The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-11-18

When Congress meets In December IL
I'm ha confronted with a most serious
condition Of affairs. AS has been often
,o,od when the Billion-doIlar Congress
,n,. after Mr.. Cleveiands admirable ad-
minlstration 1t found surplus OF 'iVV'-
ooo 900 OF good, hard money In the Treas
,rv and the revenues OF the country IN
creaging so rapidly that Mr.. Cleveland
hod deemed IL his duty. just before his
term expired. 20 recommend some meas
,,ra Of healthful reduction which would
keen in the pockets Of the people the large
sums of which they were annually I'M
necessarily drained. That Congress, how
over. Immediately set on foot system
~ criminal and wasteful extravaganza,
which not only made way with that
enormous surplus. but looted the vaults
of the Treasury, and in its stead left
deficit.
The Fifty-hrst Congress, therefore. finds
itself in a most embarrassing position,
During its first session the appropriations
were 500, OOO, 900. of which sli6OOO,OOO were
for pensions, and OF this latter Item
100000 were for former deficit In pen
sion appropriations. Now, we read that,
at the present rate Of Treasury expendi-
ture 1t will require s1S6,OOOOOO to meet
pension payments for the current fiscal
year, and large deficit for this purpose
seems inevitable, for with this increase
in the payment OK pensions, and with ad-
ditional anticipated increase In the fu-
ture the existing revenues OF the Gov
eminent will not meet the demand upon
them. The Appropriations Committee esti-
mate that the deficiency will be not less
than sS6OOO.OOO.
Now, how this deficit is to be provided
for without increasing the taxes OF the
people is the great problem for Congress
to solve. Every effort TO do this by the
present Democratic House will, Of course,
be resisted as far as possible, by the
Republican Senate, but even that body
must realize the Importance Of doing
something. 1t has been suggested that
by moderately reducing the eXtravagant
Mckinley duties on textile fabrics and
other articles the revenues from customs
might be considerably increased. Repeal
OF the sugar bounties would effect say
ing of s10OOO,000 in expenditure. and
duty Of quarter of a cent a pound on
raw sugar would bring nearly a like
amount to the Treasury, with no greater
increase in the cost of that commodity
to consumers. AS a contemporary truly
says, "the people never complain OF rea-
sonabe taxes that are levied for the
support Of their Government. With
little financial wisdom and skill in re-
vising the duties on imports II would not
be difficult to provide ample revenue fol
the Government and at the same time to
reduce the burdens OF taxation"
IL is evident that when the Fifty-th.Td
Congress meets and the Democrats have
absolute control Of both Houses with
Democratic President. some measure OF
radical reform must be perfected. Not
only must tariff duties be lowered for
the benefit of the tax-paying masses, as
well as to increase customs receipts on
imports, but the pension Tvs must be
codifed, and the pengion lists purged OF
all fraudulent names. end cut down ma
terially The people cannot stand up
under the burdens which the billion dol
lar Congress has imposed on them, with
out increasing taxation, and any party
which attempts that signs. at once, Its
death warrant.
The Fifty-third Congress Will. no doubs
rect it's grave responsibility h-.-Ssz.
and deal with the GA-stu.-rs< before =
wisely. When 1t has finally relieved the
country OF the serious trouble be-
queathed it by the Infamous billion dol
lar Congress- 1t is sincerely to be hoped
that the people will never again trust
their affairs to the recklessness and ex-
travagance of n party whose leaders
regard public Office only as an oppor-
tunity for the enrichment Of themselves
and favorites at the public expense.