Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1895-07-12

Mr.. Atkinson's paper which was pub
lished i'm a recent issue OF Harper's
Weekly is on Of the most important
contributions yet made to the discus
sion of the financial condition of the
country. To those who re1d II intelli-
gently it will emphasize the necessity
of conducting the struggle against the
iree-silver movement with renewed en-
ergy, and, IL possible. a firmer determi-
nation 10 settle the issue at once and to
settle Il right.
a il only the possibility that the
country will be- dragged by the silver
nsn into more expensive currency eX-
lanmenis that troubles the horizon OF
ll.s Treasury. If our business interests
aff io a. disturbed, II panics are to he
ingiied e our best currency is to he
driven Oui ~ circulation, If that money.
Is a. take the place Of the mones of the
wofId. and II The greed of silser-niine
overs and the folly of Populists are to
dominate in the Federal legislature,
there Is NO doubt that the government
must look forward To the years of trou-
bic. The Treasury, in the event of the
triumph of the free-coinage movement,
must face penury and bankruptcy. But
If, on the other hand, the sound-money
sentiment wins the battle in which we
are now engaged, the future of the
Treasury under the existing rate of
taxation is ACQUIRED. With the income
which the government will probably
have, we can pay al our expenses, in
GLIDING interests on the public debt
and our enormous but diminishing PEN
sion list, and in twenty years he out of
debt.
1t will probably be revelant to
many readers that what is termed the
ordinary expenses of the government
are about half of the total public eX :
penditure, the sums paid for interest
and pensions being nearly equal to
those paid out for the support of the
executive, legislative, and judicial de-
partments, for the maintenance of the
army and navy, for the building of new
ships, and for the construction of new
fertilization and modern ordnance
Theannual ordinary cost of the govern
mcnt FOR fifteen years has been about
g. 80 per capita, and the total expendi-
tuIe about Si.se per capita. During
this time. IL the government had been
free ~ obligations on account of pen
slons and interests on the public debt,
Il could have been maintained by the
takes. internal and customs, on liquors
and tobacco. which amounted to about
SO per capita The interest on the
pullio debt was more than paid 10y the
taN on sugar. the small internal reve-
uue taxes. and the miscellaneous re-
celpts. while the pansion list was mo, e
than met by duties ON all imports other
than liquors and tobacco. MI. Atkin-
son estimates that in the future the or
binary expenditures will continue to
amount to abaut $3.50 per capita, and
that governments receipts from taxes
on liquors and tobacco will amount to
$3.50 per capita. The receipts from the
present sugar tax, small internal taxes,
and miscellan eous sources will be about
so cents, while the interests on the pub
lie debt will average about so cents.
Accounting Tor loss ON the postal ser
vice, will still he a surplus, which will
begin to be realized before the end of the
fiscial year 1896. The pensions will be
paid from the duties collected ON i'm
ports other than liquors and tobacco,
and half of the balance over the tax for
ordinary expenses (S250l will be avail
able for the reduction of the public
debt.