New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-27
THE REDTCED SUPPLIES.

THE EEDt tED Som I>C'-
With this week will close the Republican
Administration, under which the country has
attained the greatest prosperity 1t has ever
known. Yet it plcascS opponents OF the kc-
publican policy to assert that the Treasury IS
bankrupt, that President Cleveland turned
over a surplus Of $500, 600, 600, and that
President Harrison has spent it. \ few words
On this matter will not be unWelcomc 70 those
who wish to know the truth or care for JUS
tice.
The gold balance in the Treasury. exclusive
Of certificates outstanding, was S196, 900
March |. 1880 and has been reduced to about
800, 900, 900 March /, 1893. But the new
Navy of which all Americans are proud, and
which none pretend has been waStcfully con-
structed. has made the expenditures in that
department about S107,000,000 during the
past four years. against SGI ,O0O,OOO during
the previous Administration OF Mr.. Cleveland.
The aggregate of pensions paid during the
past four wears has been about SJl6, 0OOOOO,
whereas the aggregate of such payments dur
ing the previous four years under Mr.. Cleve-
land was about S306. 000, 600, difference OF
$4,000. 600. These two differences amount
to S25O,O00,00O, much more than double
the decrease in the amount OF gold on hand
Ii may be added that the present Admins
tration has reduced the intcrcSt-bcarlng debt
from SS44,0OO.OO0 to $3.50 700, 600, re-
duction of $3.50, 100000, and nevertheless
under its advice Republican Congress has
reduced taxation very largely.
In the fiscal year 1891 the decrease in GUS
toms duties from the amount paid in 1890
n,,. in tho do
crease was over $50. 900, 900, and while tho
customs receipts during the past eight months
have been swcllcd by unprecedented imp ITS,
they are nevertheless at rate far below that
maintained during Mr. Clevcland'S Admins
tration. when the customs revenue averaged
S213. 600 600 yearly. The removal OF duties
on sugar alone has been djrcc; benefit to the
people of more than S50O00,000 every year,
and particularly to the working millions ana
the rOorcr families whose consumption OF tins
article is necessarily in closer proportion 10
the expenditures of the more wealthy than
almost any other part of their outlay. But
while taxes borne by the people have been
diminished by many millions. the amount paid
out by the Government to the pensioners Of
the Nation and in building the ships for its
defence has been S25O,000,000 greater than
the amount SO expended under Mr.. Cleveland.
1t is not intended to affirm that there have
been no wastcful appropriations made by this
Congress or the last. Members OF both parties
have Joined in voting money for some pur-
poscs which TIE TRIBUNE does not approve.
But the present Democratic House has voted
away more money than any other OF either
party ever appropriated, and meanwhile the
truth is that the proportion of money waste
fully voted by either party has been relatively
small The great increase has been III the
building of a Navy, and in more liberal care
for those who riSkcd their lives to save the
Nation from disruption. When the people see
the facts Just as they are, they viii decide
whether expenditures for these purposes shall
be stopped.
The Administration has honOrably and faith
fully expended the sums which Congress has
approplated and if there be faut to find with
the appropriations, il rests with the repre-
sentativos Ct the people Under President
Harrison the revenues have been collected with
great fidelity and economy, and there has not
been the slightest suspicion, even in the minds
of artisans, Of any misconduct or abuse either
| in the collection or in the disbursement Of the
| public funds. The people held four years ago
that it was foolish and Wastciul to keep 50
| large surplus a. S13G, 900 900 idle in the
| Treasury Their representatives voted to use
| mart of it. That is the truth about the Treas