Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-01-31
APPROPRIATIONS.
SHERMAN TO DAVIS,

SHERMAN TO DAVE.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 30.-The following letter
OF the secretary of the treasury in regard to
the repeal of certain permanent and indefinite
appropriations. has been addressed to Hon. II.
G. Davis, chairman of the Senate committee
on appropriations:
SIR: Referring 10 Senate bill number SG6,
for the repeal of certain laws relating to the
permanent and indefinite appropriations, re-
Gently submitted for the expression of my
views regarding its provisions, and for state
ment of appropriations which will be affected
thereby, | have the honor to state that while
the system of annual appropriations which
gives to Congress proper supervision of all ap-
preparations and expenditures is undoubtedly
correct, its general adoption should not be en-
forced without allowing sufficient time for
proper consideration of the estimates of
amounts required to place appropriations to be
repealed, especially so rs the estimates of the
various departments for next year
have been already submitted to
Congress ana III many cases reported
upon by the committee having them in charge.
In view also of the inconvenience if not i'm
barassment that would for time attend this
change of system L would respectfully
commend that the date of repeal be changed,
q believed is as early a date as Would be wise
to adopt for the repeal of SO large class of APP
preparations. The following form of bill
which provides for the disposition of such bal
anccs as may remain to the credit of these APP
preparations al the expiration of the period of
limitation, is believed To cover more fully all
points at issue than the one already introduced,
and it is respectfully suggested it be substi-
tut ed therefor, viz
A bill to repeal certain laws relating to the
permanent and indefinite appropriations:
BE it enacted, etc: That all laws heretofore
made for the appropriation of moneys from the
general treasury for p rmanent specific and per-
manent indefinite objects, except so far as they
provide appropriations for the sinking fund
for the payment of interest, premium nr the
principal of the public debt, or of bonds is
sued to the Pacific railroad companies, for ex-
penses pertaining to refunding the national
debt, not exceeding one-half of one per centum
of the bonds authorized 10y the acts of July IA,
1870, January 20, 1871, and January IA, 1875,
be and the same are hereby repealed, TO take
effect from and after June 30, 1881.
Provided, that nothing in this act shall be
construed to interfere with the present require
ments of the law in relation to the payment of
annuities to Indians or of any moneys received
and held in the nature of 4 trust for specific
purpose, or for excess of duties or taxes paid
into the treasury.
And provided further, that payment of cx-
penditures which may be properly incurred
within year prior to June 80, 1881, under
any of the appropriations affected by this act
may be made at any tine within one year after
that date, at the expiration OF which time any
balance remaining unexpended of such appro-
pratiOnS shall be carried TO the surplus fund.
Section 2. Be it further enacted that all
appropriations hereafter to be made shall
main available for two years for the payment
of expenditures properly incurred within the
time for which they are appropriated, except
appropriations for the construction Of public
buildings, rivers and harbOrs. lighthouses and
forts which shall remain available for like
purpose far period of four years, at the ex-
piratlon of which periods all appropriations
balances of appropriations, which shall have
been upon the books of the treasury, for such
periods of two and four years respectively,
shall be carried to the surplus
fund, and with The exception of
appropriations for the public debt. The limi-
tations herein placed upon unexpenditures
shall apply to all appropriations upon the
books of the treasury.
See 4. And be further it enacted, That it
shall be the duty of the heads of the several
departments of the government to include in
their annual estimates to Congress, estimates
of the amounts required for expenditure under
the appropriations affected by this act, for ser
vices for the fiscal year 1882, and annually
thereafter.
Sec. 4. And be it further enacted That all
laws or parts of laws inconsistent with the pro-
visions of this act be and the same are hereby
repealed.
Accompanying the letter is long schedule
of appropriations which will be affected by the
proposed bill as well 20 of those excepted from
its operations.