New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-05
ALMOST A BILLION CONGRESS-.
THE ONE JUST ENDED MADE APPROPRIA-
TIONS OF MORE THAN 1890, 900.
A DEMOCRATIC WARCRY NOW RETURNS TO
PLAGUE ITS AUTHORs-THE STEADY
ta, ,rcp.pu To THE, TPrRI'NE


GROWTH OF EXPENDITURES.
10y TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBUNE.l
Washington March 1.-THE Congress which has
lust adjourned barely escaped being another
"billion-dollar Congress As nearly as can now
he determined the amount carried by the appro-
priation bills of this Congress is S9so225.2S9 The
appropriations Of the first and second sessions
were s492 $50 6s5. while those of this session are
now estimated by the clerks Of the appropriation
committees at s497 1894 6O4 This is larger sum
than was ever appropriated by any Congress eX-
cept the LID. whose appropriations were slO27.-
lO45.7 1t is a curious fact that the party which
raised in 1890 the billion dollar cry against its
political opponents should have itself in the next
Two Congresses appropriated over $1,000 $1,000,
while the appropriation bills of neither of the
Republican Congresses against which this charge
was made carried 81 900 600 II was the
List Congress which the Democrats in their
campaign following its conclusion, denomnated
1.-The blon-dollar Congress" This political war
cry was extremely effective. and was one Of the
strongest aids which that party had in that cam
paign A careful analysis Of the appropriation
bills passed by the List Congress. made by the
officers of Congress and now part of the official
records, shows that the appropriations Of the So
called "billion-dolla Congress" amounted 10 only
$685. .5s2 1t originally supposed that the
appropriations of that Congress had reached the
blllion-doIlar line. and when it was discovered
that they had not, the people who invented the
''biIlion-dollar cry were enamored of II that
they stuck to it, saying. by way of justification,
that the amount which would be required in fut
ure appropriations by reason OF the legislation
enacted by that Congress would be sufficient 10
bring the total beyond the billion-dollar line. SO,
despite the protests and denias Of Republican
Congressman, the title "billion-dollar Congress
stuck to the List and helped to carry the Demo
Gratis into control. 1t seemed the irony Of fate
that this title Of reproach which the Democrats
had unjustly and untruthfully attached to the
List Congress controlled by the Republicans
should be fixed beyond question upon the two
succeeding Congresses. which the Democrats
themselves controlled
Whether the next Congress, under Republican
management will be able to drop back inside
the billion dollar line is uncertain. 1t seems
probable that the pension list will be somewhat
reduced and that the necessary annual appro-
priationS for river and harbOr Improvements Will
not be large during the last four years
since most of the contracts made by order Of the
List Congress now being completed. On the
other hand however. there will be an addition
Of about S7,000,000 year for interest on bonds
issued during President Cl"velands term to meet
the deficiency In the receipts OF the Government
That there is a steady increase in expenditures
year by year and decade by decade cannot be
doubted. The annual expenditures Of the Gov
eminent which in 1884 were 244lZoz44
amounted to 1864 1877 507 in 1894 being an increase
of about 80 per cent during the ten years.
study Of the appropriation bills year by year
during the decade shows that this growth in
appropriations has been steady. The Sundry
Civil Appropriation bill. which ten years ago
carried s22 600 000 carries 600 In the session
lust ended and IL the largest Sundry Clvii APP
preparation bill passed by any Congress.
The Indian Appropriation bill. which decade
,toS, trlV n
session over $40 900 900 The Agricultural Appro-
priation bill. which in 1885 was only a niue 0rer
$500 600 IS now over 50 0000 900 every year The
district of Columbia Appropriation BILL which
was then little over SS'ocoooo Is now hed ~;
s6 OOO 900 The Postoffce Appropriation bill.
which carried a little. moie than So0.Ooo0W ten
years ago. now carries almost $4,000 900, ana mas
sseadilv Increased during the decade The Naval
APPROPRIATION bill. which ten years ago Was Was
SIG 0OO 900 is now nearly double that inquire; ne
Pension Appropriation bill which carried St9V)o-
ooc In the second session OF the XLVillth CON
eress carries 900 in the session Just ended
%. and exceeded that sum by several million dollars
In three preceding sessions The following taoIe