The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-08
VERY BAD FINANCIERING
Telling Comparisons of the
Work of the Past Con-
crosses.
ExTRAvAGANCEs OF THE LAST.
Work of the BiIlion-DoIIar Con-
gress" Outdone by the Cleve-
land Followers.

WASHINGTON, March 7.-Representative
Cannon of Illinois, on behalf of the Repub
ican minority of the House Committee on
Appropriations, has prepared summary
showing the total expenditures of the
Fifty third Congress and comparing them
with the expenditures of the so-called
"Billion-dollar Congress" in which Mr..
Cannon was at the head of the Appropria-
tons Committee. The statement will be
published tomorrow as a part of the Con-
gressional Record. It says:
avail myself of the opportunity to present
for the information of the public and of the
country a statement of the aggregate of appro-
priations made by this Congress-the first half
of Cleveland's administration-as compared
with the aggregate of the appropriations for
the Fifty-frst and Fifty-second Congresses, re-
spectively, under Harrson's administration
For this purpose l insert a comparative state
ment, which has been carefully compiled and
is correct.
From this statement it appears the appro-
priations of the Fifty-first Congress, when
Reed was Speaker of the House, and the Presi-
dent and the Senate were Republican, were in
round numbers $685., 10000 while the appro-
priations for the Fifty-second Congress, when
the House was Democratic and Crisp
was Speaker, was in round numbers
81 OPT 100000, and the appropriations for
this Congress, with the President, House and
Senate all Democratic, are in round numbers
$3.50 ,000,0 600; moreover, the late sale of thirty
year per cent United States bonds-the pay
ment of interest upon which is permanent
swells the total appropriations for this and the
next fiscal year by $2.900,o00, making the
grand total actually appropriated by this Con-
gress in round numbers $993,000 900. This
exceeds the appropriations made by the Fifty
first Congress-, called by our Democratic friends
the "billion-dollar Congress-" in round num-
bers by S. 100000.
This Congress furthermore in addition to the
actual increase in appropriations has author
lied public works to be done under contract
leaving the next Congress to make appropri-
atoms therefor as follows: By the fortifca-
lions act $325,000, by the sundry civil act
So 1886, 900, by District of Columbia act $261,-
764, by the naval appropriation act $13,715,-
900. Total S21 $3.50, 754.
Thus the appropriations and authorizations
of this Congress are seen to be in round num-
bers $1.015 100000. The appropriations for
the public service a rule make dry reading
but TO the careful student of public questions
they tell more of the policies of administrations
and parties than can be gathered from volumes
OF words and protestations. 1 call attention
to the fact that appropriations of pensions to
the defenders of the republic in war and to
their widows and orphans, by this Congress
under Cleveland, are So, 129 GIG less than
those made by the Ffty-second Congress, the
last two years under President Harrison This
$40 900 900 decrease gives in figures the tangi-
bic result OF an unfriendly-I will go further
and say Observation-Disclosures of the pension
laws under Cleveland.
The condition of the country was far differ
ent under Harrison's administration from
what it has been and is now under this ad-
ministration. Then there was universal pros
perity. Now there is universal adversely.
Then, under wise revenue laws, the people
cheerfully contributed to the support of the
Government from their abundance, and were
glad when the treasury poured from it's full
Golfers the necessary money literally and
wisely to carry on the Government, and after
all there was done surplus still remained to
anticipate the payment of the war debt Now
our people are out of employment values are
shrinking and the people pay their taxes into
the treasury with great effort and find such
payment oppressive. The surplus has disap-
peared from the treasury. The debt of the
Government, instead of decreasing, is increas-
ing, and increasing not to maintain resump-
ton, as it is claimed, but to pay current ex-
penses.
This administration has issued and sold
United States bonds time and again for the
avowed purpose, it is true, of maintaining re-
SUMPTION, out IN point OF tact1t has taken the
proceeds, 1t is taking the proceeds and will
continue to take the proceeds to pay the cur
rent expenses of the Government. This Con-
gress has wholly failed to provide sufficient
revenue, while it has increased appropria-
tons. In the mean time the administration
has rejected every practical effort to assist in
remedying the evils that beset the treasury.
This is a Government of the people, through
parties, and there can be no true relief in the
premises until the people correct the error
made in 1892. by giving the Republican party
full power in 1896, thereby enabling the party
to write its policy on the legislation and ad-
ministration.