Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-24
INCONSISTENCIES
Shown Up and Discussed at a Meet
ing Called by Congressman
TO GUIDE THEM IN TARIFF TALK.
Treasury officials Submitted to Red-Hot
Cross Fire Of
QUESTIONS THAT ARE HARD TO ANSWER

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23.-By request of
the Ways and Means Committee, Mr. Oliver
L. Spaulding, Assistant Secretary of the
Treasury, appeared before the committee
to-day to give information as to the financial
condition of the Government. Several
Treasury experts were also present.
The object of the committees inquiry is
to secure official information as to revenues
and expenditures of the Government as a
preliminary to any possible tariff legisla-
tion. Secretary Foster is out of the city recu-
perating, and Mr.. spaulding took his place.
Representative Bourke Cochran said that,
having heard an exhaustive discussion Of
the subject of the Governments financial
condition in the House, he knew less then
about it than he ever did, and suggested
that Mr.. Spaulding give statement in his
own way. Mr.. Spaulding said he would
make comparison between the current
fiscal year and the fiscal year ended June
80, 1890, the year before the present tariff
act went into effect, and he would give the
actual receipts up to date. and estimate
those for the balance of the year. Mr..
Spaulding's figures are as follows:
The customs receipts for the six months
ended December 81, 1889, were s1O9. $50 900;
current six months, $50, ,722, 600; first 20 days
in $780, sl3 613 900; first 20 days of this month,
s11 996, 0O0 making customs total TO date
s97 lis, 600 against 1928, ,242 600 two years ago.
The total receipts from customs for the
fiscal year 1890 was 1929, ,66S 600, against an
estimated total for this year of s1s5, 100000.
The internal revenue receipts for the six
months ended December 81, 1885, were $685.
521 900; for the current six months, ST. 057 600;
first 20 DAYS Of 1890 s6 5al 600; first 20 DAYS of
1892, 81 5Os, ,OO0 total internal revenue receipts
for the fiscal year $780, sl42, or, goo, compared
with a total (estimated) for 1892 of sl52, ,000,-
600. The miscellaneous receipts for the six
months ended December 81, 1889, were Sl4-
TAI 0O0 for the current six months. sll 364, 900;
total for fiscal year of 1890, $50 sos, ,0O0 COM
pared with atotal (estimated) for the cur
rent fiscal year of $25,000000.
The total receipts from all these sources
for the first six months of the current fiscal
year were STA Isl ,0O0 against s192 s97,0 600 for
the first six months two years ago; the first
20 days of the present month, szO,s37,OOO,
against 81, ,756 000 two years ago; total revenue
(estimated) for the current fiscal year, $780,
0O0 0OO against s403, ,279 600 for the fiscal year
the first six months of the current fiscal
year we're about 81, ,000, 600 more than the ex-
penditures for the corresponding six months,
penditures ESTIMATED for the current fiscal
wear were sS3s, 600 900 or about s24 900 900 less
than the estimated receipts OF s363, 100000.
The Surplus Not Affected.
In answer to Mr.. Springer's question Mr.
Spau1ding stated that the postal receipts
and expenditures were not included in his
statement, but that the deficit in the Postal
Department had been included in the ex-
penditures, so that the surplus shown was
not affected.
IL
requirements were included.
Mr. Spaulding replied that his figures did
mot include the sinking fund.
Mr. Springer inquired if that were not a
charge on the Treasury.
Mr. Spaulding said it would be necessary
to take $4,000, 900 out of the apparent sur
plus of S24, ,000, 900 to provide for sinking
fund requirements He added that in addi- |
tion to the S24, 900, 900 apparent surplus
there was cash in the Treasury amounting |
to $139, 728, ,000 making total of S153, $685. |
900. He included in cash in the Treasury |
the gold reserve of s100, ,000, 600, held for the
redemption of greenbacks amounting to |
S346, 900, 900.
Mr.. Bryan, of Nebraska, asked if this |
gold reserve was available for Government |
expenses.
Mr.. Spaulding replied that he understood
that Secretary Foster so considered it, and |
in reply to further inquiries from De-ro-
cratic members who desired to know if Con-
gress had not recognized the gold reserve as
set aside for special purpose, he said that
there was no statute setting it aside; there
might be resolution setting it aside infer
entially.
Red-Hot Running Cross-Fire.
The discussion on the gold reserves soon
resulted in cfoss-fre between the Demo-
cratic and Republican members of the COM
mlttee, the former contending that they
we're fund for special purpose and not
AVAILABLE for ordinary purposes, while the
after asserted the contrary, Mr.. McKenna
that they had always been re-
yarded as part Of ordinary resources until