Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-03-16


us at the commencement of the session that
additional appropriation OF ten millions was ne
cessary to cover the expenses for the year.
question then arises whether these ten million
are included in the fifty six Millions 1t has cos
me much trouble to ascertain it, but il is not. o
course this additional expenditure must be addo,
10 the Secretary's estimate OF the deficiency
But, sir, let us look little farther into this.
The whole estimated expenditure for the cur
rent year, as given in the annual report of tn
Secretary 'at the last session Of Congress, (De
cember, lS46,) was forty-five millions Of dollars
The actual expenditure for the same year. q
now ascertained by him, (see his annual repor
to this Congress,) is fifty eight millions and
fraction. Here we have differences in the tw,
estimates for the present year-one made at til,
commencement and the other at This tme--o
thirteea millions of dollars.
Sir, the appropriations made at the last session
OF Congress for the service of the current year
lending June 80, iS46) exceeded by the sum o
nearly nine millions the Secretary's estimates as
submitted TO Congress at that session; and YET
the Secretary now asks an appropriation of over
ten millions to cover deficiencies. 1t is proper
for me 10 add that, as near as am able 10 ascer-
tain the fact, the expenditure for the current
year, as estimated by the Secretary in his recent
report, exceeds the amount OF appropriations by
about three millions Of dollars. In order, then
70 ascertain the actual expenditure of the year
seven millions only should be added to this es;i-
mate. This will carry that expenditure up to
more than sixty Eve millions.
The sum Of seven millions, it will be perceiv.
ed, is added to his estimate upon his own author
ty that is 10 say, his estimate of arrearages OF
the present session, and his demand for further
appropriations.
The next particular in my table Of corrections
Of the Secretary's estimate is the item of seven
millions for under estimate of the expenditure
for the coming fiscal year, from July !, 1913, to
June 80, l649
These expenditures are estimated by the Sec
rotary at the sum of $55, 644, 941. In what light
are we to regard these estimates? Sir, all expe-
rionde shows that these estimates are too low.--
Year after year Congress is called upon to sup
ply deficiencies. This is not to be wondered at.
1t implies no censure of the officers charged with
the duty of furnishing them. 1t is natural that
every head of the Treasury Department should
endeavor 10 put the best aspect upon the fnan-
cial affairs of the country, and heads of bureaus
and other subordnates will reduce their esti-
mates Of expenditure as low as possible. Judg-
ing, then, from all past experience, we must re-
gard these estimates as falling short of the actu.
al expenditure, Be- 81; ; c.c ar: arc soecal reasons
tor anticipating an excess of expenditure for The
coming year over and above the present est.
mates. Let me advert to the report Of the Quar-.
termaster General. 1t will be borne in mind
that this officer asks an additional appropriation
OF five millions to cover deficiency in the ap-
preparations tor the current year. What does he
say OF his estimates for the next? In his letter
TO the Secretary of War of November 49, ls47,
he says:
"Fhe estimates which submitted on the 9TH
instant for the service ofthe next fiscal year were
made out from data derived from The experience
ofMe last gear. AT your suggestion have care,
iuily re-eXamlned every Item, and in oil depen-
uing In any degree upon my own action, or that
OF the officer Of the department, haze made con-
siderable deductions. Whether these deductions
be Judiclous time must determine. IrouM mol
hare Uenured TO make then, but for the fact That ico
sessions Of Congress ,oiH haze terminated before
the expiration Of Ae fiscal year for ,ohich The esti-
mates nop submitted haze been made"
Sir, This is significant language. In plain En-.
glsh, ii means this the estimates are too small
they are not to be relied on, and would not be-
submitted were 1t not that two sessions of Con.
gress will intervene, and opportunity will be af-
iorded to ask for further appropriation before the
expenditure is incurred. With the experience
Of the present year. IA deficiency in the estimate
OF this department of FIVE milions,) and an eslI.
mnte thus qualified, explained, MOTTO say apolo
gizcd for, Mat arc we 10 expect as the result of
these estimates .tor the coming year? Beyond
all question that The expenditure will largely ex.
coed the estimate, as it has done heretofore.
10 what extent the estimates of the Quarter
master General were reduced at the suupes,ion
Of the Secretary, am not able precisely to state
II is stated, however, by Senator near me, (hlr.
CLARKE, Of Rhode Island, upon information said
to be derived from that officer, and communica-
ted by him 10 the Committee of WAYS and Means
oil the House, that seven millions more will be
required in that Department alone, over and a.
boye the amount Of the estimates submitted 10
us for the ensuing fiscal year. If this be true.
the addition which made to the Secretaries cs
innate OF expenditure for that year, $4,000 OOO)
and which seems to excite the surprise of gen
tlemen on the other side, will be required for the
service OF that Department alone
II will be perceived. however, thatI add that
sum Tor the whole excess in every branch of ex-
pendture, over and above the Secretaries es,im
ates. The considerations upon which INV estin-
ate OF this deficiency is based are these:
First. The expenditures of the current year.
as now ascertained, will exceed the previous es-
innate of the Secretary by the sum OF thirteen
millions, exclusive Of the Sl0,06I ,S44 now ask
ed for, of which at least seven millions are to
cover an expenditure las / have already shown
over and above the amount of the Secrelary's
present estimate. In this calculation the expen.
dituiS VI lue NtlreDt llsCdi yeaf VIII exceed the
original estimate by twenty millions of dollars
The estimates for the coming year are in
creased, exclusive Of payments on account of
the public debt, only about eight millions above
the estimates furnished US at the last session,
Tor The current year; which will leare u def
cheney for the coming year, if the expenditure
OF that year should equal that OF the present. of
twelve millions of dollars. have reduced it TO
seven. 1t requires no spirit of prophecy to fore
sec that, at the next session of Cong ess, we
shall be called upon for further appropriations
to.the exteIt of at least ten millions of dollars
But will your expenditure be less for the COM
ing than for the current year? You propose
mere extensive plan Of operations; to add thirty
thousand men TO your military establishment:
10 occupy the whole Mexican territory to spread
your srmies like the locusts of Egyot over ttha,
whole republic, and like the locusts of Epvpt IN
bring them 10, submission by eating up their sub
stance; not merely 10 dlscomft her armies in
Ehe field. but to displace her whole government
and civil arrangements and in the language OF
the honorable charmsn Of the Committee on
Military Affairs, to occupy and retain all her pc.
sitons, military and political. Will your expen-
dltures be diminished? Upon what prime pie
then, If ittliat we are furnished with an estimate
for the coming year, which falls from ten to
twelve millions short of the ascerlnined expen.
dture. of the present?
add the seven millions, therefore, TO cover