The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-12-10

1
in 1871 were 81, 200 900; in
in 1920, SIS, 200, 600; in 1850, SAL 900,
900; in 1860, S63,00O,OOO in 1865,
nearly $500, O00, 900, and in 1859, it is
estimated by the Secretary of the Treas
ury in his last annual report, that they |
will be S372, 100000. BY comparing the |
public disbursements of 1869, as estima-
ted, with those OF 1871, it will be seen
that the increase of expenditure since the |
beginning of the Government has been
S,6lS per Ccntum, while the increase of |
the population for the same period was
only SOS per centum. Again, the expenses
of the Government in 1860, year oil
peace Immediately preceding the war,
were only 500, 600, 900, while i'll 1869,
n YEAR of peace three years after the
war, it is estimated they will be three
hundred and sevcnty-two mllllonS-an
increase of four hundred and eighty.nine
per cent-whilc heincrease OF population
was only twenty-on per cent for the same
period.
The statistics further show, that in 1901
the annual rate of expenses compared with
the population were little more than one
dollar per capita, and in 1850 but 81,
while in 1860 they will reach the eXtrava.
CANT sum of nine dollars and seventy
eight cents per capita.
II will be observed that all OF these
statements refer to and exhibit the dis
bursements OF peace periods. 1t may
therefore be of interest TO compare the
expenditures of the three war periods, the
war with Great Britain, the Mexican war,
and the war of the Rebellion. In 1914 the
annual expenses incident to the war of
1872 reached their highest amount, about
twenty. one millions, while our population
slightly exceeded eight millions, showing
an expenditure Of eighty.threc dollars
and eighty cents per capita.
In ls47 the expenditures growing out
of the war with Mexico reached SI1, OOO.-
| 900, and the population about 2lrOOO,-
| OCO, giving only two dollars and fifty
cents per capita for the war expenses OF
that year In 1865 the expenses called
| Tor hv the rebellion reached the vast
amount ut twelve bundled and ninety
millions which compared with popu-
| hItiOn of IhiTiy-four millions, gives
thirty. eight dollars and twenty cents
per capita. From the 4th day OF March,
| 1880 to the 30.h of June, 1861, the entire
| expenditures of the Government were
seventeen hundred millions OF dollars.
During that period VIC were engaged i'll
war with Great Britain and Mexico,
and were Involved in hostilities with
powerful Indian tribes. Louisiana was
| purchased from France at a cost of iii-
teen millions Of dollars; Florida was
coded to the United States by France
for live million dollars; California was
acquired from Mexico for fifteen mil
lion dollars, and the Territory OF New
Mexico was Obtained from Texas for the
sum OF ten million dollars. Early in
| 1851 the war Of the rebellion COM
meuced, and from the LIST of July OF
| that year to the 9Th G. June, lSB1, the
public expenditures reached the enOT-
/ = IT, .
dred millions. Three years or peace
have interviewed, and during that time
| the disbursements OF the Government
| have successfully been, five hundred
and twenty milliOHR. three hundred ana
| fOTty-siN millions, and three hundred
| and ninetS-thTce millions, AddiCS to
these amounts three hundred and sew
enty two millions, estimated rs necGs-
Sary for the fiscal year ending the 3Oth
of June, 1869, we obtain total PXpeu-
diture of sixteen hundred millions OF
| dollars during the four years imme-
diately succeeding the war, or nearly
as much as was expended during the
seventy-twO years that preceded the
rebellion and embraced the extraordi-
| nary expenditures already named.
| These startling facts clearly illustrate
the necessity OF TeiTenchment in all
branches OF the public service. Abuses
| which were tolerated during the war
| for the preservation of the nation will
not he endured by the people now that
profound peace prevails. Tho receipts
from internal revenues and customs
have during the past three years grad
uaIly diminished. and the continuance
OF useless and eNtravagant expendi |
lures will involve us in national bank
ruptcy or else make inevitable an in
crease of taxes already 100 onerous and
in many respects obnoxious on account
Of their inquisttOriaI character. One
hundred millions annually are ex-
pended for the military force. large
portion Of which is employed in the ex-
ccution of laws both unnecessary and
unconstitutional. One hundred and |
iifty millions arc required each year TO |
pay the interest on tue public debt. An
army OF tax gatherers i.npoverisheSt the |
nation, aud public agents placed be. |
yOnd the control 1.-THE executive, divert |
from their legitimate purposes large |
sums OF money which they col |
lcct from the people in the
name of the government. Judi |
ciouS legislation and prudent Ccan- |
Omy can alone remedy the defects
and avert the evils which, If suffered to |
exist, cannot fail 10 diminish conf
dencs in the public councils and weak
en- the attachment and respect of the
people towards their political institu-
lions. Without proper care, the small
balance which IL is estimated will Te.
/
| present DsCai year will not he realized,
| and additional millions be added TO q
debt which is now enumerated by bill
lions. 1t is shown by the able and COM
pTehcnsIye report of the Secretary of
the Treasury that the receipts for the
fiscal year ending June so, 1SGS, were
S40O, 00G $50 IS, and that the eXpendl-
lures for the sane period were 1871 3IO,-
2SI. leaving in the Treasury surplus
OF SIS. 297,59S. 1t is estimated that the |
receipts during the present fiscal year
ending June 80, 1863. viii be S3ll .302,-
SOS, and the expenditures $3.50. l52 40, |
showing small balance of IS, I0, 3gS In
favor OF the Government. For the fiscal
year endioS June 80, 1870, ii j. esIimd |
ted that the receipts sill amount to
1927 COO, Geo, and the expenditures $685. |
OBU. 600. leaving AN estimated surplus OF |
S2I OG0 .0O0, Il becomes proper in this |
connection 10 make n brief reference TO |
our public Indebtedness, which has nc !
crmuiaIed With such alarming rapidly, |
and assumed such colossal proportion.
In 1889, when the government conmenc. |
ed operations under The Federal Cou-
stitution. IL was burGoGed with an in
debtedness of seveuIy.tive millions Of |
dollars, created during the war Of the |
Revolution. This amount had been re- |
ducad To forty five millions of dollars !
when in ISL war was declared against |
Great Britain. The three years stru2-
gle that followed largely increased the
national obligations, and in 1916 they
had attained the snuI of one hundred ]
and twenty. seven millions. Wise and
economical legislation, however, on
nbled the government 10 pay the entire
amount within u period of twenty |
years, aud The eEituSuishment OF the
nuiional debt hlled lnn land with re-
joiciHE, and was one of lbegTeAt events
Df President .InRlSEOuta aIminiStraYinn