The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-03-14
THE APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE YEAR.

cessor
THE APPROPRIATION FOR THE YEAR.
The anxiety naturally engendered by the
presidential conflict; the question whether
we were to have president at all, and, If
so, who it was to be and when the presi-
dent had been duly inaugurated, the wait
ing to know who were to be his constitu-
tional advisers and what his policy would
be and, then, after these had been an
nounced and declared, the uncertainty Gre
ated by the attempt Of Blaine and Cameron
to kick up Robbery all this has natural
ly tended to make the people forget all
about the usual and necessary appropria-
ton bills, and indeed to hardly think any
money was necessary to put and keep the
new administration in running order. In
deed, the uncertainty which hung over the
result down to the, close of January; the
efforts to provide peaceful and constitu-
tlonal mode for deciding that uncertainty
and settling the conflicting claims
Of the house and senate over
the counting of the electoral vote
theldiscussions on the electoral bill the
proceedings before the electoral commits
sion and, finally, the attempt on the part
of a portion of the democratic majority of
the house to filibuster and thus prevent the
completion of the count and leave the
country without On executive-to say moth
ing about the danger from the pig -headish-
ness of the extremists on both sides-well
nigh resulted in leaving the authorities
without any money with which to carry on
the government for the coming fiscal year.
But by sworking between spells, by all
night sessions and encroaching on Sunday,
by conference committees innumerable,
and by considerable yielding on either side,
the appropriation bills managed to squeeze
through-all except the army bill, and the
defeat Of this will require an extra session
of congress, or the army will be compelled
to live with. 1t food or Iaiment after the
first of July. Let us briefly look at the
fate of these several bills.
Three appropriation bills passed at the
amount of the estimates-the senate and
house deficiency bill, the printing deficiency
bill, and the pension bill. The amount
appropriated for pensions was S29, 533, 800
being exactly one million of dollars less
than the amout appropriated year ago
the amount appropriated by the senate and
house deficiency bill was $3.50, 1854, and by
theiprinting deficiency bill three hundred
and fifty thousand dollars.
The estimates made by the postofiice de-
partment for the postal service was $780,
1898, 432, but the house committee cut this
amount down some four millions of dollars,
and the bill finally passed both houses at
$50, 1857, 800, being in round numbers, a
reduction Of one million two hundred and
fifty thousand dollars from last year.
The amount necessary for Notifications
was estimated at nine hundred and fifty
Thousand dollars; the house co mmittee cut
off seven hundred thousand dollars of this
aud reported in favor of appropriating
quarter of million of dollars; and the bill
became law with an appropriation of only
three hundred thousand dollars-and, with
this rldlculously small sum, it is extremely
fortunate that there is neither war nor ru-
mors of war. With our extended frontier,
the long line of sea board, 1.-THE defences
necessary to be made against Indian en-
croachments, etc., etc., we apprehend this
kind of economy is more snowy than wise,
and will necessitate much larger proper
tioaate outlay in the immediate future than
would have been required with a reasona-
BILE expenditure during the coming year.
The legislative bill was estimated at
nearly twenty-three millions of dollars, was
reduced by the house committee about two
thirds. and became law appropriating
$l5,3l4, 96l; while the diplomatic and con-
sular bill was passed appropriating 81, 1885,
STA slight reduction both from the esti-
mates and from the appropriation of ayear
ago.
The expenses for the navy were estimat-
ed at $19, 430, 0l2, but only $13, $40, 952
was appropriated. The Indian bureau esti-
mated that So, 342. 800 would be necessary
to carry it through the year, but this
amount was reduced to $4,751, 400, being
an Increase of some two hundred thousand
dollars over last year. The estimates for
the military academy were reduced thirty
two thousand dollars, and $3.50, 804 appro-
priated for that purpose. The general de-
nciency Dill was estimated at three mil
lions OF dollars, and became a law appro-
priating $9,89S.950 The sundry civil ap-
preparation bill, which Is a kind of catch
all for all matters not provided for in other
appropriation bills, was estimated at twen-
ty-nve millions of collars, but was reduced
by the house committee to, and became a
law at, $17, 1910. 800.
This completes the list of appropriations.
and the general result shows that. aside
from the support of the army, the several
departments estimated that $3.50, 100. ia
would be necessary to carry on the gov
eminent for another year; this amount was
reduced by the house committees and the
amount reported by them at $135, 1858, 798;
and this amount was still further reduced
by the house, the several bills being passed
at S182, e60,664. The senate added more
or less to the different appropriations, and