The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1891-01-24
The Bankrupt Treasury.

As well as it is generally known that the
large surplus in the National Treasury at the
beginning of the present administration has
already been sduandered, and that there Will
at once be a great deficit, unless money IS
borrowed and new debts contracted which
will require more taxes to meet, the exact
situation is little known outside official
circles. Senator Carlisle has prepared a
statement of the squandering of the surplus,
which he will publish in the February Forum.
In brief it is this:
At the beginning of the Harrison admins
tration, March 4, 1889, the cash balance IN
the treasury, which was a surplus, amounted
TO $50, 900, 0O0 At the end Of this fiscal
year, June 80, 1891, there will be deficit OF
Sl4 900, 900: and at the end of the next fiscal
wear. June 80, 1892, deficit of SS4 900, 900.
This is the inevitable record of this Repub-
lican administration, because the legislation
that has already been enacted prevents the
decrease of expenditure. There can now he
no turning back.
The increase of the expenditures OF the
National Government has been very much
more rapid than the increase of population.
The following parallel tells the story Of Re-
publican extravaganza in spite of Republican
promise and prediction:
PROMISE AND PREDICT TIE PERFORMANCE;
TIoH. Senator Carlis c
Mr.. Garfield, in shows that while the
1872, when he waspopulation in 1890
Chairman of eHouse was only 10 times as
Committee on Appro great as IN 1870, yet
priations speaking expenditures were
for his party, and more than 40 times
apoloeizing even then as great. In 1910 the
long before the time expenditures per cap
of the heaviest expen- tia were ~ cents; III
diture, for the cost of 1880 they were u. ~.
the Government, said: While the population
at is manifest that was nine times as
the necessity of ex- great, the per capita
penditures does not expenses of the Gov
keen mace with the eminent was As times
mere increase of num- as great. And the
bers; and, while the ratio OF increase is
total sum Of moneys constantly becoming
expended must neces- larger, although this
sarily be greater fromiIs a time OF peace.
year to year, thei The expenditures Tor
amount per capita the hscai year 1881
ought, in all well reg are greater by II per
ulated governments in cent. than for the
time of peace, to d ing year,
grow gradually less although the popula-
tiOn has increased
PROMISE AND PREDIC- only . per cent.
TIoN AGAIN.
Gen. Garfield said THE FACTS NEvERTHE-
IN 1877 IN the same LE>s.
speech: 1--WE may In 1872 pensions
reasonably expect that consumed only S2S,-
the expenditures for 100000. But IN 1880
pensions will here this was increased TO
after steadily decrease, SlO6, g36, 900. This
unless our legislation year 1t will be Sl33,
should be unwarrant- O0O,OOO land the
ably extravagant.' country, says Senator
Carlisle, twill be
Unexpectedly fortu-
nate if the expendi-
lures for this purpose
stop short of $780,
100000 per annum.
Senator Carises conclusion is this: sit
is the confirmed and incurable habit of the
party now in power to dispose of the public
money in a wasteful and extravagant man
ner. and there is no reason to suppose that
it will cease to pursue this course until the
treasury is exhausted. What was two years
ago the richest public treasury in the world
will be substantially bankrupt long before the