Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-03
TWO KINDS OF FIGURES.
Republican and Democratic Financial
Statements In tho House.


Statements In the House,
When the conference report on the river and
harbor bill was presented TO the House yestsr-
day Chairman Cannon Of the committee on ap-
preparations took occasion to make statement
touching the expenditures authorized during
the present session as compared with the ap-
preparations made at the flrst session Of the
Fiftieth Congress. After showing that the ap-
preparations made during the long sessions are
always in excess Of those made during the
short sessions Mr.. Cannon said that during
the first session Of the last Congress there was
appropriated for pensions Ss5,25s, 700, ~
against $123, 799, S6S for the present session,
showing an excess of eSS, $50 66s for the latter.
Continuing Mr.. Cannon said: "When our dem.
ooratic friends cry out extravaganza in the in
crease Of appropriations I reply that such In
crease results solely from increased legislation
and payment OF pensions for soldiers and
sailors OF the late war, and that was one OF the
issues In the campaign OF 1888, and in compli-
ance with the republican platform, as we'll a.
from the standpoint Of patriotism and Justice,
We make the increase an appeal TO the country
for our justification. A critical examination Of
the appropriations made during this and tho
two preceding sessions Of Congress will justify
the statement that had the last session of Cob
Of iberality that seemed to have governed that
Congress at its first or long session, and had it
provided, rs it should have done, SO as to avoid
the S3s, 5l1,S41l7 Of deficiencies which IL de-
volved upon this Congress. the sum total OF ap-
preparations at this session would have been
no greater il not less than they were at the
last session."
Mr.. Cannon produced table making the
following exhibit:
Appropriations first session, Fifty-frst Con-
gress; s4Go, CAS- 400; appropriations, second sss-
ion, Fiftioth Congress 1886, 337, 5l6-apparent
increase. 5,S0S, ss6. From this is deducted
amount Of river and harbor bill, none having
passed at the last SESSION, $25, 000, 00O leaving
an excess OF $40 sos, 1885, From this excess Is de-
Quoted s34. ,668 ON account of increase Of
cate new disability pension claims. $3.50, 900
for artificial limbs. SSl90S for soldiers homes,
or in all S35, S3l 1862, leaving net increase for
his session Of S4,477 ,624.
Commenting on this exhibit Mr.. Cannon
said: 1T will be seen that the whole increase in
appropriations this season over the last, after
deductlng the river and harbor bill and the in
creased sums for soldiers, is more than &C.
counted for by the increase OF 5,621, 1854, which
is given on account of the postal service.
THE QUESTION OF REVENUE
Touching the question Of revenue the esti-
mated revenue for the fiscal year 1S9O-91 is
CIT 900 less than the amount actually COL
lected in lsS9-9O. and, assuming that the same
revenue laws prevail and in view of the steady
growth OF the country, there is no reason to
estimate less collection for 1891. As the esti-
mates OF revenue for 1891. made nine months
ago, were $3.50, Ala, 1877 it is reasonable to add
to that estimate at least S17 1000, 900. which
would make grand total Of revenue for 1891
OF. S467, 414, 1897. The appropriations for this
session aggregate $3.50, SAG. 202
'But this entire amount should not be
n harU incf tha Co. Sxl-
s3S, 5ll 54l deficiencies provided for during the
session the whole sum should be deducted, be.
cause OF 1t S27, 600, ISL actually paid out Of
the Treasury prior to July l. 1890, and no part Of
tho former sum has anything to do with the
current expenses of the government during the
fiscal year 1891, nor Is it chargeable against tn
revenues to be collected during that fiscal year.
After deducting the amount actually paid GU I
prior to July l the remainder, $40, 9GS, $780,
should be deducted from the net cash in the
Treasury on that date in order to properly
ascertain the total actual and estimated re-
sources of the government for the fiscal year
1891, beginning July I, 1890"
THE SURPLUS.
Mr.. Cannon deducted from the total surplus
OF $lS6, $50, 4l6 on account Of ~ per cent bonds
not to be redeemed for the sinking fund $50, :.
Ol5,75C. on account of the new pension law
$50, OO0. 900 and on account of reduction under
the Mckinley bill CSC. 600, 900, or in all sl7O.-
Ol5, $50, leaving net surplus of SIG, 974, 666,
and IL it should be the policy of the govern
ment Gas no thought it would bel to redeem
the So, OILS, $50 Of ~ per cent bonds so as TO
carry Va, DOC, 900 OF them into the sinking fund
under its requirements for 1892, tho net sur
plus would be increased by that amount to
36A. 974,666. Mr.. Cannon further said:
This statement shows not only the pro-
priety but the necessity Of the reduction OF
revenue by placing sugar upon the free list,
and that the revenues Of the government will
still be ample to meet all expenditures OF the
government, including the sinking fund Of
S49, 200.O 600 for this year. want to say, how
ever, that in my opinion 1t would not be mis-
fortune II our revenue were go adjusted by .
further reduction. not contemplated by the
Mckinley bill, as to require a suspension of the
sinking fund tor ten years to come. for am
informed at the Treasury Department. that the
requirements of the fund have already been
anticipated by actual reduction Of the public
debt by more than $3.50, 000. OOO."
In conclusion Mr.. Cannon referred to the
number OF new Offices created, which, he said,
excluding those for the Pension Office. ex-
ceeded the number created during the first
session OF the last Congress under Mr.. Cleve-
lands administration only by twenty, while
their whole compensation amounted to 81, S84
less than the aggregate salaries Of the 635
places created by Congress two years ago. The
whole number OF salaries increased il 1.097 as
against ], 486 increased during the last session
OF Congress, or 389 fewer than by the last ses-
sion.
DEMOCRATIC STATEMENT.
Following Mr.. Cannon, Mr.. Sayres Of Texas
submitted a statement representing the vie VS.
OF the democratic members of the appropria-
tions committee. After giving a comparative
statement of figures he said:
ut will be perceived that the appropriations
by the present Congress exceed those of the
first session of the Fiftieth Congress by esq.,
$50, 1927 rs and those Of the second session of
the same Congress by 1868, S66.57. II to the
appropriations Of the present Congress we add
the permanent and indefinite appropriations
as estimated by the Secretary of the Treasury,
to wit: $401, 62S, 453, we will have an aggre-
gate Of appropriations Tor the fiscal year end
ing June 30, 1891, Of S461, S44, 77989 as against
S450, 414, 337.34, the revenue including postal
receipts as estimated by the Secretary Of the
Treasury, thus making the excess of appropris-
tons over revenues $l1, 430, 442.55.
Notwithstanding these heavy appropriations,
no ono at all acquainted with tho fiscal affairs
OF the government will deny the prediction
that the deficiencies for the present fiscal year
will be very heavy, and will also be much
larger and more numerous than those of like
period Tor many years heretofore. -
I'm the matter OF pensions alone il may be
safely asserted that there will be deficiency
during the present fiscal year of at least @44,-
9O4, 394.07, and in the Department Of Justice Of
not less than $675, 900, and in the Office of pub
lie printer S487, O00-to say nothing as to the
other branches Of the public service. In ad-
dition to the appropriations to which We have
called attention. the present Congress have
authorized contracts for the manufacture of
heavy ordnance to the extent Of S3, 775,oOO; for
the construction Of war vessels, which, whom
completed aud armed. will cost s3A 22S 0OO