Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1870-02-15

IN 1aNor OF 1fts!uent Ufabti Dut reHco /
solely upon the excess of this years esti-
mates. over last years appropriations, a
mounting, as he said, to $40, 900, ,Oo0.-
This certainly seems to threaten formid-
able increase of expenditures in the Sec
oad year Of President Grants administra-
tion, as compared with the first year, but
not as compared ,cithany year Of Andreso
Johnson's, for ice hare already seen that
these estimates rere SIS, S,000, 600 less than
the actual expenditures o the fiscal gear
1868.
1t must be remembered, however, that
the appropriations last ~;utvF "crv sut
down to the lowest possible point,
ing only to 1921 COO 600, including S24,-
600, coo for the Post Office Department,
appropriated out of its own REVENUES
This leaves only 1851, 100000 appropri-
ated out of the public treasury.
Let us now institute another comparison,
as follows:
Expenditures of johnson for
fiscal year 1868, s277,000, 900
Appropriations for fscal year
1870. 257 600, 600
Excess of Johnfon's cxpendi-
lures. 20,000,OOO
To censure the present administration
for having presented estimates in excess
Of the amount appropriated last year,
is therefore, to ceneure it for not having
reduced the expenditures of the Govern
meut to point sl2O,O0O,00o less than
they we're during the last full year of
Jonson's term. This seems somewhat un-
reasonable at first sight, and upon close
examination it becomes even ridiculous
For, let it be remembered, that the inter-
est on the public debt alone amounts to
Sl3, 100000, and if we subtract that
from the two amounts compared above,
there will remain for the other expenses
of the Government, as follows:
Expenditures Of johnson in
fiscal year 1868, S240, 100000
Appropriation for fiscal year
/ 1870, 127, 100000
Reduction, 20,000,000
This, it will be seen, amounts to a re-
duction Of the current expenditures of the
Government by nearly one-half. II the
administration fuds it cannot accomplish
quite so much as this, it may be sub
icct Of regret, but can scarcely be source
of very serious disappointment, and GER
tainly does not furnish any occasion fol
denunciation.
The fact is, that at the close of the ifs.
cal year 1863 there was between $780,.
100000 and $40, 100000 of unexpended
balances of former appropriations remain
ing in the Treasury to the credit of the
different Departments, and the appropri.
ations were cut down last winter, in view
of this fact, many millions lower than they
otherwise would have been. 1t was moi
expected that the Government would act
uslly be conducted upon the amount ap'
propriated, without drawing on these bal
ances; and it would hardly be reasonabl,
to expect the same amount to suffice next
year, after the balances in question have
been very largely diminished.
1t must not be supposed, however, that
the full amount Of $40, 600, 900 in excess
of last years appropriations is expected
to be appropriated or that it is even ask
ed by the administration.
1t is always customary, in making the
estimates, to allow o small margin fol
cutting down "at the other end of the av.
cnue," and, moreover, estimates are pre-
sented to an aggregate amount of millions
Of dollars, which merely represent what
, certain things would cost if Congress
, should determine to have them. This j,
the case in regard to public works author
|. lied by law, estimates for which the off
GERS of the Government are legally bount
to submit for the enlightmcnt Of Con
: gress.
As single example may mention al
estimate of the Chief Engineer of the ar
my for s9,500,O00 for the improvement
of rivers and harbors, which is included
in the aggregate estimates not appropria
ted for last year, nor recommended by the
Secretary of War to be appropriated thi,
year. This will be just as Congress deems
expedident
In he estimates Of the Pension Office
there is an excess Of $l1, 200, 900 for ar.
my and navy appropriations over the a
mount last year appropriated. This is
partly due to the allowance of new claims
which have been proved, but chiefly tC