Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-06-25
. = Io,Uo5,o8
Making in the aggregate, S92.l43. POP.

|
ls,oss,547
Making in the aggregate, S92. 2.l43. POP.
1t is true that some of these may be over
estimated, but l have taken the estimates
furnished to me by the Committee of Ways
and Means. 1t may be that the army def
cencies next year may not be so large as l
have put them down. 1t may be that two of
these new regiments may be dispensed with.
1t may be that they will be much larger
but take it as reasonable inference that
the deficiency next year will be as large as
the deficiency this year, because deficiency
bills never decrease.
Now, this sum of 800 900 900 does not
include any of the following items of expend-
ture, and | wish gentlemen to add those,
upon their own estimate, to this aggregate
For protecting works commenced on our
numerous rivers and harbors, the lowest est-
mate of which is s | 100000 and then there
is your calendar of one thousand private bills
demanding your attention. There is the
pension bill for the old soldiers of the war of
1872, proposed by the gentleman from Ten
nessee, (Nlr. Savagc,) requiring SS ,000,0
per annum. There are the ten new war
steamers, proposed by my friend from Virgin
ia, (Mr. Bocock,) S2,500,000 The French
spoliation bill, urged so forcibly by the gen.
tleman from Massachusetts,. (Mr. Davis,)
which. if passed, will require S4,000,0 900.
The duties to be refunded on goods destroyed
| by fire, | do not know how much. Com,nu-
tatlon to the heirs OF Revolutionary roldiors
do not know how much. Claims growing
out of Indian wars in Oregon and Washing
ton, urged by the Delegate from Oregon, and
certified by an Executive officer, 5000, COO.
Then we have the Pacific railroad. foretaste
of the cost of which we have had in 81 ,000,-
600 expended already in the publication of
the report of the surveys.
Now, have shown that in all human pro-
pability the expenditures of this Government
will be from ninety to one hundred million
dollars. To meet this, the Secretary, in his
recent letter, estimates the receipts for the
first two quarters at S25 900 900. We eknow,
from comparison with former years. that the
receipts for the last two quarters will not ex-
coed the first, making the aggregate of re-
ceipts $4,000, 900, or a deficiency of over
forty million dollars for next year.
ADMINISTRATION REMEDY-LoANs AND TREAS
URY NOTES.
And yet, sir, fJr this alarming condition
of the public finances, the Administration
has no measure of relief except loan bills, and
paper money in the form of Treasury notes.
No provision is made for their payment no
IN easures of retrenchment and reform ; but
these accumulated difficulties are thrust upon
the future, with the improvidence of young
spendthrft. While the Secretary is waiting
to foresee contingencies, we are prevented by
party majority from instituting reform
IF we indicate even the commencement of re-
trenchment, or point out abuses, on this side
of the House, we are at once assailed by men,
bers of the Committee of Ways and Means.
| Tho nplu affnrt OF rafrapohrpapt which /
have seen here successful, was that made by
the gentleman from Kentucky, (Mr. Mason,)
In reducing the number of officers employed
about this Hall.
That tho Committee of Ways and Means
have no purpose of commencing a reform,
we have ample evidence in the appropriation
bills before us-more than sixty nine million
dollars.
This does not include permanent appropri-
ations, amounting 'or this fiscal year to the
sum of 81 ,436, $50, nor does it include a
multitude of bills appropriating money, from
all the other standing committees and we
are told that other bills are yet to be reported
from the Ways and Means Committee. We
know, by sure experience, that these appro-
priation bills are never diminished they are
increased in this House; they arc sent to the
Senate, and there they are overloaded with
does this table include class of expenditures
much more deserving public favor than many
of the bills reported, The rivers and harbors
of the West in vain demand improvement.
While millions are expended in your coast
surveys and Atlantic defences, you scruple
over mparatively small sum, absolutely
necessary to keep from destruction improve
ments already commenced in the lake harbors.
If, while gentlemen are lavish in the public
money they would vote 81 800 900 to the
protection of the commerce of the great and
growing power of the Northwest, it would
show some kind of justice and liberality But,
sir, the region OF country which will in
short time control the destnies of this nation I;
which now, in its almost infancy, feeds your
artisans and sailors, and in time of war fur
nishes sturdy defenders of your national hon
or, has appealed in vain tor ordinary repairs
of their harbors, because (for | see no other
reason,) they are not upon the Atlantic coast
Time will soon cure this evil and we who
come from the West will have the power to
legislate for ourselves, as the Atlantic and
Gulf Coast has done in times past.
EXPENDITURES COMPARED WITH FORMER YEARS.
desire now to call the attention of the
House to comparison of the expenditures of
this year and of this Administration, with
past expenditures. have a table, carefully
prepared from official documents, (Er. Docs
Nos. l3 and co., as follows;
A Table showing the srpsnseS Of the General Govern
men exclusive Of the public det, and the population
shoWn By census, during each deeenniai year, aud
1887