The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1852-08-14
WHOLE No SIS

millions more than in the last fiscal
year, ending the 30th ultimo. The
proceeding expenditure for the fiscal
year 1915 included no portion o! the
payments for either principal or interest
of the public debt, or for trust funds.
Though hostilties commenced in Mex
leo a few weeks prior to the end Of that
fiscal year, and though arrangements for
the war were Immediately commenced,
yet very little ifany actH0i payments for
the war were made from the Treasury
previous to the then new fiscal year; and
if reduction is made on that account,
and the real peace expenditure placed
at the reduced and round sum OF 1926,
100000, it will probably be very near
ly or quite correct.
In the expenditures, then, of the pre-
sent Administration for the fiscal year
ending the Goth June, 1891, we find
the following war items, viz:
LIST. The fourth instaIment of the in
demnity to Mexico, under the treaty of
peace, amounting to S3242,i
Surely it is not intended to make the
Wings accountable for this sum!
Cd. The next item is for indemnity to
our citizens for claims upon Mexico,
and provided for under the same treaty,
made and approved by Mr.. Polk,
amounting to S2,516,G91.
We hope the Wings may be excused
from all responsibility, as an item OF
expense, for Or on account of this item.
Sd. Interest on the public debt, So,
696,721.
OF this debt upwards of .S4S,oOO,00O
was created by Mr.. Polk in prosecuting
the Mexican war, but no portion of the
interest, even on the debt which exist
ed previous to the war, is included in
the sum stated above as the annual
peace expenditure of Mr.. Polk previous
TO the war. OF the above interest,
about 42,S00,000 is upon the war
debt, which it certainly will not be
fair 10 make the Wing Administration
accountable for.
4th. For arrearages paid TO Mexican
Volunteers, S635,330.
From which the Wings should Ger
tainly, in like manner, be excused.
9Th. Payments for pensions granted
in consequence of the Mexican war
form another item amounting to the
sum of about 100000.
This must also be placed to the debit
of Mr.. Folks administration.
9th. The expenses OF running and
marking the boundry line between Mex
leo and the United States is another
contingency arising out of the Mexican
war bequeathed to the Wing admins
tration, and amounts to the sum Of $20t,
377.
It'll. Refunding duties collected in
Mexico e1pe nses Of Commissioners un-
der the Mexican treaty, draughtsmen,
and contingencies of the boundry line,
and expenses incident to the war loans
and Treasury notes, all items connected
with the Mexican war, and Justly
chargeabla to Democratic rule, amount
ing to S5S,9l5.
The above items, after deducting the
interest on the debt existing previous to
1919, form an aggregate of more than
81 100000 for expenses growing d.
rectly out of the Mexican war; the pay
ment of which was Unavoidable. and has
been directly sadd!ed upon the Treasury
by the Democratic Administration Of
Mr.. Polk, and in no way formed a por
ton of Mr.. Folks peace expenditures
anterior to the war.
The following additional items are
of character which formed no portion
of the annual expenditures under any
former Administration
# 1st. The expenses of collecting the
revenue from customs Sl,SSS,47l
Contingent expenses of do. 1O,245
Expenses of collecting reve-
nue. from sales public land 145,306
Up to the Sd of March, 1919, when
the Wing Administration came into
power, the expenses of collecting the
revenue were first deducted from the
gross receipts, and the nett amount only
was paid into the Treasury, and figured
on the annual statement as the amount
Of receipts; but by the act of Sd March,
1S49, the gross amount of revenue is
now paid into the Treasury, and the ex-
penses for collecting it form an item of
current expenditure.
Cd. The expense of taking the Sew
enth Census, $672, SOB.
This is an unavoidable new expense,
paid by the Wing Administration, and
occurs only once IN ten years.
Sd. For refunding duties upon Sugar
and molasses, collected under Mr.. Wal
ker's construction OF the Tariff of 1916,
but which the Supreme Court has de-
cided were illegally collected, $l39, 5SS.
4th. Payment for debentures, draw
back, sc. on foreign goods on which the
duties had been collected, and refunded
on the expectation Of such goods from
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