New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-22

s,,,ement that the Government was In arrears
to the amount Of S5,OO0.OOO or $60O00OO on ac'
count Of work done on river and harbor I'M
movements said that 1t was an cxaggeratloh
and that the actual amount Of the acquisitions
withheld was only little in excess OF S6oo'-
1000" Another official Of the same department
EXPRESSED his surprise that the nonpaymcni or
fine "paliry sum Of SGOOOOO much OF II long
past duc-should excite any surprise or criticism'
II does seem strange indeed, when one con-
sdcrs the fact that surplus more than one
hundred times ms large in amount Is lying i1i'
In the Treasury vaults today or course bofli
fine officials mentioned receive their generous
salaries scmi-monthly. and both Of them are
punctual in their attendance at tho disburslng
office Oh pay day" We do not mean to insln'l-
ate that these officials do not earn their salaries,
mr. that they are not entitled to receive them
promptly and regularly, but we assert with
emnhoss that no sworn official Of the Govern
mont can withhold for a single day 100000 or
any other sum due to contractors and laborcrs
on the public works, or for public service Of any
other sort. so long as $G2OO0O0O or even one
tcnth Of that sum, is lying idle in the Treasury
vaults without plain violation OF his oath Of
office Such proceeding is wantonly cruel and
law Why does not the Secretary Of the Treas
ury adopt and apply 1t In his own case ana take
the SINE medicine ne prcscribes and admins
tcrs 10 other men who work with their hands
for one or two dollars Il day and never enjoy the
privilege Of free cruise with their families on
a Government vessel!
The policy that the Treasury is pursuing can
be explained in one Of two ways-hrst by fear
that there will be IN enormous drain on the Ma
tonal purse between this time and the first Mon
day in December. when the LlVth Congress VIII
assemble. II drain so heavy that 1t will exhaust
not only the current revenues, but also the idle
surplus Of SCI. 100000; or, second, Il determine
ton TO amass little political capital for the
Marty in power by making as favorable show
ing as possible IN the annual message Of the
President to Congress and the annual report OF
the Secretary Of the Treasury to the same body.
Which is probably the truer or more correct ex-
planation: The revenues for the first sixteen
business days Of this month amounted TO SlS.-
100 600. or at the rate OF 81 131 900 a day, and
the expenditures amounted TO S24 600 or at
q daily rate Of 81. 10000, leaving an average
daily deficit Of $500 0O0-say 100000. Now in
the period intervening between August 10 and
the first Monday in December there will be
eghty-scvcn business days, so that if existing
conditions should continue. S3J,000.0O0 would
have TO be taken from the surplus of S62,0Oo,oOO.
leaving a balance of S21.OOO,OOO. But Secretary
Carlisle assumes and insists that the condition
Of IN. National finances will continue steadily
TO improve Why then. does he resort to forced
balances at the end OF every month and to the
stpOncmcnt-temporary repudlation-of pay
mcnt Of Just debts due persons, many Of whom
are in moderate II not needy circumstances?
WHY does he encourage the bnmptious Bowler
TO set himself up as a constitutional tribunal on
legislation that he has hitherto recognized rs
constitutional and obcycd and executed? There
can be- only one correct answer TO these ques-
tons The Administration has determined. by
rcsoring to tricks Of bookkeeping and eyaslons
If not violations. Of law. and by postpOnlng the
PAYMENT Of just and honest debts. 10 achieve
position in which ii can submit TO Congress ana
the country an incorrect and misleading show
Ing of the condition Of the National finances on
the first Monday in December