The Madisonian., 1840-01-01

group OF items, Tor forts lghl houses roads, halpotS,
dhu ilvers, some enlirrly new and the who'9 aus
menled from hlly thousand dollars 10 three ana TOUT
millions, have, several occasions, and To proper
extent, been considered prudent precau'iohs ~
national defence and useful aids 10 the extension auu
security OF commerce. Some expenses oi su"ii'i
magnitude may have swollen quitr as lAst a. 'nese J
| others with less rapdy; aud others still have been
| wholly creaed since 1897. Part of lhem.EaVe up
| parentiy becomt permanent charee ph VIC 'ea-
| sury, aud part undoubtedly may be- as otbelS nave
been properly discontinued. But, without lme now
10 90 INTO The consideration OF details as 10 any ex-
cepl those four enumerated classes, Il may De added
that these are, when united, nearly quadruple an me
oher ordinary expenditures; aud either o those
| four classes alone amounts yearly 10 sum ABOUT
| equal TO all The other ordinary expenditures, and
more than The whole Of every kind except he public
debt, each year, IRON 1853 10 1877
In the precise periods when the greatest increases
happened and the ratio Of them have not kept an uni-
idrn pace with the progress Of population and wealth
Ia many respects the had been nearly so great
durng the last ten or twenty years IN some previous
terms. Thus, the whole expenses Of the Government
IA lI93, wnh the exception before mentioned. were
about three millions yearly and IN 1915 altef ne lapse
oi quarter oil century, had increased, lhoogh 10
period OF peace, to fifteen millions Of dollars, or i've
iold while our population IN that period had ony doubled
But during tho next sixteen seventeen years, as III
1884 and 1888, the expenses had enlarged not twenty
hse per cent while her population had adsancedat least
sixty SIX per cent Durng the present year. though IN
/
lnovas considerably higher, they viii not exceed the
amount OF 1918 more than sixty per cent while our
population has increased pore hin eighty four per
cent. Again take the progitss IN the Ordinary civi
expenses which include those OF the Executive, Legs
iatlYs, and judicial departments, miscellaneous aud
foreign Intercourse all OF them united were but little
over hail nlion OF dollars IN 1913 whc m 1918
they had Increased TO nearly four mous or eight hun.
dred per cent. though our population had augmented
only one hundred per cent
But the date that class eIpenultures has
not enlarged forty per cen, haviog been not over hve
millions aud half ~ either lS37, 1888, or probably
1882 while our population has advanced eighty four
per cent or more than double that rate. All can thus
perceive where, when, and what, the greatest n-
creases have oceured--thc principal reasons, whether
sufficient otherwise assigned for several o them and
the ample opportunity which still exists for further re-
'renchmens, far the public interests supposed
by Congress TO require hem IN any or all oil heSe large
burdens on. the public Treasury.
As sohe encouragement for continued reduction IN
several OF them, without injury any OF the Important
establishments OF the country be observed THAT
portions OF these items OF expense, and several smaller
ones, must cease for With the temporary occasion
for them and others will not, when completed
qhre renewal soou II ever. Such numerous spc-
clal donations and grants durable pubic buildings OF
all Kinds, docks, Improvements al yards forts,
arsenas and arms, roads and hahors constructed OBJ
srucllons IN rivers removed the manufacture OF weights
aud measures, the survey Of the coast much OF the re-
moval OF the Indians, the exngulshment of Indian u
Hes and most of the existing pensions But unplea-
SAINT as IS the task Of reduction surely much better
than to expose he Treasury TO bankruptcy by connu-
ng TO make appropriations heyond the certain means
provided ur the payment of them, resort, PEE
nod oi peace, TO Inc spendhn and suicidal policy Of
etlecilng permanent loans defray ordinary cxpendl-
lures Pedce Is the time 10 rather than incur debts,
aud II would be wiser for any nation hoard dor
ing peace than 10 borrow largely. and thus encumber
s,lll more those energies aud resources which GRIP
IA sn llriy IN ia
cess
The preceding remarks applicable to ordinary
pendltures But for extraordinary ones, such WITHIN
few years past, The expensive removal Of the Creeks
aud Chelokees the Black Hawk aud Florida wars, while
equal canonmay well be exercised N deciding on their
necessity, yet, when thar aduitlcd less ohlec
or exists 10 temporary measures Tor rcei, like lred
sary notes or short loans, provided permanent IN
crease Of taxation Is not likely be required III the
end.
In voting for extraordinary charges, as well as in
sancnonlng, from sympathy justice, unexpected sp-
preparations towards large private CLAIMS and interesting
local oects 1t often happens that heavy payments
imposed on the Treasury for purposes not contemplated
N the ordinary estimates.
And The obvious propre,y OF generally making at the
same time some new provision Of means adequate to the
discharge Of such additional burdens, sometimes
fortunately overlooked But, when ac,ing on these or
other cases, Il Congress cunno consistently with It's
views Of duty to the country adopt the suggest
ed and restrict the amount OF appropriations, whether
ordinary extraordinary the CERTAIN current revenue,
the only remaining courses which deiensblc
these either to provide for recalling portions Of the
pubic money now deposited with the States, osta
bIish an adequate system OF direct taxation, at
resort 10 the contingent pow contemplated the K
lsng laws concerning the tariff when changes become
necessary for purposes Of revenue, and the duty
on several ARTICLES Of luxury free
On permanent safeguard under fluctuations in re-
ee'pis and expenditures
Much has at times been wisely done by Congress to
supply means 'or meeting unexpected dehcenclcs But
all legal provisions heretofore adopted for that purpose
haying expired our financial operations wlll be
y exposed to danger, unless permanent safeguard
under contingencies Is established
These circumstances must constitute apology for
once more explaining some OF the grounds favor Of
such measure aud earnestly asking speedy legislation
concerning t.
The prncpa sources Of our present revenue are SEN
slby effected by fluctuations not only il commercial
prosperity, but N the crops the banking policy and ere
dt systems q even foreign nations Inc influence Of
these causes seems TO become yearly more change
able and more uncertain IN its extent
Numerous Illustrations IN support OF these views have
been referred to IN former reports Some OF them
sudden and great falling of il the regular receipts
though during peace as the duties in 1916 from nine
millions ~ one quarter TO only three the next and
as the sales Of public lands, from twenty four millions
~ 1886 or an amount half OF all received III the
previous iofty years less thau three millions IN 1898
but the returns from the districts States during
the as, two years present additional facts equally snk-
ing on this subject
10 Michigan, for instance, the sales Of public lands
IN 1856 exceeded 1--we millions of dollars. They fell
~ 1888 TO 2Sl and in Mssi>. ipp where in
| 1885 and 1886 they exceeded three millions each
year they fell IN 1885 10 only $96 CSC As before
lniimaed, portion OF such extraordinary huctua-
tons results from the vacllating character OF the
sources from which our revenue is derived But
most ol them are evils inseparabe from the periodi
cal conraclions and expansions incident 10 the pre-
sent defective system of banking in a country so