Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1892-12-15
early to predict what results may be &C


complished by the conference.
The report of the secretary of the treas.
ury will attract special interest In view Of
the many misleading statements that have
been made as to the state of the public
revenues. Three preliminary facts should
not only be stated but emphasized before
looking into details. First. that the public
debt has been reduced since March 4, 1889,
S269 O74,2OO and the annual interest
charge Sll 1884, ,463. Second, that there
have been paid out for pensions during this
administration up to Nov. /, 1899, s432,-
064, 1870, an excess of Sll4, ,466, 1888 90
over the sum expended during the period
from March !, 1889, and third, that under
the existing tariff up To December l, about
1913 900, 900 of revenue which would have
been collected upon imported sugars II
the DUTY had been maintained, has gone
into the pockets of the people and not into
the public treasury. as before.
Ii there are any who still think that the
surplus should have been kept out of circu
lation by boarding 1t in the treasury. or
| deposting in favored>banks without inter
est while the government continued TO pa,
| to these very banks interest upon the bond,
deposited as security for the deposits, or
| who think that the extended pension lepis-
lation was public robbery, or that the
| duties upon sugar should have been main
tained, an content to leave the argument
where 1t now rests, while we wait to see
whether these criticisms will take the
form OF legislation.
The revenues for the fiscal year ending
June 80 1892 from all sources were 1925
| s6s %. and the expenditures tor all
purposes were S4l5, ,95S, 500 Sc leaving bal
ance of s9,9l4,i5S. &c. Compared with the
| year 1881 our receipts from customs duties
| fell of s42 069 .24l 0s, while our receipts
| from internal revenue Increased S. 2si
| s23. IL leaving net loss Of revenue from
these principal sources of S33, ,7s44l7 30.
The net loss of revenue ftom all sources
| was s32 972 81.
The revenues, estimated and actual, for
the fiscal year ending June 30. 1898, are
| place. by the secretary at s&e3 3S6 $50 a.
and the expenditures At Si6l 1886 .350.4t
showing surplus OF receipts over expen-
ditures Of 81 900 900. The secretary has
| very wisely RETAINED from guessing as TO
| the effect of possible changes In our rev
enue laws since the scope OF these changes
and the time of their taking effect cannot
| 10 any degree be forecast or foretold by
| him.
4 The estimated receipts for the fiscal
/ year ending June 80, 1894, are $3.50 l2l
| 500 - and the estimated appropriations
| si5s POI ,335 50. leaving an estimated sur
/ p.a p.us o. lsceipIs over expenditures OF SS2,-
| $50 .03o %. This does not include sny
| payment TO the sinking fund In the rec
| ommendation of the secretary that the
SINKING luhd law be repealed | concur
ne retirement OF bonds In the future be-
iofe maturity should be matter OF con-
| venience. not Of compulsion.
The public confidence in the purpose and
! ~ ha
/ parity OF all our money issues whether coin
| or paper must remain uushsken.
! ne report OF the secretary Of war brings
/ again to the attention Of Congress some
4 important suggestions as 70 the reorgan-
7 lzstion OF the Infantry and artillery arms OF
/ the service and which his predecessors
! have before urged. Our army is small.
! but It's organization should all the more be
! put upon the most approved modern basis
| The work OF building heavy guns and
I the construction of coast defences has
I been vel begun and should be carried on
| without check
/ The President recommends that a uni
form credit for good behavior be pre-
scribed by Congress for prisoners sentenced
In |. 5, conrts.
Referring to the vast number OF claims
sgalnst the government the President says
70 nave no other check certainly Congress
should supply the department Of justice
with appropriations sufficiently liberal TO
secure the btst !egal talent In the defense
"a Inesc c!aiMs ana pursue It's vague
sea,cn I'l evidence enecti'e!y.
"e report OF lhe postmaster general
uo"S ,nos' gfatiislhS increase and
mus e'hC'eht anu progressive management
~, i TUG sieat ouaihess OF that department.
NC ieuiaf AAoie increase OF revenues, IN
'ne nu,n"ei % postoliices' ana In the miles
VI ui''i cur t'aSe FURNISHES iurther evidence
/ " tne Ilsh state oi prosperity which our
~ ny he poslai revenues
m nate au.t eaSen uufihs the last year nearly
y'5o ~ ne uenst l"r the year end
-, 80, ~ -, !, o7fo'oti ie's thah lhe
w rs, VI e4.e eu'ns year
"e ~ pos'-olnees mas oeeb IN
'oa.u ot 80 uuilhS the year ana our
In- 'ue p">t ioui years anu up 10 OCTOBER
:. 4Ae' 'Iic 'ot7' 4hcfease III lhe NUMBER OF
hAs peeh nearly Souo. Inc number
"a ue"'ei' oHeeS mas oeeh nearly
uou1ieu ~ Tue Iast iour years anu the
| u lione oiuei oihces more lhah
nOu''eu INN, 'has t.ile, TOT the three
years enu'us June ~ Ie3z' the postal rev
ehue amounted - ~ @ 'oos' which was
an inelease oi eo-'Zo'' 10y over The revenue
| ~ N"'''s "uno "'' 1900
.he Increase uutihs the 1ass three years be-
| ihS more thah three ana half times as
great as Tue increase during the three years
enn'ng June oo' 1888.
Ever SINCE our merchant marine was
| uriven from the sea ny the rebel cruisers
uurihS the ar OF the rebellion, the Unit
60 states mas oeen paying an enormous an
huai tribute TO foreign countries in the
shape OF freight and passage moneys. In
me year loo2 only 1913 per cent. of our
imports were brought in American vessels.
These great foreign steamships maintained
By our traffic are many Of them under con-
| tracts win their respective governments,
by which In time Of war they will become
part OF their armed naval establishments.
Pronting by our commerce In peace. they
Will become the most formidable destroy
ers OF our commerce in the time of war
l have felt and have before expressed
the 1eeilng that this condition OF things
was becoming intolerable and disgraceful.
wholesome change OF policy and one
having IN 1t much promise, as 1t seems to
me- was begun by the law OF March 8, 1891.
Under this law contracts have been made
oy the postmaster general for II mail
routes. Inc expenditure involved by these
contracts LOT lhe next nscal year approxi-
mates esoi, i23 49, AS one OF the results
aireaoy reacheo 10 American steamships OF
an aggregate tonnage OF oi 400 tons, cost
ing sI'4oo'ooo: nave been ouiit or contract
eu 70 oe oullt 10 American shlpyards.
fAEk hnfru ns.BS