The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-06-16
From the New York Tribunel
The Treasury-How Filled and Emp

The Trensury-HOw Filled und Enp
tied.
The Government of the United States
owed. on the lst instant, over twenty
six hundred and forty-three millions OF
dollars, less one hundred and thirty
three millions in its treasury, leaving
lis net Indebtedness two thousand hve
hundred and ten millions of dollars.
The interest on this debt is very nearly
enc hundred and fifty millions per an
NUN, or fully twelve millions per
month. Our pension list calls for over
thirty millions per annum, or nearly
three millions per month. Thus, apart
from the current expense OF carrying Oh
the Government, and without attempt
ing to pay off the principal of our debt,
or any part of it, we must pay one
hundred and eighty millions per annum,
or fully fifteen millions of dollars per
month. Add the necessary cost of car
rying on the Government, and our Fed
eral taxes can hardly be reduced below
three hundred millions per annum.
The cry for reduction of taxes Is
very general and eager, and Congress
defers to it with alacrity. The cotton
tax has been repealed, blotting out
twenty millions of income. The tax on
manufactures followed, wiping out sixty
millions. Further reductions and abo-
liUions of imposts and excise are agita-
ted and strongly supported. Whittier
do we tendf
The reduction of our debt has ceased.
The last report adds ten millions to Its
total; and, while this is probably faeti,
tious, it is clear that there has been no
diminutioD since the lst of January.
The reserve of coin in the Treasury
has already begun to decline. 1t has
exceeded one hundred millions net; 1t
is now but seventy millions in excess OF
the outstanding gold certificates. This
is to be drawn down directly by the
payment of eight millions of Mexican
war debt, thirty millions of interest,
and (probably) seven millions of pHr-
chase-meney for Alaska. 1t is not prob
able that there will be fifty millions OF
coin in the Treasury on the 4th of July
next above the amount deposited there
by private owners and balanced by gold
certificates of deposit. And it is NOR,
ally certain that the debt will be
heavier four months hence than 1T is to-
day.
How is il, then, that members of Con
sress can be found to vote tWenty PEI
cent. ertra as ian additional comPensa'
ton" or bounty to all the civil employees
of the Government residing or working
in Washington Cityi That is to say
every clerk or other person whose regu'
lar pay is $4,000 per AMMAN is to receive
for the year ending with this month
S24OO: and so of all who receive less
than $4,000, or more, if the regular pay
does not exceed S25OO. How can trus
tees of this heavily taxed and deeply
embarrassed people vote to squandei
their money thus recklesslyI -,
We will take our own trade as an IL
lustIation: The printers-whether com
positors or pressmen-employed IN the
iovernmeut printing office, are palG
s24 per week, where they were PAID slI
per week in the old, hard-money times
They are paid as much as any othel
printers, and they work no harder thar
others. Why, then, should other print
ers be taxed to pay this favored fe"
81 80 per week extraf 1t seems to u'
gross partiality and wrong.
REPRESENTATIVES of the people We
warn YOU that your votes for or against
this measure will be scrutinized when
Won come before the people for re'elec
fion. They who live by hard work, ant
get no twenty per cent. extra, Will ash
wbv tbev should be taxed to pay twen
ty Der cent. extra for this years services
to those who have had the governmen,
for employer. We charge you to iooi
we'll to your answer.