New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-24
4 DAVGEP TO BE REMEMBERED.

II is never a gracious task TO restrain cX-
trayagance in appropriations. OF all the duties
which fall to the lot of legislator this is about
the most thankcss and diSagreeabc There
fore. the members of Congress who endeavor
to prevent excessive liberality in public eX-
penditures are the more entitled to the SYM
patty and support of taxpayers. IT is reported
that President Harrison has become alarmed
on account of the many and large approprla-
tons for public buildings and other purposes,
and there would seem from published accounts
of measures passed to be some reason for APP
prehension. If he should feel compelled to
interpose official objections to excessive appro-
pliations the support of the people would be
given TO the President rather than to those
who vote away public money unreaSonably.
There are tabuatcd statements published that
bills making appropriations for public build
ngs have already passed one house aggrcgating
more than eighteen millions. THE TRIBUNE
has not vet had opportunity to compare the
statements with the record. and trusts that
they are not accurate. but the frequency and
amount Of such appropriations have attracted
much attention. If the statements are cor
rect there is reason enough for endcavor to
restrict excessive liberalty.
There are other measures pending. and
deemed likely to pass, which would take large
sums out of the Treasury The River and
Harbor bill. as reported calls for an eXpendi-
ture of twenty millions, and this is a measure
which is apt to grow rather than to shrink III
;ts nrooross through the two houses The
Direct Tax bill calls for seventeen Millions
and the Service Pensions bill is supposed to
involve fifty millions and all these, aS well
as the appropriations for public buildings, are
outside the sums necessary for the ordinary
expenditures of the Government These ordi-
nary expenditures were estimated by Secretary
Window. in his annual report, at about two
hundred and ninoty-twO millions Tor the NEXT
fiscal wear, besides about forty-nine millions
required for the sinking fund. But II the DIS
above mentioned should all be added, without
any others Of an unusual character, the assre-
gate for the wear would exceed four hundred
and forty-six millions.
It is not to be supposed that sober and in
tellicent Senators or Representatives Of the
majority have any intention OF swelling the
anproprjations to such a figure. No doubt they
realize that performance Of that sort would
meet with serious popular disapproval, that 1t
might lulUell inc Su'''fN VI INV i'''''N'
Marty and thus the ability of that party to
protect and promote interests for which 1t cares
Infinitely more than for this or that local or
general appropriation. But the di'culty Is
that each Senator and Representative j. IN
clined 10 make an exception IN favor OF one APP
nronriation or another. in which his consili-
uents are deeply interested, and when he ap-
meals TO his associates they in turn ask his as
sent to other measures in which their consult
uonts are interested. Thus one bill after an
other goes through until Congress wakes up
10 tho discovery that it has appropriated IN the
aggregate more money than 1t meant TO APP
prOpriate.
If the pending Tariff bill or any other OF
similar character is to be passed, for the de-
fence of home industries and the relief OF
agricultural depression, tho revenue will be
largely reduced. According to estimates OF
the Treasury Department, the revenues under
existing laws would amount for the next fiscal
wear to three hundred and eighty-hve miiilohS
hut the Committee Of Ways and Means csil-
mates that its bill would cut of seventY-one
millions. reducing the income to three hundred
and fourteen millions for the coming year.
This is less than the amount required Tor oIdl-
nary cxpenditurcs and the sinking fund.- but
there is in the Treasury large unused ac-
emulation which might be reduced with safety
and even with pubic benefit by thirty millions
or more. But if Congress should appropriate
far more than the amount estimated, and at
the same time cut down the revenues as pro
POSED the available cash reserve would be de-
plccd beyond the point of safety.
Congress cannot carry water on both Shoul-
dcrs 1t cannot please those who want sub
stantial reduction of public burdcns-and these
arc the great body of the pcoplc-and at the
same time please all the people in the various
districts who want liberal appropriations. IT
will have to choose, and in order to make a
! free and wise choice will have to make 1t soon
After a great amount has been voted away III
addition to the necessary expenditures, 1t Will
be too late to talk Of cffccting the contemplated
reduction of taxation. Unless consultation can
fix a definite sum which appropriations shall
not exceed, the results may not be crcdtablo
nor helpful to the party in power.