Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-07-03
"a Billion Dollar Country"
Extracts from the speech Of Hon. ChRs.
Foster, Secretary of the 4. =. Treasury,
Mt the ohio republican Convention.

Extracts from the speech Of Hon. ChRs.
Foster, Secretary of the 4. \. Treasury,
Mt the Ohio Republican Convention.
1t is well to call the attention of the
country, and especially of our Democratic
friends, to the fact that this nation Is CON
stantly growing. When they flippantly
talk about billon-dolar Congress, we can
reply that this is billion-dollar country,
and that within the lifetime of those now
living it will become a twO-biliOn country.
1t is not my purpose to undertake defence
of all the appropriations that were made
| by the Republican Congress just retired.
There were some appropriations that should
| not have been made, but all of this char
aCtcr were supported as much by Demo
Gratis as Republicans AS to the apprOpria-
| tions made for government purposes, the
only question to be considered should be,
us the treasury in such financial condition
as to be able to pay them, and are they. in
| the light of the necessities of our people,
| iustifableY' All of this character are
defensible upon the grounds of the public
good. OF the $40, 100000 of increase in
appropriations, S22, 800, 900 is for the postal
service. This represents simply the growth
of the country for two years; in fact, this
is not an appropriation in the ordinary
sense of the term. All the government pays
out of the vast appropriation made for the
postal service is the difference between the
receipts for postage and the expense of the
service, amounting annually to perhaps five
or six millions of dollars. No Democrat
can or will object to the increase of appro-
priations for this purpose. \ large in
crease is in the matter of pensions. In
| fact, nearly two-thirds of the entire increase
referred to, or S1l3, 300, 900, is due to the
increase of the pension list. The appro-
priatiOns for pensions for the years of lS9l
and 1892 are over 2jO,OOO,O 900. We may
as well understand that there is public
sentiment in the country that will push
forward the just claims of the soldier until
all who mpprilled their lives that the Union
might live shall come within the folds of
the pension laws of the country. Does my
Democratic friend object to the increase
of S113. 100000 in appropriations for this
purpose? If he does let him say so. There
is an increased appropriation of So, 100000
for census purposes; this of course could
not be avoided. Does any Democrat OBJ
ject to this? There was an increased APP
preparation of Sll 100000 for new ships
and for the navy. In few years more,
unless Democratic economy steps in the
way. our navy will be the pride of the ma
ton. and an enormous help to our diplo-
macy. Does any Democrat object to this?
Large appropriations were made for the
agricultural department. TheseapprOpra-
tiuns have been used by the present secre-
tary. General RuSk, in the most effective
way for the good Of the country. Every
farmer in the land has felt the reviyifying
influence of the proper application of the
large APPROPRIATIONS for the agricultural
department. Already decided advance
has taken place in the price of cattle and
hogs? Does any Democrat object to this?