The National tribune., 1891-07-02

L"IroR NAwoNAL TWnCYE:
D. what Vas The total amount OF appropriations
Of the last Congress-
. What was The total amount appropriated TO
pay pensions ia 1891, on until next Congress?
B viii amy soldier draw 10000 OF overiu lump?
4 Is the necessary expense likely TO keep on in-
crcasing rather than 10 diminish?
D. What viii the standing appropriation for
sugar bountcs rcach2
G Did Congress authorize the building Of public
bniidings river aud harbor improvements with
out making appropriations 10 foot the bils:-
!. II. hovEY san Dernardino. Cal.
!. S9ss Ilol2925. This was sl7O,il6,-
2G975 more than the total appropriations Of
the Fitch Congress, but this ncludes a
deficiency Of s25,a2I 93735, for which the
previous Congress failed 10 provide, leaving
an excess Of S1l7l253GllO properly charge
able to the Fifty-frst Congress.
.. The appropriation for pensions for the
fiscal year beginning July /, 1891, was
:l35,2li7s5. This, Of course, is intended
TO pay all pensions until June so, 1872.
3. IL is impossible TO say whether any
pensioner viii receive as much as $4,000 in
lump 1t is not unlikely, however, that in
the vigorous clearing up Of long pending
claims which is now going on in tine Pension
Bureau, and which the President, Secretary
Of the Interior and Assistant Secretary
Bussey are urging on, there may be found a
number Of cases in which the arrears, ac-
cumulating for many years, will aggregate
fully $4,000.
4. We anticipate a rapid reduction in the
pension expenditures As soon as the long
standing claims are cleared of. For exam
pie, in his report for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1890, the Commissioner Of Pensions
showed that out Of total expenditure of
Sl0G,493, s9)l9, the annual value of the
pensions was only S72O52,1 1919, leaving
S3i,Ail,Gi67O for arrears. That is, more
than one-fourth the entire amount went TO
pay arrears, which should have been settled
years ago, which would have reduced the
expenditures for that year to 81 O52 1919.
The policy Of the present Administration is
to get the old cases disposed Of IS rapidly as
possible, which, in addition TO being Just
and mcrciful 10 the long waiting claimants,
is sound business policy, and the surest
way Of reducing the pension expenditures.
Another rapid, but mourniul, reduction
comes from the swihly-augmenting num-
Der Of deaths. The number dropt from
the rolls in 1890 was 202l6 1t Will not
be long till this number will swell 10
$4,000.
g. There was no definite amount appro-
prialcd for the payment Of sugar bouniies.
The act directs that there shall be paid
ilom any moneys in the Treasury not
otherwise appropriated" aud so far we have
only estimates as TO how much will be
required II depends wholly upon the ex-
tent 70 which our people 20 into the raising
OF beets, sorghum and cane and the success
they have IN making sugar from them. The
present Inmates range from S7,5OO.O0O and
SsYGgOOO0.
6. No. Every bill for public buildings
and river and harbor improvements carried
an appropriation 10 pay for The work. The
only exceptions that we can find to this
were Eve in the last LIST which ,r.r. e.
improving the harbor Of Galveston. $500 600:
for that Of Philadelphia, 100000; Balti-
more, s2aoHoo; ST. Mary's River, 5000 OG0,
and Hay Lake Channel, ST. Mays River,
100000. The Secretary Of War was author
lied to make contracts for these works. and
the money to pay for it will be furnished him
from lime 10 lime rs the work progresses.
o