The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1890-03-21
THE ERA OF pRoFLIoAcy.

In 1875 the administration Of John
Quincy Adams was arraigned in every
state IN The Union because Of prohigacy,
when the total expenditures Of the govern
nent including interest on public DEBT,
cached The then appalling sum Of $i6.-
100000 10 time Of peace. In 1861, the
first year Of Lineoin's administration, the
total revenues Of the government, exclu.
sive OF proceeds Of loans, were $4t,476,
so9,apd The total expenditures, Including In
terest on the public debt,were S66.6So,z4I.
The risii war increased that amount $780,.
600. 600 the succeeding year, but the en-
tire average expenditures Of the govern.
ment on the peace basis for the decade
prior 10 the rebellion, did not exceed s6s,-
ooo. 600.
The revenues for the eurreft year are
now estimated at from S4oo,oos,o 600 70
| S4so,ooo.ooo aud the only extraordinary
Expenditure We have is for pensions. The
estimates OF certain expenditures given 10
the House by Mr. Peters, one Of the prom.
inent republican members ef the commit
tee On Appropriations, amount 10 S447,
100000, which do not embrace the prison
pension bill. estimated at $fI. 500, 900; the
pension arrears bin estimated At $47f ,ooo,-
600 the hIst year the service Of the de-
pendent pension bills, estimated 1T over
Sloo,ooo,ooo the river and harbor bill for
which over S3oeoo,ooo are demanded, or
the fertilization bill, lately reported In the
Senate for SI76, 100000. Of which $780,
100000 would likely be expended the first
year.
OF course, the passage of all these bills
is an utter impossibiIiiy. as they would
bankrupt the treasury and leave deficit
OF some $Joo,ooo 900; but every one Of
these measures Is earnestly and hopefully
pressed upon Congress and 1t will be re-
markabie II most OF them shall not be
passed with more or less reduced appro-
psiaiions. II so, a bankrupt treasury Is
inevitable. Indeed, TIE passage Of either
the arrears, the service the dependent pen.
sion bill would create treasury descit for
the next fiscal year. and who can hope that
the country viii escape with the passage
Of only one OF the three pension bills
namedi
The firat tangible evidence Of the era OF
prohigscy upon which VIC have just entered
- presented in he usual Urgent Deficiency
bill, that appropriates Sal 100000 to square
up the pension deficiency, although the last
Congress appropriated every dollar asked
for by the Pension Department This
pension deficiency appropriation brings our
present pension up TO SIII,ooo,ooo annu-
ally. or nearly double the entire exPendi-
lures OF the government before the war
and when other the service, the depend
en-. or The arrears pension bill shall be
passed. a large treasury deficit will be
created. while the passage Of all of them,
as /, quite possible. would make the ag-
gregs,e coat Of pensions next year equals
to the entire sum expended for the war In
1874.
Congressman Peters did not call the halt
upon his republican brethren any toe
soon, but vii; his wise admonitIons be
hcededf Doubtless the colossal demands
of pronIgates will force sober thought ans
! some restraint In appropriations; but ths
era OF prohlgaey is upon us, and bank
rupt treasury seems to be inevitable re
gardiess of the earnest efforts which ' II
Be made 10 save both the treasury and tn
J party.