Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1837-12-28
SPECTATOR.
Report efMe Secretary ofthe Tyeos,,r,,

-, ne "fSs part OF the Annual Report o.
'"e secretary OF the Treasury is inserted
'o-aay, The remainder will be given TO.
morrow.
For the benci, of the general reader
who may not have time or rs.ience :,
waGe through the iuiifcate document
We propose condensation Of the more
important portions. To arrange and
condehse volumiuous paper filled with
details, Is at no time very pleasant un
dertaking-it is peculiarly irk.ome 10
clarity the muddy efusIous of the wool
gathering Intellect Of the First Lord of
the Treasury. L, has not been our for.
tune to peruse the writings of any man
VINO possessed, in so eminent a degree.
the provoking art Of using language TO
obiuscate his ideas His composition
does not partake of the amusing char
acter of Mrs, MaIsprop's, who was
in the habit of pressing words into
her sentences, that would get their
haoeas corpus from any court Of Christen-
dom; but he Seems TO take an i'll na,ured
pleasure IN so twisting and turning. and
Involving 81 accomplishing his phraseology
as TO put his meaning beyond the reach
oil the most grasping reader. Many pas.
sagts on first reading. you think you
indisiinctiv comprehend-rea them a.
gam. and YOU think your first i'm preston
was eIroneous--a third reading increases
your doub:s--a fourth provoAes vcu 10
denounce the author as a fuddled brain
fool
The present report ofthe profound fl
nancieer' though not SO full OF provoking
Passages of this character as some of his
previous documents. has yet enough TO
vindIcate its paternity and puzzle ,he
reader.
There was in the Treasury. on the LIST
day of January, 1887. 45, 969, 523-the
receipts during the year from all sources
% ,499. 93l which together make an
aggregate Of 60, 46S, 504.
OF this enormous sum. the Administra
ton, this economical Administration, has
expended $4,000, 000-being Il, 900
GOO more than the income.
This unparalleled extravaganza she sim
pie Secretary confesses, was induced, as
il was justified, by the OVERLOOKING
Treasury-now that the national fisc is
reduced to beggary, he says they will be
more economical.
Deducting the 81, 0OO, 900 for expenses
there should remain in the Treasury on
the LIST of January, 1893. 34.OU0 900.
But as i'll luck would have it. in conse-
qneuce Of the disastrous "Experiment"
ana other incfuou'Ui --">-.-e. -nslyr GOO =
600 OF this sum will be available on the
!st Of January. $4,000 900 of it are de-
posted with the States, and 3 800, 900
are in the Deposite Banks.
The receipts for the wear 1888 are
estimated at 81 ,959,7S7. The expendi-
ture at 81 S26. S92. Thus on the new
scale OF economy promised by the Secre-
tary. the expenditure will TALL below the
income about 3d. 900. In this aspect Of
the case the learned Secretary consider
ing the fluctuating condition of our
receipts and expenditures, very gravel,
doubts whether the receipts in 1898 will
exceed The expenditures. so as to produce
any surplus, which can be deposited
with the States for sale keeping on the
LIST of January, 1899, as required by The
| existing laws"
We notice in the list Of expenditures
for 1888. an item of lI.00O, 600 for
military service. This we suppose,
is the disgrac,fnI Florida war which is
to be continued throughout the coming
year.
The diminution Of exports and inn
ports shows the severe shock which trade
has received from the financial exper-
iments Of the party. The exports du-
ring The year amounted to II6, 900 600
| being about 81 900 900 less Than las,
year. This decrease the Secretary as,
cribes to the fall of cotton last spring.
| The imports were 10000 900 being
$4,000 600 less then last year,
During the last quarter ending the 3Oth
OF September, the imports were - mil
hons and the exports only 10 millions
This unexpected result has surprised thu
Secretary; but he thinks Notwithstanding
the millions which it shews againe, us
that iii consequence of Femiitances IL
stocks OF vaiious kinds, the foreign
debt so Tar from having increased within
The quarter has been lessened some mil
lions, but not to so great an extent a
most PERSONS have supposed"
10 the importation. or rather TO tn,
cause OF the importation, of 4l-2 r.ii
lions OF bread stutls within the wear. tn,
Secretary ascribes the most wonderfu
results. It has increased the cost O
bread alone to 100 900. $50, ne saws. an,
put an additional tax upon each ma,
Of 81.
We are informed, that the postpone
nent Of the 4th instaln.rpi has "sffofdg,
great F'iief to all concerned" This vii