The evening world., 1891-06-19
THE OESPOILED TREASURY.
1t Presents Too Deep a Problem
for Secretary Foster,
Understood at Washington that He
Is Consulting sherman.
rsrrcrn TO THE EVENING womb. !

WAsmNGToS, June lg.--Trcasury officials
arc rs dumb AS oysters about the deficit
shown 10y the last statement Of the Depart
ment.
They will not discuss II in any OF It's phases,
nor can they be induced to point out beyond
the usual generalitles the basis for any hope
for an improved condition OF affairs.
Their embarrassment, however, when the
subject Is mentioned IS manifest. II is gem
orally conceded here to-day that one Of the
reasons for Secretary Fosters trip to Onto is
his desire to secure Senator ShermanS advice
in the emergency.
The situation Is not only n little too much
for the Secretary, but II is recognized as
being grave enough to make necessary con-
Sultations with the ablest tinancleYS In the
country. Mr.. sherman would have been sum
moned here but for the effect on the money
markets.
The object Of the summons could not have
been concealed and the Administration desired
to conceal the straits into which It has been
plunged.
The Republican party everywhere is max
ing special play for the votes of the old SOL
diers, and In order to recommend itself the
more strongly to them Is obliged to keep the
Pension Bureau running on full time. Money
for pensions cannot safely be stopped, but
money for other public purposes is being held
back whenever It is possible.
The public building account shows that
contractors are finding it dificult to secure
settlements, and in other ways money Is be-
ing held back in the effort to hide the true
state OF affairs at the Treasury Department.
The expenditures thus far in the month OF
June have been $s,lsS,S24 in excess OF re-
Ceipts for the same time. The surplus avail
able at the beginning OF the month has disap-
peared, and 1t is said that the deficit to-day IS
nearly half a million dollars.
Payments for pensions made thus far In
June have aggregated $1S,312,155, or S01,-
600 more than the entire receipts OF the
Treasury for the same time. other cNpcnd-
lures Of the Government on appropriations
by Congress have consumed the surplus on
hand which was stated, May 90 last, to be
then a little over $10,OOO,OOO,
The Treasury still has in National banks
about S22,OOO,OOO, and there lies In the
vaults in dimes, quarters and half-dollars
about $2O,OOO,OOO. These coins, however,
| are by law legal tender only for sums OF $40
or fractions thereof.
From statements given out at the Treasury
Department II Is learned that in the closing
days Of May there was paid for pensions
| $S,519,1O9. These were payments due June
4. June ., s5,s5O,OOO more was called for
June o, s4, 100000; June g, $3.50, 900; June
| II, Sl,4OO,OOO; June 10, $3,6OO,OOO; June
II, S2,GO0,O0O.
Disbursements for July, IT Is expected, Will
| be heavier than for June, as II is the first
| month OF the fiscal year, in which appropria-
| tions made by the l. t Congress for pensions,
public buildings, rivers and harbOrs, and all
| the necessities of the Government begin to
run.
1t is also the month in which It has been
predicted that the operation Of certain sec
| tlons OF the Tarin law would begin TO ma
tCrially restrict impOrtations, and, as a con-
| sequence, lessen the receipts from customs.
Treasury officials predict that there will
again be surplus In the Treasury June 30
but no estimate can be obtained of It's cX-
| pected dimensions, and no statement as tn
| the sources from which 1t is expected to be
derived.
In June, 1883, the surplus in the United
states Treasury exceeded 100000, 900. In
the statement issued by Secretary Window
| Dec. 81 last, the net cash balance on hand,
"including National Bank Redemption Fund, -
was &39, ,S27, ,S73. In this net balance or sur
plus was included $19,o0O,OOO In subsidiary
coin, which, as stated above, is legal tender
| only In sums OF $40 or less.
II is stated that Il cabinet meeting has
been called for next Friday TO consider
specially the condition OF the public treasury.