The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-11-16
THE DEFICIT GROWS.
regent Need of Some Prompt
Action by Congress.
WHAT WILL TIE PRESIDENT Dor
True state Of National Finances Hidden
by the Devious Operations of
the Treasury Department.
New York Tribune.

New York Tribuae.
Washington City. Nov. Absorbing 20
statements which have recently appeared
tn certain administration newspapers. y
viii not b necessary. IN the opinion OF toe
officers OF the treasury department, for
congress 20 take any steps AZ the coming
session 70 repien sh the public revenues,
ard therefore Mother the president IA his
annual message. nor ,he secretary OF taa
treasury IA his report 20 that body VII
recommend such action or submit ans pro-
position on the subject. These statements
appear 20 he Incredible in view Of ne actual
condition OF the national treasury, and tho
prospect that for a considerable ;I.aA -
come unless some action shall he sakeni.
even under the most favorable strcum-
stances. the current revenues must con-
t!nue 10 fall short OF the current expendl-
lures OF the government at the rate OF
s4oooaeao to $so.e9Nosa year. II is easy
TO assert and argue that tire improvements
Of business VIII cause revenue 10 How in-
20 the national treasury an a rate and VOL
uFne which viii not only keep pace with
current expenses. but enable the secre-
tary OF tht~ treasury soon 10 begin 10
amass surplus. There is no ground for
such an assertion; nothing on which TO base
such an argument.
IL is no secret ameng men who esat all
familiar with the operations OF the treas
ury department. that millions on millions
eighteen months, that hundreds II pay
menfs which could be postponed
without raising public clamor or breeding
public scandal have been deferred despite
the fact that the pay meuts nvere authorized
and appropriations for them made
by the last congress. In round fig
ures the total appropriations for the fiscal
year ended June 30. 1895, exclusive OF pos
tai appropriau0nsl exceeded S435. 600. zoe.
and the total expenditures amounted tn
n HA4 at n
oooe0o. IL is fair 10 say that large pro-
portion Of this amount ought TO have been
expended before June 80. 1895. IL will have
to be paid some time. Every month which
sees arrearages growing adds to the en-
barrassments Of the situation. Since July
l. 1894. the expenditures, despite the whole
sale postponement OF payments due, have
exceeded the ordinary receipts by the enor-
nous sum OF SIS, 100000. and the deficit Is
steadily growing.
Such are existing conditions and PROS
poets. and one or two alternatives must
be taken. More money must be borrowed.
or else the revenues must be replensbed
by means OF legislation. To be sure, there
is still another alternative. which Is to cut
down expenditures. say S20o. 600 for the
next year That would be simply impos-
sihle and II is safe 10 say that the total
of the annual estimates which Secretary
Carlisle will submit TO congress nexe
month for the fiscal year ending juno 60
1897, viii be little IL any smaller than tho
total Of the estimates which he submitted
last December for the fiscal year ending
June 80. 1896. Indeed, the probability is
that II viii be larger. IL is hardly proha-
BILE that this administration will again in
crease the interest-bearing debt of tho
government unless II receives new and
specific authority from congress 10 do So
authority which II win by no means be
likely 10 receive The only practicable al
Tentative remaining is TO increase the
venues.
1t has been occasionally suggested by
friends Of the administration within the
last three months that the president and
his secretary of the treasury leave the
whole matter To congress without any rec
ommendatIon whatever. The suggestion
Is a puoriie one. To expect President
Cleveland 20 waive any OF his constitu-
tional privileges or shirk any of his con-
stitutional duties or responsibilities. espe-
cially when the former allows an oppor-
tunity or the latter requires him TO favor
congress with HIS advice. is 20 expect the
absurd. or course. 1t win be disagreeable
10 him To be obliged 20 confess that tho
revenue act OF 1894. even though he re-
fused formally 70 approve IL, has failed TO
WELD sufficient revenue for the support of
the government. bat even a president OF
the United States must sometimes do
things I'm the lire Of his constitutional
dutg which are dlsagreeable TO him. He
oblivious TO facts which are 20 Obvious
and SO important as the existing condition
Of the national treasury and the made
quscy Of the public revenues.
Whether the president or the secretary
Of the treasury VIII suggest or recommend
a specific MEASURE 10 provide the additions
al revenue which must be obtained from
one source or another remains 10 be seen.
one thlng only appears 10 be certain, and
that IS that he cannot AFFORD TO recon-
Z ftss-fE rcd rf he rata r
Of duty on imported merchandise Tho
experience OF the last year has clearly
shown that the last congress reduced tbs
rates on some n the more important man.
ufactured imports too much and 50 that.
while American manufacturers have been
subjected 70 the severest strains
count OF foreign competition. the national
treasury has reaped no corresponding adj
vantage through an increase In the total
amount OF duties collected.