New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-08-21
THE BEGGARLY SURPLUS.
A MEAGRE EXCESS OF ONLY TWELVE MIL.
LIONS IN THE TREASURY.
TIKI CAPITOL AMUSED OVER TIE SUDDEN DIsAr-
rEARANcE OF THE "ceNDITroN FACTS
sNp FIGURES FROM DEMOCRATIC


rEARANcE OF THE CONDITION FACTS
sND FIGURES FROM DEMOCRATIC
SOURCES FURNISH THE PRoor.
tRv TELEGRAPH rHrBuSEl
Washington, Aug 2o.-The mysterious disap
rcarancc Of the alleged surplus is the one topic Of
engrossing interest at the Capitol. After oil the
pondcrous logic which has been expended on this
subject and the didactic essays which havc been
transmitted to Congress by the Executive to the
exclusion of other tcrics Of pressing public i'm
poitance the ridiculous outcome is irresistibly
comical. Friends and foes alike are staggering
over it The facts as stated in The Tribune dis
patches corroborated to-day by official figures
given out on the joint authority Of the Committees
Of Appropriation of both House and Senate In
stead of demoralizing, bideous and dangerous
surplus OF hundred and fifty millions or so there
arc hardly twelve and quarter millions in sight,
and even this amount is liable TO be whitfield down
still further by demands from sources not included
in Congressional appropriation bills as pointed out
in these dispatches yesterday
There is no dispute ms to the figures given. In
round numbers the appropriations passed, or pend
ing in conference and on the way to certain adop-
ton. are as follows: Army, Navy, Indian, Diplo
matte and Consular, Pension, Legislative and judi
cial, Post Ofice, Military Academy, River and Har-
$4,000. Deficiency bills resulting from the fail
ure OF the last Democratic House 10 appropriate
the absolutely necessary amounts for the known
requirements of the public service-$is 227, 900;
Public Buildings and miscellaneous relief bills
sj,636,oo0; permanent approprations-$ll
100000; all of which with the smaller details,
herein omitted added thcreto) make q total pros
pcc;ivc expenditure of S42s, 2eo,520 (beng an in
crease OF S64, 0s4, 100 the appropriations Of
last year, against prospective revenue of $440-
$685. 134,-thus leaving a possible surplus Of Sl2,-
294 2l3, which, If the Mills bill should pass, would
be converted into q deficiency Of moro than &c.,
100000.
The clerks Of the House and Senate committees
in giving out these figures state in fairness that
there is reduction in the Fertilization bill as
passed by the House Of two and a half millions
and duplication of similar item in another
bill of three millions. But against this there
arc pending numerous public building bills In
transit TO the Executive. which will probably
receive approval unless the member urging them
is Of the Allentown" persuasion, and in the
estimates as given no account Is taken of the
numerous private pension bills. These sources
together will moro than offset the allowances
made on the Fertilization account, and the figures
can therefor stand.
sum the industries Of the country have been
called upon to stand still, and the wheels of |
legislation have been blocked. This exposure. |
of course, leaves the newly enlisted Administra-
ton organs in plight which il is charitable
TO call humiliating. They denied with robust |
rhetoric the statements Of The Tribune aud |
other we-informed journals. Just as they would |
deny, with adequate inducement, the revolutions |
of the earth, and assert with brother jasper |
that the sun do move" Official statements
from the Democratic Appropriations Committee
now disprove their denals.
On both sides of the Capitol the denouement is
regarded with much amusement. Republican SEN
Il, ors admit that the joke is on them well as on
the House and that in accepting and attempting
to treat seriously the cry Of q dangerous surplus
hey leaped before they looked" They propose
TO look now, and look very thorou ghly into this
whole question, including the method Of keeping
The Treasury balances Ore leading Senator re-
marked laughngly today that 1t reminded him
Of the old story of the problem propounded by
one of the English Kings to his councillors as to
why o arge-sized fish could be placed in o bucket
already filled with water to the brim without
causing any Of the water to over The
story" added the Senator. " is o chestnut OF
course, you remember that after a number Of
most learned theories had been advanced to &C
.ount for tie phenomenon. Of the savants
uggcsted that o bucket Of water and fish be
,rou ght in for practical demonstration. This
vas DONE and the condition that was supposed
o confront them was found not to exist