Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-12-15
Executive Departments.

The report Of the secretary OF the treasury
will attract special interest in view of the many
misleading statements as have been made as to
the state OF public revenues. Three preliminary
facts should not only be stated but emphasized
before looking into details: First. that the
public debt has been reuuced since March, 1889,
S2o5o74.2oO, and the annual interest charges
Sill, 6Sf 40; second, that there have been paid
out for pensions during this administration on
up to November /, 1892 S432, 564 17e 40, excess
of STA, 1866. 306 09 over the sum expended during
the period from March l. 1885 to March 1, 1889;
and third, that under the existing tariff up to
December 1 about s93 000, 900 of revenue which
would have been collected upon imported sugars
if the duty had been maintained, has gone in to
the pockets OF the people and rot into the pub
lie treasury, as before. II there are any who
still think that the surplus should have been
kept out OF circulation by boarding it in the
treasury, depoSiting it in banks with
out interests while the government con-
tinued TO pay the very banks interest,"
upon the bonds deposited as security for the
deposits, who think that the extended per
sion legislation was public robbery, or that
the duty on sugar should have been maintained,
l am content to leave the argument where 1t
now rests while wait to see whether these
criticisms will take the form of legislation.
The revenues of the fiscal year ending June
30, 1892, from all sources, wore SIS. S63, 25o -,
and the expenditures for all purposes were
1888 80j IS, leaving balance of o99i4 453 &C.
There was paid during the wear upon the pub
lie debt $40 $40 467 90 The surplus in the treasury
anu the Oank redemption 1unO' passed. DJ luo
act OF July IA, 1S9,, to the general fund.- fur
nished in large part, the cash available AMI
used Tor the payments made upon the pupllc
debt Compared with the year 1884, our re-
ceipts from duties fell OF $1,000 2ilO6.
while our receipts from internal revenue in
creased Sc, 10 leaving the net loss OF
revenue from these principal sources S33,13f,
4l1-9o- The net loss of revenue from all sources
was $50 ,6I5, 9Ie.SI-
The revenues. estimated and actual, for the
year ending June so, 1898, are placed by the
secretary at S463, $50, $50 a, and the expendi
| lures at s4j1, 49,, $50 A, showing surplus OF
/ receipts over expenditures of 5000 90 The
| cash balance in the treasury at the end OF the
fiscal year it is estimated, will be s21, 1922 O5
| So far as these figures are based on estimates
| OF receipts and expenditures for the remaining
months of the current fiscal year there are
| not only the usual elements OF uncertainty Dui
some added elements New revenue legislation,
or even the expectation Of it, may seriously re
duce the public revenues during the period OF
| uncertainty and during the press OF business
! adjustment TO the conditions when they
] become known. But the secretary has very
| wisely refrained from guessing as to the effect
OF possible changes in sur revenue laws since
the scope of those changes and the tue OF theli
taking effect cannot in any degree be forecast
| Or foretoid by him His estimates must De
| based upon existing laws and upon continu-
| ance of existing business conditions except 50
far as these conditions MAJ be affected by
| causes other than new legislation
! The estimated receipts for the fiscal veal
June 20, 1895, are 500 III, 35o 50, and tne eStl
mated appropriations s457 POI. 81 5-33 leaving al
estimated surplus OF receipts over the ex
pelditures of s32, 500, o800a This does not In
clude any payment to the sinking fund In the
Recommendation OF the secretary that the sink
ing fund law be repealed concur The re
| demption of bonds since the passage OF the Law
to June 30, 1852, has already exceeded the re
Quirements by the sum of $500 a10, 6Si- 49 Tn
| retirement OF bonds in the future before ma
| turity should be matter of convenience, not o
compulsion We should rot collect revenue FOL
| that purpose. but only use any casual surplus
To the balance Of 81, 800. 03lo5 Of receipts owe
the estimated surplus at the begin
ming of the year, SO, 9s2 81. o. and from thi
| aggregate there must be deducted. as stated 81
| the secretary, about s44 0)o,0oo OF estimated on
expended appropriations
The public confidence in the purpose and abb
ity OF the government to maintair. the parity o