The Illinois free trader. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1840-1841, 1841-01-01
he occurrence of extraordinary causes of


expenditures.
But to accomplish so desirable an object
two things are Indispensable: first, that the
action of the federal government be KEEP,
within the boundaries prescribed by It's
founders; and secondly. that all appropri-
atoms for objects admitted 10 be constitu-
tional, and the expenditure of them also,
be subjected to standard of rigid, but
well-considered and practical economy
The first depends chiefly on the people
themselves, the opinions they form of the
true construction of the constitution, and
the confidence they repose in the political
sentiments of those they select as their
representatives in the federal legislature !;
the second rests upon the fidelity with
which theirmore immediate representatives
and other public funciionares discharge
the trusts committed TO them. The duty of
economizing the expense of the public
service is admitted on all hands, yet there
are few subjects upon which there exists
a wider difference of opinion than is con-
stantly manifested in regard to the fidelity
with which that duty is discharged. Nei-
ther diversity of sentiment, nor even mu-
tual recriminatlons, upon point, in re-
spect TO which the public mind is so
Justly sensitive, can well be entirely
avoided and least so, at periods of great
political excitement. An intelligent peo-
| MIA hn col,lnn, fail 10 -,
the end, al correct conclusions in such a
matter. Practical economy in the ma
nagcment of public affairs can have no adj
verse influence to contend with more
powerful than large surplus revenue
and the unusually large appropriations for
1897, may, without doubt, independently
of the extraordinary acquisitions for the
public service growing out of the state Of
our Indian relations, be in no inconsider-
able degree traced to this source. The
sudden and rapid distribution of the large
surplus then in the treasury, and the equal
ly sudden and unprecedenty severe revul-
sion in the commerce and business of the
country, pointing with unerrng certainty
to a great and protracted reduction of the
revenue, strengthened the propriety of the
earliest practicable reduction of the public
expenditures.
But to change a system operating up
on so large a surface, and applicable to
such numerous and diversified interests
and objects, was more than the work Of a
day. The attention of every department
Of the government was Immediately and
in good faith, directed to that end (; and
has been so continued to the present mo-
ment The estimates and appropriations
for the year 1898, (the first over which |
had any control were somewhat dimi-
nished. The expenditures of $50 were
reduced six millions of dollars. Those OF
1910, exclusive of disbursements for pub
lie debt and trust claims, will probably not
exceed twenty-five and half millions ;
being between two and three millions less
than those Of the proceeding year, and
nine or ten millions less than those of
1897. Nor has it been found necessary,
in order to produce this result, to resort
to the power conferred by congress, Of
postponing certain classes of the public
works, except by DIFFERING expendi.
lures for short period upon limited
portion OF them: and which postpone
ment terminated some time since, at the
moment the treasury department, by fur
Their receipts from the indebted banks, be.
came fully assured Of its ability 10 NEE
them without prejudice to public service
in other respects. Causes are in opera
ton which will, it is believed, Justify ;
still further reduction, without injury tC
any important national interest. The eX'
penses of sustaining the troops employed
in Florida have been gradually and great
} ~ reduced through the perseyering efforts
Of the war department and reasonable
hope may be entertained that the necess
e ty for military operations in that quarter
t will soon cease. The removal of the In
dams from within our settled borders Is
, nearly completed. The pension list, one
p of the heaviest charges upon the treasury
Q is rapidly diminishing by death. Tho
= most costly of our public buildings are eli
: Their finished, or nearly so, and sc may
1 I think safely promise ourselves a contln
= ued exemption from border difficulties.
0 The available balance in the treasury OF
C the first of January next, is estimated a
S one million and half of dollars. Thu
e sum, with the expected receipts from al
: sources during the next year, will, it i
. believed, be sufficient to enable the govern
c ment to meet every engagement and leay
# a suitable balance in the treasury at the en-
/. ofthe year, if the remedial measures con
If npcted with the customs and the publi