Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-06-22
Receipts and Expenditures.


affairs Of the government by the republi-
cans as an argument in favor Of reduc-
ton Of the tariff, so as to cut revenues
down to expenditures. This surplus was
also made an effective scare-crow against
the republicans 10 various WAYS, though
in fact il was an evidence of economy and
excellent management of governmental
affairs greatly to their credit. Why, il
was asked are the people taxed to keep
this surplus in the treasury and it was
charged that it was kept as fund for
corruption purposes by the republicans.
Well, the democratic administration has
been in power year, and how is it about
the surplus now? The tariff has not been
changed, all sources Of revenue remain az
they were when the republicans controlled
the government, the taxation Of the people
is as much as ever. but the surplus-well,
there is no surplus, that stock argument
OF the last campaign has disappeared, and
in its place there is likely to be DEFICIT
In recent discussion in the House on
the general appropriation bill, Congress
man Hiscock Of New York showed that
the government has changed its course
since the democrats came into power, and
instead OF putting more money into the
treasury than it pays out is likely TO have
less than it requires to meet expenditures.
His grand total OF expenditures for next
year, based on appropriations made or
now pending. and on what are termed in
business fixed charges" is 1891 ,02S. 1873,
while the estimates of receipts foot up
only 1877 ,OOO, 600, deficit Of something
over $l4 600, 900. The aggregate amount
of the appropriations, as the appropria-
ton bills then stood, was 1929, 1888.
The amount carried by the sundry civil
bill was S2l ,053. 800. The deficiency bill
would exceed $1,000, 900, and the fortiti-
cation bill would amount to 1928, 900.
The addition to the naval bill would be
$4,000, 900; the miscellaneous appropria-
tons would amount to $4,000 900. and
there would be required to refund duties
under the recent decision of the Supreme
Court $4,000, 900, the aggregate being
$273, O28,133 The estimated annual APP
preparations were $l1S, 900, making a
grand total of 1891 ops. 1888. The estimat-
ed receipts were only $3.50, 1000, 900, while
the postal revenue would amount to $47,-
100000, making an aggregate of $377.-
600. 900 and leaving deficit for the next
fiscal year of over S14. 100000. The next
fiscal year was to see deficit of Sl4,000.-
O)0 on the most conservative estimate.
Mr.. Randall, chairman of the Commit
tse on Appropriations. replied to Mr..
Hiscock by saying that the figures were
not surprise to HIM. He admitted in
substance that they were correct, and adj
monished his democratic brethren that
they were not following the economy
which they had promised before they
were elected.
Let us turn now to the republican rec
ord In 1894. the last year of republican
rule. the total receipts of the government
were $3iS.5l9, $40; expenditures, S244,-
1926. pa, a margin in favor of the govern
ment of over 800, 100000. The year be-
fore the margin was over $40, 000.0 900,
and the year before that still better Ever
since the war was fully over, in fact the
republicans have been able to show a
highly favorable balance sheet, and the
national debt. which at its maximum was
81, 3Sl $50. 29i. was reduced under re-
publican rule more than $1,000. o00. 900.
The administration OF Mr.. Cleveland re-
fuses to follow the praiseworthy example
of its republican predecessors, and seems
TO be bound to initiate the course OF the
last democratic administration previous to
the present. that of Mr.. Buchanan. The
full years of that administration were
1858. 1859. and 1860. the rest of the tour
years tapping on to the last of the Pierce
administration and the first of the Lin
coin. During those three years the re-
ceipts were, respectively, S46.655, 500;
S52, III los; $50 1854, 900. The expendi
lures were S7S.9s2. 49S; SOS. 993. 600;
sos, 2o0.s75.
These figures" says the Chicago
lnter-Ocean. very pertinently, tell
their own story and point their
own moral. There is no resisting the
conclusion that according to Mr. Hiscock's
argument, fortified by MIR. Randall's sub
sequent remarks, the democracy under
Grover Cleveland is very much the same
as the democracyunder James Buchanan.
50 tar, certainly, as concerns matters en-
tering into and determining the balance
sheet of the nation. Under republican
rue the Congress was sorely perplexed
what TO do with the surplus. but it need
give itself no farther solicitude on that
score. |, might more pertinently inquire
as TO the best way to meet general de-
ficit."
The history of Congress contains no prece
dent of such failure of the leading party
measure of any dominant party in the House
during the Presidency of man of the same