Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-12-16
Can Congress Afford to Endorse
Administration Extravaganza?

Administration Extravaganza?
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-THE Treasury
DEPARTMENT is somewhat pressed formOney,
not only by the falling off in the revenues,
but by the extraordinary appropriation of
SI,OO0000 or S5,000,G99 for naval purposes,
and the early approach Of the redemption OF
the S20,000,Q00 loan Of 1855.
Richardson's Letter.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 15.-The Secretary
of the Treasury has written the following
letter to Mr.. Dawes, Chairman of the Com
mittee of Ways and Means:
Treasury Department, Dec. 12.-Dear
Sir: have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your letter. Of this date, transmit
ting a resolution cf the Committee on Ways
and Means of the House of Representatives
asking the Secretary Of the Treasury to give
his reasons in writing for an increase in
taxation, and why he has selected the arti-
cles named in the communication as the
proper objects for increased taxation, and
that he inform the Committee specially as
to expenditures, and the condition of the
revenue which renders the proposed Increase
necessary. In the report which, in acCOr-
dance with law. had the honor recently to
submit to Congress L used 1.-THE following
language:
SHOULD there not be revival Of bust
ness at an early day and an increase in re-
CENTS over those of the past two and one
half months, additional means viii be re-
uuircd TO meet expenses. Should such be
the case, | recommend additional taxation
iudiciously laid so as to be the least bur
den upon the people and business OF the
country rather than a resort TO borrowing
money and increasing the public debt on
the grounds here generally stated, that
suggested increased taxation, the revenues
from customs and internal taxes have not
materially increased and it is apparent
that no considerable augmentation Of
those receipts is soon to be expected under
the laws now existing. The public debt
WAS increased by demands which could
not be avoided during the month by many
millions. While coin receipts are but lit
tie more than sufficient to pay the interest
on the public debt and other coin eXpendi-
lures it would not be prudent to Sell gold to
increase the supply Of currency. The
current expenses of the Government has al
ready consumed about eighteen million
dollars Of what has been called the re-
serve. and there remains only about TWEEN
tv-siX millions of dollars which can be
used before the extreme limit OF the ISSUE
of United States notes authorized by law
will be reached. The public credit cal
only be maintained by keeping the re-
CENTS of the Treasury fully up TO the eX-
pcnditures for ordinary expenses, for inter
est ON the public debt and for the purchase
of bonds for the sinking fund to the eX
font proyided bv law. 1t is manifestly the
true policy. in view Of maintaining thai
credit, to levy taxes, so as TO make 1t Ger
tain that the required amount Will bt
raised, with the probability OF some sur
Mus revenue, rather than to incur any risk
or \ deficiency, which would make it neceS
sary to borrow money and thereby increase
tho debt, In selecting tea and coffee fO
taxatiou. | am Influenced by the cOusldCra
tion .hat the taxes on those articles arC
easily collected and not oppressive to con
sumers. In selecting spirits, tobacco, gas
railway and steamboat receipts, and eN
press, insurance and telegraph companies
A, subjects of taxation. l am governed
principally bv the reasons expressed by the
Commissioner Of Internal Revenue III hl'
letter, already forwarded to the committee
in the following words:
sin selecting sources for possible taxa
ton | have taken those that would give the
revenue probably needed without am
material increase to the present force o
anv amendment to the present system con
sidcrinC that it is wise to get public reye
me with as little interference as possible
with the general business of the country
and that the tax gathercr should greet thu
pnblic eve as rarely "a practicable
have presented bills for increased taxa
tion TO the committee thus early that TIN
subject may at once be called TO the atten
tion of Congress for such action &C as earl,
\ day AS NAV be deemed eNpedient. /
should be taken into account that the eitec
of any law which may be enacted to in
crease taxation will not fully appear 10
several months after its passage and that II
fine apparent disposition among the peopl
to reduce expenditures, the rates WhlcI
NAV be fixed will not produce the sam
amount of revenue as would accrue unde
different circumstances. | have the homo
TO be very respectfully,
WIN. 4. RICHARDSON, Secy.
The Secretary to-day after the nccessar
examination ascenained that the publl
debt has increased since the Isl INST, nv
million dollars.
Sam Bard ana NAfSthi" mug HTS
The President sent the following nom
nations to the Senate: John l.. fennin9to
of Alabama to be Governor OF Dakoti
Oscar Whitney. Secretary OF Dakota Ieir
tory. sam Bard, Postmaster at atlanta, Gi
Roht. w. Hughes, District Judge for EiS
ern District, Va
The Appropriation Bills
Tho Uouse Committee on appropriation
to-Iav. allotted their work as follow
Iauubridge, Parker and Hancock al
charged With the preparation OF the India
annr0priation bill; Oneil with the penslo
% fHI Swami with the diplomatic and COZ
s1lar Starkweather with IoItlhcalioh
MARSHALL. mil try academy, Tyler post
service: Wheeler the army, and han I'll I,
navy appropriation bills respectively. III
deficiency. Sundry, civil, and hiIl-lhaNll
annronriat ions for the legislative, exec
tive ard Judicial expense OF ne Cover
me mem were not ASSIGNED 10y th"t Chairma'
Mr. Garfield will have charge the latte
KeIIy's Panacea.
Tie following resolution informally Sll