The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-02-25
No Surplus in Sight.

There is not N Ich probability that the- e
will be any surplus in the next fiscal year.
If the republican programme with re5pect 70
pensions is carried out there viii be deficit
| In a spsech last week on the worlds fair
bill, Rspres sentative Peters, of Kansas, a
republican member Of the COMMITTEES on
appropriations, presented soma figures that
ought TO prevent any further increase in
! the pension burden.
The estimated income Of the goveram 3nt
for the next fiscal year is S459. 4l4, 337 "a,
| The regular appropriations for that year
will amount TO S3l5 PA. SOP OF. The per-
mauent annual appropriatioas-sha is,
appropriations for which it is not required
/ to provide annually in the apDropri-
alton bills amount to SI0l,6 .4J3.
making a total for the coming fiscal
year OF S4O5, S43.3l5 OF. The miscellaneous
appropriations will amount to, if they DO
not exceed, S1O.255, 795 %, and the def
ciencies will require fully S25, 900, 900. Ac-
c0rding to Representative Peters, therefore,
the aggregate appropriations are certain to
amount to Sl2,O99. ITO So. From these
figures it appears that the appropriations
that will have 70 be made will absorb the
estimated revenues, with the exception Of
about 100000.
1t is worthy Of notice that Representative
Peters made no mention of any appropria-
tiOns for the rivers aud harbory. In his
book Of estimates the chief of engineers
says that at least S5S, 532, $50 can be profita-
bly, expended during the next fiscal
year on the rivers and harbors. No
liver and harbor bill was passed at the last
session Of congress, and the bill that will be
reported at this session of congress will carry
appropriations for two years. 1t will ap-
propriate at least s25, 900, 900, and, perhaps
as much as s3O,OO),OOO. Where is the money
to come froml
This question is an important one to those
who are interested in rivers and harbors.
No more popular measure CONES before
congress than the river and harb)r bill.
The people in nearly all parts of the country
favor it, because they are either directly or
indirectly benefited by the improvement of
rivers and harbors. Is it to be the policy of
the Republican party to increase the pension
burden-a burden that is already much
greater than it ought to beat the expense
OF improvements that will help commerce.
Senator Blair advanced as one of the
arguments in behalf of his educational bill
that it would distribute some of the public
money in the south-would, to a limited
extent, compensate the south for the MILL
ions she contributes to the pension appro-
priation, which is almost wholly distrib-
uted in the north. Why not give the south
liberal appropriations for her rivers and
harbors as slight offset to tho hundred
millions the north gets in the shape of pen
sionss With improved rivers and harbors
she would be better able than she now is to
help support the northern pensioners.
The figures which Representative Peters
presented are not the result of guess work.
He is in position to know what the appro-
priations will be for the next fiscal year.
Unless there are very considerable reduc-
lions in the regular and permanent appro-
priations the rivers and harbors will stand
a poor chance of being dealt with gener-
ously.