Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-13

flood to mark an epoch in history. and a great
many people in this country fix dates by de
wah, but with the Indians OF Pine Ridge the
dividing line will be the Fourth of July. 1891.
Gro. h. HARRIEs.
THE FINANCIAL SITUATION.
Secretary Fosters Views as to the Condition
/ of the United States Treasury.
HE CONSIDERS THAT THERE ARE ABUNDANT RE-
! SOURCES TO PAY ALL THE APPROPRIATIONS OF
THE LAST CONGRESS AND BELIEVES THAT THE
| APPROPRIATIONS WERE UNSUITABLE.
The following editorial signed by Secretary
Foster appeared in the New York Recorder yes
| terday: The republican party has now been in
control of the administrative branches of the
governm ent little over two years, and during
that period it has also had control Of both
houses Of Congress for the first time in years.
With this lease of power it has performed more
in the way of beneficial legislation and wise adj
ministration than has been accomplished dur
ing any similar period since the foundation Of
the government, with the exception, of course,
of the extraordinary times of war and the con-
structive legislation Immediately following the
adoption Of the Constitution. or some of this
work time alone can tell the effect; of other
portions of it the country is already beginning
to reap the benefits.
The appropriations made by the last Con-
gress were, 1t is charged, larger in amount
than has ever before been the case. Our dem
ocratlc critics have named il the billion dollar
Congress. We reply that this is billion col
lar country, and when they denounce the ex-
travagance of appropriation in mass we
challenge them to criticise 1t in detail and
point out such items could better have been
emitted with due regard to the growth and
constantly increasing demands of the United
States. do not pretend to say that ell the
appropriations made were beyond criticism,
but in every instance 1t will be found that such
appropriations as were improper were sup
ported as much by democrats as by republic
cans. Appropriations made for government
purposes are properly subject only to the in
qulres, lis the treasury In such financial con-
dition as to be able to pay them? and are they,
III the light OF the necessities Of the people,
justitable!' III these two questions can be
answered affrmatively no reasonable objection
can be made TO tue appropriations. .--
According to the estimate OF Senator Allison,
which regard as the best authority, the in
crease In the appropriations for the years 1891
and 1892 over the two years of 1889 and 1890
was S11 o .00G. 900. OF this increase SD 500 900
was for the postal service. Ii we bear in mind
that the increase in postal receipts for the fiscal
year 1891 over the fiscal year 1885 were .22,-
$50, 600 it will be seen that this increase simply
represents the growth OF the country aud is
not an appropriation in the ordinary meaning
of the term. All that the government really
pays out of the postal appropriation is the diff
ference between the receipts for postage and
the expense of the service, amounting annually
to 5000 900 or $4,000, 900. In regard to the
Sll3, sos. 600 increase on account Of pensions il
Is hardly necessarytC say any thing at this time
do not believe that the democratic party as q
whole Is yet prepared to object to a suitable
provision for those who imperiled their lives
that the Union might live. Neither is the in
creased appropriation of Sl1 900 COO for new
ships and for the navy one to which any intel
igent man will object, especially in view of
events OF recent occurrence. Let us hope that
no feeling Of unwise economy will intervene to
prevent the development of our navy until it
becomes the pride of the nation and an meal
culable assistance to our diplomacy
The Increased appropriations for the Agricul-
tural Department have already justified them
selves i'll the revival Of agriculture in every
part of the land and in the placing Of our meat
products on a firm footing in the markets of
the world. The increase III the river and har-
Dor appropriations is IS, co., 600 but aside from
the general question of the advisability OF gem
erous appropriations for internal improve
ments 1t is not proba BILE that any southwestern
democrat at least will object to the approprn,-
ton of S6,0o0000 for the improvement of Gal
weston harbor, nor will any one seriously de-
nounce the increase of $1,000. 600 for harbor
defense. No democratic governor has yet
shown any reluctance TO apply for his states
share of the $4,000, 600 appropriated for the
retunding of the direct tax. The appropria-
tons for public buildings were nearly half %
million dollars less than in the Fiftieth Con-
gress.
tits a fayorite pastime Of democratic orators
and editors to announce that the bankrupt
treasury will not be able to meet the obiiga-
tlons thrust upon it by the Eifty-tirst Congress.
The present administration has paid S234. 900. 900
OF the bonded debt of the country. Some time
ago ventured to make the prediction, speak
ing from "A thorough knowledge of the subject.
that we should have money enough to meet all
the expenditures of the government and add
handsome sum to that already paid On the
bonded debt of the country. 1 am glad to
take advantage OF this opportunity to repeat
the prediction.
Within the last ten days the Treasury De-
partment has proposed an extension at 2 per
cent OF s5l ,OO0,OUO of A. per cent bonds, pay
ment OF which is optional on September l.
This has been done In the hope that by ex-
tending the bonds the national banks would
be induced to buy them the basis for the
issue of additional circulating notes. and We
have reason to believe that from the recep-
ton already given the proposition we shall
be able to add about S25, 600. 900 in national
bank notes to the circulation OF the country
The success OF the proportion was assured
before the extension WAS orde red, and it is a
matter for congratulatiOn that the United
States in this matter is able to show credit
higher than that OF any other nation. That
this should be the case Is due to the repub-
lican policy, which has steadily strengthened
the financial standing of the government
and which has already enabled to pay
nearly the whole of the tremendous debt in
CURED to prosecute the war by processes 30
gentle that no man has felt their force.