The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1895-10-05
TIE TREASURY IMPROVEMENT.

The TREASURY IMPROVEMENT.
Dsmocratie Success Ezasper.tinE tho
Republicans.
great part Of the stun that IS pub
lished from day to day a,i Washington
aispatchc in newspa pers that regard
it as a solemn duty to discover ''jug-
Cling of figures and ''distortiofi" OF
facts il, the daily reports of the condi-
ton of tho United States debt is very
plainly intended TO be taken without
refereiase to the 6seextainabie pfeofs
to the contrary. J.,
Some apparently juvenile writer's
take up the daily reports, and, evident
ly suffering uncomfortable exaspcra-
ton because the receipts of the govern
tnent persist i'll keeping pace with, and
even exeeeding; Expenditures, these
jealous but u1fshseting critics at
Washington straightway maize = h'll1a-
baloo about the wrongs that arc being
iuflicted upon all manner of persons
because; IS it Is alleged. payments that
afe due from the treasury are withheld
to enable the treasury to make 81
report that will discfsdit partisan pre-
dict;ons.
If the readers Of these rash and per-
eistent1y wrong reports will take the
tT6u bio TO examine the daily reports OF
the state Of the treasury and compare
the expenditures with the appfopria-
lions, it will become apparent at once
that the pensioners, for instance, arc
not being deprived of the money ap-
propftated for them. The appropria-
ton for pensions for the year begin
ming July 1 was s141 1873. 900. That
would be at the rate of $l1, 7s1, 759 per
month. According to the report made
By the treasury, there had been paid
out on July 10 on account OF Pensions
$11 ,237, 900, or at the rate of about $751;
600, 900 for the month.
Take the war department., which APP
pears to have drawn IS. 1914. 600 In Is
days. The figures do not suggest that
appropriations have been withheld
from that branch of the service. for
the amount appropriated for the army
is about &23, $50. OOo or at the rate of
less than $2.OOO.ooo month. The
treasury has 1onored acquisitions in a
excess of the monthly average of the
yearly appropriation for war. The
navy is entitled to an average expendi-
ture of a., sol ,OOO It has received ST.
se1. 900 in Is days of July. or at the rate
of about 100000 daily. Should the
rate of payments on navy account be
maintained, the navy will have ex-
ceeded by July 81 the average to which
1t appears to be entitled.
Has the secretary of the treasury
withheld appropriations from the In
dams? The allowance for Indian ex-
penditures for the year was Sc. DOC. 900,
or S74l,66e per month. During the
10 days OF July there was drawn
from the treasury on account of Indian
expenses SAFE, 900. If the treasury had
cared to withhold money and to issue
it only upon schedule arranged to
restrict the outgo it might have saved
s3e. 900 in the 10 days If the
rate of payment for the first half of
the month is main tanned until July 81
the average to which the Indians are
apparently entitled will have been
considerably exceeded.
The criticisms which have provoked
these illustrations of their falsity do
not really deserve further explanation.
1t is absurd to imagine that they are
believed by anybody except possibly
the men who talk so glibly and fool
ishly and ignorantlv about the ''mis-
representation" that.is practicable fur
. valid demand upon the treasury is
likely to hold it beyond the time it can
be presented with reasonable expecta-
ton that It will be honored. The dis
position of rejected applicants for pay
ment to make q fuss about delays
would speedily advertise any general
tendency to delay on the part Of the
treasury officers. If delays have oc-
Cured, if they have been common, in
large number and for large amounts
of money due, who has prevailed upon
the postponed creditors to keep SO pro-
found silence2 Why do not the pratt
ers about the government postpone
ments Of pay give some particulars to
make plausible the charge that pay
ments are not met with reasonable
and customary promptness?- N. Y.
Times.