, 1873-12-17
THE NATIONAL DEFICIENCY.


CouEreRs tho eHtimatos Of tho money which lle
asks shall bB appropriated for tho iBoal yoar be-
ginning July i, 1874, and ondlng Juno 90, 1875.
1lo has also made special communication to
tho House to tho efoot that there Is stlc fall
ing of in tho rovonuo from imports TINT to moot
tho estimated expenditures thoro must bo an
inoreaao OF taxos, a1e1 lo proposes that L tax
shall bo laid OIL ton and coffee, mud tho tax ro-
newed or enlarged on epfrl:a, tobacco, gas, anu
oxpresB companies. Whcroapon tlloro was d
discussion In tho House on Alontlay as to what
should bo done. h1r. DawcB roproaontod that
tho estimates of tito Government wero appalling.
III tho faco OF 4 falllng-ofr In tho rovouuo, md
Of general financial distress, tho estimates Of
tho next year demanded s14,0oo, 100 moro for
expenditure than tho appropriations made for
tho present year. He declared tint II ho lad
hts way he would not hesitate to apply tho kulfo
to tho whole book Of ehtim ties, mud reduce II in
MI amount equal to any deficiency III tile reve-
mstea for the coming ycar wore excessive, and,
as q result OF conference between tho Com
lnitteo Of Ways and A1oana mud tito Committee
OIL Apr oprationB, he proposed lho following
resolution:
Ltsolred. That tho President DO requested to cnuBo
revision Of Ead estinAtcB 10 10 ads by tho several
Executive Departments, and casc report to ho made
to tue House, possible, 0arly tic 9th Of January
next, soius forth in dctail what public expenditures
for tho current Hcal yoar and what estimates for tho
noxt facal ycar cAn DO reduced. mil tho amount Of
such reduction, without serious otrent to tho pub
lie tcrvico.
With all respect for tho joint action Of tho two
Committees. we suggest that this is a proceed
Ing outiroly inconsistent with the dutios Of Con-
grosr, aud striAingly exhibits tue progress wo
aro making n tho way Of recognizing executive
demands. Tho Executive Department haB Of
right no voico whatever in regulating or control
ling either the amount to be appropriated by
Congress, tho objects for which it Ia appro-
printed, nor the modo by which tho revenue to
meet tho national wants shall be raised. These
aro questions within the exclusive ju-
risdictfon Of Congress-, and eBpsclalIy Of
tho uouso of Representatives. Tho practice
Of having tho several Departments furnish an cs-
tirnato Of what thoy need is mere arrarge-
mint for tle convenience Of Congress tho est-
mates themselves havo no legal authority ovor
the action Of tho House, nor do tloy in any
HonBe riso above the character Of u recommonda-
tion by tho clerks who make them out. On an
OCCASION not yet three years old, A{r. Dawes him
self in Congress- exposed tho character Of these
estimates, which had always been go mado out
as to havo surplus fund OH hand to bo OK
pended at the discretion Of each petty chief Of =
bureau. The appropriations for the present
year were &aoo. 900. Tho Departments havo
asked for next year 9s20,o00, 900. The public
debt ia increasing at tho rate Of from 90, ,0000 600
to $4,000, GOO month, aud tho deficiency for
1874-5 It ia assumed, will be about s45, 900 000
There will also DO deficiency for Tue remainder
Of the present year. To man Of ordinary
meet this emergency:
l. A reduction Of expenditures to the lowest
possible sum.
g. A modification Of tho tariff by reduction
Of duteB on ali articles Of general use, thereby
increasing the reycnue from tLat Bource.
5. A continuance of the present extravagant
expenditure, aul an enlargement Of the list df
taxable Objects aud articles.
1t will strike tho country aB remarkable that
tho Secretary Of tho Treasury should officially
recommend to Congress- that the Inst Of these
expedients ho adopted. No thought or idea
seems to layo entered lis head that the estimates
might bo cut down, as Mr. Dawes says oyor
$40, 600, 900. Tho Secretary thinks that whnseyer
tho various Departments ask must be granted,
whom the sole aud exclusive Discretion Us to
what money should be expended resta in Con-
grcss.
The House, in adopting the resolution Of
Gen. Garfield that tho President have tho
estimates revised, ahirkR positive duty
and gives direct recognition OF the
authority Of tho Executive Departments
to dictato TO Congress- in tho amount and tho
purpose Of tile national expenditures. At tho
sama timo, it il but just to say tnat Congress
itkolf is extremely reprepensible iu tho matter
Of national expenditure. At tho last sesslon,
Congress added s1o,Uo0,0O0 to tho excessive
estimates tor the present year. THIS included
nearly million aud half Of dollsrs for tho
salary-grab. tho baek-pay, and tue increase OF
forward-ray. Tho present Congress Beeu,s to
be impatient to oxpeud an oyon creator Bum.
Tie lobby B waiting for some three or four
hundred millions Of subsidy bonds, and there
are largo numbers Of members prepared to vote
thom aud under thcao circumstances, botwoon
spon.lthrift Congress- somewhat tloughtlcss
Secretary Of the Treasury. and tho losa Of
reyonuo, the struggle for rcsronclament, econ-
omy, and reform in tic revenue laws IL Of
doubtful resnlt.
NOTES AND OPINION.
Gov. Powors. Of mississippi. having announced
l,ia determination to hold oil for anot4er year,