extravaganza The rings and
the lobby, which are bent upon thrusting their
hands deep into the Treasury, know by expert
ence how demoralized Congress is, and will
make hay while the sun shines. We may expect,
therefore, at the heel of the session, amidst the
the confusion of business, rush of bills for all
sorts of jobs and under every conceivable dis
guise. All the buncombe speeches about
economy amount to nothing, and will be used,
probably, to deceive the people while MEM
bers and the rings are putting through their
plundering schemes.


There may be some few broad national pro-
jects for which government aid may be lent,
but it should and can be done in such way as
not to be a burden on the Treasury. The Pa
cific Railroad was one of them. Every citizen
is interested in the great work The whole
country will be commonly benefited. But that
is no reason why the numerous other railroad
schemes now before Congress should be con-
structed by government aid. Nor is there any
reason why the government should not take the
most stringent measures to have the aid
Z
great work may be mentioned, perhaps, as
justifying similar aid under proper security
for repayment-that is o telegraph line to con-
meet Asia with and America. The vast and
rich trade of China and Asia generally could
be turned to and across this Continent by that
means. In fact, such telegraphic communi-
cation is necessary as complement to the
Pacific Railroad and our steam navigation
across the Pacific Ocean. The advantages to
this country and to every citizen in it would be
incalculable. Besides these two great works
there is hardly anything else to which Con-
gress should lend its aid in the present
state of the finances and of the coun-
try. The numerous bills for railroads and other
local jobs ought to be unceremoniously
kicked out. Rstrenchment and economy in
every department of government should be
demanded, and the current expenses ought to
be cut down fully one-half before the Fortieth
Congress expires. Should Congress be dis
posed to continue its reckless extravagancs
and rush the jobs through which are before it
at the heel of the session, Mr.. johnson could
not end his Presidential term with more glory
than to put his foot down on such legislation.
Knowing that General Grant is for reform, the
rings will make extraordinary efforts this ses-
sion, and therefore it behooves the present
Executive to watch and Illustrate their schemes
as far as he has the power. It is to be hoped
there may be better state of things under the
new administration and new Congress.