Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-12-08

Phlladelphln Ledger Special.
WAsHINGToN, d. O., Dec. 2.-Among
memers of Congress the feeling is general
that the appropriations must be held
down to the lowest possible figures at
the approaching session. The condition
of the treasury, and the large sum re-
CURED to meet pension payments, make
the practice of the strictest economy i'm
perative. 1t is not probable that any
thing can be done this winter to increase
the revenues, and therefore the effort of
those in charge of appropriation bills
will he directed to keep the expenditures
within the years income. There is talk
of a conference of the leading members
of the several committees having
charge of appropriation bills with
view of adopting u general policy
in the preparation of those measures
which will keep aggregates at the
minimum. The trouble with this plan
is that each committee will be likely to
advocate retrenchmcnt on the part of
the others while insisting upon the
largest possible allowance to the inter-
ests committed to its care. Thus Mr..
Holman believes that the appropriation
for the army, for the navy and the Mill
tary Academy should be reduced, while
the military and naval committees, to
whom the bills for the army, the Acad-
envy and the navy are committed, be-
lIeve that very little can be cut from the
allowances for those branches of the
public service. Chairman Herbert be-
lieves in continuing the policy inaugu.
rated by Secretary Whitney Of adding
ships to the navy every year, while Mr..
Holman is convinced that the navy is
already too large.
The sums annually voted to the army
and navy, exclusive of appropriations
for ships and ordnance, are confined to
the amounts necessary for the payment,
equipment and subsistence of the rank
| and file, and cannot be cut down with
out creating a deficiency, which will
| have to be met in the immediate future.
| Exclusive, therefore, of the increase of
| the navy and the fabrication of guns,
comparatively little reduction can be
made in the appropriations TO the army
and navy.
No appropriation for rivers and har-
/ bors will be made at the coming session.
Provision was made the past two years
for continuously carrying on certain
| important works like the removal of the
Delaware river islands under contracts
covering the entire work, and furnishing
the necessary money through the Sundry
Civil bill. Mr.. Holman has general
charge of this measure, and at the last
session, declared he would insist that
hereafter provision should be made for
the works in question in the River and
Harbor bill. If he should succeed in
this purpose, no appropriations would
be made for this class of improvements
| for next year, because there will be no
River and Harbor bill reported at the
coming session.
Under the existing fiscal conditions it
is reasonably certain that Mr.. Holman
will have lurgc following in his efforts
to cut everything that comes within his
reach, and the numerous itemsin the Sun
dry Civil bill are likely to suffer. Among
these are public buildings. Mr.. Holman
may be expected to make q determined
effort to scale all appropriations for con-
tinuing work on buildings already
begun, and to stubbornly resist all
| grants of money for beginning new
| work. 1t Is probable that it will be
necessary to ask for an additional sum
to complete the purchase of the site for
the mint at Philadelphia and to COM
mence the erection of building. If so,
Mr.. Holman is sure TO be found leading
the opposition.
Exclusive of special deficiencies and
the post-oitice, the aggregate of the
regular appropriations made at the last
session was nearly $3O5, 100000. The
total revenue for the year ending with
June last was 1857 100000. 1t will not
be much in excess of that sum this year.
The permanent annual appropriations
amount to about $l00,000,000, so that,
taking no account of deficiencies that
will surely exist, there is certain to be a
wide margin between receipts and ex-
penditurcs unless the utmost care and
economy arc practiced in making APP
preparations at the coming session. This
necessity will add to the zeal and
strength of Mr.. Holman in his fight for
retrenchment Unfortunately, the efforts
Of the "Watch Dog" are not guided by
wise discretion and broad craftsmanship,
and his pruning knife is liable to cut
out items to the injury of the public
| service without accomplishing perma-