The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-02-11
sllsooo
100000
10000
10000
$4,000
Less than last year

Which, added to the $4,000 for the New York
custom. house, amounts TO ss203 009 as The total o.
reduction public buildings; unless Congress Sc,
ut to reduce the appropr atoms below the estimates
! the Commissioner
| The last reason relied upon by the Secretary is
hostlliiies with the Semnoles must be nearer to 1
close" Well, Isuppose they must be-" If they ere,
come to close, which IN somewhat doubtful. Br
how does that bear upon the expenditures of this
year Is the war to now Are no expenses
TO be incurred for its prosecution this season Now
sir although this Florida has been the great vor
tex in which many millions of money have beer
ingulfed yet the expenditures Of last year on account
of II exceedingly small--only 1900 600 were
appropriated for tina, object This was the only op
preparation made last session for this service and il
the hofe OF it be saved in the expenditures of thi.
year, II contributes but small proportion Of the
whole amount expected TO be reduced. We are deal
ing with millions. More than three millions and n
quarter is the amount of reduction proposed; and all
the items with which we have been furnished amount
to but q few hundred thousand viz
On pensions, ssaoO,4so
For removal Of Indians 56,7l0
On public buildings oO3 600
Seminole hostilities, 100000
Total, $780, 1870
Assuming this statement to be correct which il il
not and that this whole reduction could be made il
Is nearly counterbaanced by one single item of .
new charge upon the year lS4, for which no cores
pondlng expenditure made in 1910 | mean the
payments for the census-a service rendered in 1910
and tor which appropriations made that year
but have not been eXpended-not drawn from The
Treasury. The charge thus imposed upon 1871
will be about S120,000 of which $3.50 900 arc
wanted for the first quarter; the balance will f.
upon the residue of the year This single item new
in its character and chargeabc sofey upon this year
very nearly meets all the reductions which be
made from the indicated by the Sec etary
But this is not all. There are other and heavier
expenses to fall upon the Treasury in 1871, of which
the Secretarydakes no notice although it is scarcely
possible he was not advised of them. The honorable
chairman of the Ways and Means is equally silent
upon the subject, though well known to him also So
far from Their being any reduction this year because
hosthties lriht the Seminoies must be nearer 10 a
close, there is now proposition before the Commit
tee OF Ways and Means for appropriation OF near
two millions and half of dollars submitted by The
Secretary of War the l7th December last ten days
only alter the estimates for the year prepared -
he necessity for this is represented very urgent
About half million of il is wanted to pay for arrcar-
ages oil 1910 for services already rendered and which
ought TO have been charge that year. and not on
1871 Why was it not embraced within the estimates
Tor tins yearl Was it not known 10 the Secretary
on the 9TH December the date of his annual report
Was It kept back by the Secretary of War and why
50 ! Ills report is dated December s. Now, sir on
the 18th November preceding the Paymaster General
In obedience 10 the directions of the Secretary of War
submitted TO HIM an estimate amounting to $50 600
Tor payment OF militia mustered into service in 1910
al Nv arG uka
OF II in these words.
This pay is due and as the troops sand
much IN need Of il, justice them requires that il
should be paid TO them at the earliest possible day.
Again, General Jesup, on the 18th November, sub
united to the Secretary OF War By his directions can
estimate OF the amount which will probably be re-
CURED Tor the serrice Of this department in prosecut-
ing the war IN Florida" This estimate, including
fieo hundred thousand dollars Tor arrears of 1870 ex
lenses already incurred, but not paid amounts 10
~ 5oo,oooi OF which he requested that 800 600
ght DC appropriated as early in the session as poss
PIE, oeing wanted for immediate use. On the 2sth
S usehuer Generai Jesup, in another report to the
SECRETARY OF ar, says that The failure of the Arkan-
sas delegation 10 effect satisfactory advancement
win me oemlnoles induces the belief tina, greater
amount VIII probably he required than that for which
presented an estimate on the 18th inst Aosin |
inquire why were not these sums, thus approved by
the Secretary of War and made known To him Inv M,
middle of November, and urgcnfiy reouest,d az n.
IN Decem6er-why were they not embraced within
me estimates submitted on the 9TH December For
inc reason before suggested That is a document
winery clrcuated-the official exposition Of the finan
,,'i eohuuoh OF the countfy--ot its income and its
document which warns US NOT 10
eTceed ne estimates and attempts 10 show that great
reductions can be effected in the expenditures of thi.
year. u These sums had been included in the esti.
mates, all these boosted reductions would have been
scattered 10 the wIids The fallacy would have been
obvious But these charges upon the wear which
see no way OF avoiding. The expense has been in
CURED and IS now going under Executive authori-
y alone IL requires no sanction from Congress and
we nave no alternative but TO supply the means OF de-
lrayng H. have already said that nearly half a /
million Is required to defray the arrearages OF 1870
~ balance Is required for pay, subsistence, ord
n''ice ana the Quartermaster Generals Department
occasloned principally if not wholly by retainng in
service Noou, 1000 men called militia and volunteers.