Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-01-05
PRESS COMMENTS.
Harmonious Trio in Grief.
New York Sun.

\
dition more. President Cleveland is be-
Iieved to incline to the view that the people
| of the islands shouli be invited to make a
perfectly free choice of their form of gov
eminent"
! Alas for the harm onious trio of Mrs.
Domiais, MIR. Cleveland, and our British
contemporary the American Constitution is
| condition not reckoned upon by any one
of them. BY that instrument the President
of the United States is in plain language
barred from the business of setting up
thrones or of restoring Queens. 1t doesn't
make much difference about Lliuokalsni L. E,
but such important funcliona'ies as MIR
Cleveland and this great English journal
should not be found displaying such glazing
ignorance or contempt for the ways OF
American government.
A Hard-timss View Of Christmas.
Courier ournal)
| Hard times have restored to Christmas
some of the sincerity of which prosperity
and selts hness had robbed it.
Critical Condition Of ths Treasury.
New York Tribune.)
twas stated on Monday that the def
cheney in treasury receipts for the last six
months of 1898, according to official re-
ports, was $34 ,O6S, us. The receipts for
half of the fiscal year we're $l55, 43l .3l4,
and the expenditures Sl89 800, 032. These
receipts compare with $l95 ,S53,8Sl for the
corresponding half of the previous year,
showing decrease of $40, 100000. On
the other hand, the expenditures COM
pare with Sl95, 350,6l4 for the last half
of 1892, decrease of 81, $780, 900.
As the appropriations for the current
year were larger than for the previous
year, there Is reason to believe that the
treasury has strained as far as it reasonably
can its power of deferiing payments on
many accounts until the condition of the
treasury has been relieved. Hence it is not
to be expected that the payments for the
remainder of the fiscal year will fall below
the Sl97 200. 900 expended from January
to July l, 1898. On the other hand, there
is every reason to expect that the revenue
for the coming ak months will fall much
below the $19l, 800, 900 received from jan
uary to July /, 1898. Thu amount was
then, in customs, $l03, 900; internal
revenue, SO, 100000; miscellaneous re-
ceipte, 81 500 900, and from bank depos-
its, 81 200, 900.
In five months of the fiscal year ending
with November the decrease in customs re-
ceipts was 1928, 800 900, and it is estimated
at Washington that the decrease in Decem-
Der h been 81 1000 900; it was over
S. .00O, 900 at New York alone. This would
make the customs decrease for the half
year more than $50 900. In the five
months the decrease in internal revenue
was 81, 800, 900, and in miscellaneous re-
ceipts $500, 900. But there is, unhappily,
no reason to expect that the decrease in Gus
toms receipts will cease, so that in place of
decrease of about $50 900 900 thus far, it
it not unlikely that the loss may be from
$50, OOO, 900 to $50, 900, 900 for the fiscal
year. Moreover, there is scarcely proba.
bility that the Internal revenue, nearly
SO ,OO0, 900 short in five months, will be
larger for the fiscal year than it was last
year, unless there should be such change
in the internal revenue laws as would stim-
ulate extraordinary payments within the
current year in order to escape higher pay
ments after July l. Hence the estimates
made by experienced men at Washington,
that the deficiency for the fiscal year is like
~ to be $50, ZOO, 900 rather than $28, 900.
600, a. Secretary Carlisle estimated, appear
to be conservative, and probably within the
truth.
These estimates are based on the laws as
they now stand, and there is little probabil
ity that they will be changed within the cur
rent fiscal year. Neither is there any
probability, it is sad to cay, that
the Democrats in Congress will be
so sensible and patriotic as to put aside
positively all disturbance of the tariff until
after another election. That course would
quickly improve business, set mills and fac
tories at work, increase the consuming
power of the people, and thus enlarge the
revenues Of the government. But it cannot
be expected, unless possibly 10 the result
of a prolonged and weariscme struggle in
Congress, AMI would then come too late
materially to help the revenue during this
fiscal year. 1t must be calculated, there
1ore, that the deficiency which has alread.
reduced the cash balance in the treasury to
$50 .26l 900 on Saturday, will be from
Si5 .000, 900 to $50, 100000 during the last
half Of the fiscal year, 80 that the cash bal.
ance will be reduced to S74 100000, OF
possibly to $50 200, 900, unless the treasury
succeeds in borrowing money in some form
! In view of the enormous volume of paper
currency to be protected by the treasury
balance, it is scarcely necessary to say thai
such . reduction would be highly danger.
. Gus. The administration appreciates the
fact, and yet it will most earnestly urge
. Congress to authorize loans instead of the
, infinitely greater relief which might be
i given by arresting tariff agitation. IT the
. President and secretary deliberately make
| this choice. they must be prepared to face
responsibility for all the consequences. They
are well aware that they cannot expect
the united aid of their own partisans in
Congress, ia regard to borrowing money,
| and they ought also to know that they have
no right to expect the aid Of Republicans,
, 20 long - they insist upon bankrupting the
. treasury by an attempt to cut down the Gus.
toms revenues $4,000, 600 or more
Therefore the decision of the Presiden,
. and secretary may involve the gravest con.
sequences, to the country and to their par.
y, and they have no right to go blindly and
stubboEnly on with their tariff policy, re.
. | gprdless Of the menacing condition Of fhe
! treasury.
Children Cry for
0ttSenARDA HARtMP3n