The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-10-17
JUGGLING WITH FIGURES.

Acting Secretary Thompson's Method Of
Showing n Big Surplus.
WASHINGTON, Oct. l6-Aeting Secretary
Thompson, of tho Treasury. in speaking this sft-
srnoon Of the probable condition OF the treasury
at the end Of the present fiscal year. said: .'The
appropriation bills have ali been passed by the
present Congress; some estimate can now be
made of the probable surplus of revenue for the
fiscal year ending juno 30, 1859. over the expend-
itures for the sams year. Estimating one or
two minor items, the amount in tie aggregate is
$500, ,0O0, 900, with the estimated expenditures
from the permanent annual appropriations,
which ara put at sll5, GAO, 798, making total Of
$421, ,640.79S. The total estimated revenues are
$4i0, 500, ,00o making an excess of revenue over
the total of the appropriations of about 49, 0Oo.
600. Bat this by no means represents the actual
surplus Of revenue for the currsnt fiscal
year. A careful estimate shows that Of these
appropriations which are specific and containing
appropriations, there will be at least s37. 000,-
600 which will not and cannot be properly ex-
pended during this fiscal year, which makes an
actual surplus Of s56, 000, ,000 which is substau-
tally the same amount estimated by the Secre-
tsry in his annual report But even this does
not fairly represent the surplus revenues for
the fiscal year 1889, for in the appropriations
above stated there is included the sum
Of about SIS. 600 for deficiencies in appro-
priations for 1883 and prior years. which
should havS been appropriated for at
Q prior session of Congress ard paid ous
of the surplus revenues Of former years. This,
added TO the above sum OF s56, 600 600. increases
the surplus revenues of 1889 10 s7f, ,00o, 900.
This does not include the balances which will be
covered into the treasury on the 30th of June,
1889, of unexpended appropriations OF 1887 and
prior years, which, according 70 careful esti-
mates made, will not be less than SC, ,O00. 900. In
the expenditures there is included nearly S46,-
000. 900 for the sinking fund, which is really q
part OF the surplus revenues, and If added will
make total OF si22 900, 900 Of revenue in excess
Of the actual and necessary expenditures Of the
government for the fiscal year 1889, which
would make an actual increase OF surplus at the
end of this year OF s104, ,000, 600. The estimate
OF unexpended balances at tie close of this fiscal
year given above Is extremely low compared
with the actual balances which bave remained
unsxpended IN prior years For instance, June
90 1osS, the unexpended balance OF the appropri-
atIons for that year SO, ,5l4, 600: the 30th
OF June, 1887, SSf3Il. SO for the fiscal year
which ended that day. and for each Of the
years 1886 and 1885, it was over S73, 900.
The above statement has reference to excess Of
revenues for the present fiscal year over ex-
penditures for the same time. and Is entirely IN
dependent or the surplus now IN the treasury.
amounting to $97. .g34 305. including S24. .347. .54e
OF fractional coin. Any portion Of the present
surplus not expended within this fiscal year for
the purchase of bonds must be added to
the slG4. 000. 900 TO arrive at the actual
surplus which will remain In tie treasury
on the 30th OF June next. With respect TO this
probable revenues for the fiscal year 1889, the
books of the treasury show that during the
present fscal year, up - and including Oct. 15.
the receipts have aggregated sll3. 961 .566 as
against sll5, s65, ,473 for the same period last
year. falling off Of OILY 81. .SSl. .907. which may
be more than made up by increased receipts
during the remainder of the year. which de.
months Immediately preceding presidential
election. There is. therefore. no reason 10 be-
lieve that the actual receipts for the fiscal year
1889 will fall below the estimated receipts. In
view OF the increased activity 10 ali branches Of
business il is believed that they will fully equal
IL not exceed the estimate