New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-15
THE ESTIMATES MISLEADING
AN EXAMPLE OF DEMOCRATIC JUGGLING
WITH FIGURES.


MIrTED TO CONGRESS ABOUT si5oooOOo TOO
ssMALL,-LARGE ITEMS CHOPPED AND
NO EXPLANATION voUCHsAFED.
Warrington Dec. H.-There is strong dis
position among some Of the leading members Of
the House Of Representatives to try to find out
just how the National Treasury stands-a thing
which 1t seems absolutely impossible to ascertain
from the official statements Of the Treasury De-
partment. some Of which appear to be discredited
by President Cleveland himself. The desire to
know how the Government stands In regard to Its
finances Is by no means confined to Republicans
in Congress, although for obvious reasons Demo-
cratic members OF that body prefer to remain In
the background. at least for the present. one
matter which hac begun to excite good deal
Of unfavorable comment Is the shape IN wnch
the annual estimates for appropriations have
been submitted to Congress. 1t has always here
tofore been an easy and simple task to ascer-
tain from the "recapituation' in the Book OF
Estimates how much the total rose above or
fell below that OF the previous year. and persons
who relied on that this year were led to the con-
cusion that the total NJ the estimates Tor the
next fiscal year exceeded that for the current
year by the Of about slOOOO.Ooo-a heaVy
proportion of which was on account or interest
on the public debt which for quarter or CEN
tury had been steadily diminishing having falien
from Sis $1,000 in 1870 to So 2S9OOo in 1885, wheh
it again began to increase r1der the benign infu-
ences of a Democratic Administration backed py
a Democratic majority in both branches of Con-
gress.
But is appears that persons who have de-
pended on the "recapitulation" in the Book Of
Estimates this year have been grossly ue-
ceived and msled, and that items amouhtihs
in round figures to about S15,00OOOO have not
been carried into he comparative table given
in the 'recapituIation" A correct statement
would show. therefore, that the total estimates
for appropriations for the next nscai year e@cee @ @
those for the current year Dy ABOUT s-''ooV'VV
instead OF about Sl0,0000OO The dlHerence Is
due to two causes: First. items amounting 10
about s1000O.OoO. for which estimates were not
submitted last year. but have been submitted
this wear, have not been carried into the total'
second. items amounting to about s5'oooooo loT
which estimates were submitted last year ana
carried into the total have beeh eilmlndleu
from the total this year without any eHpiaha-
tion whatever.
Under tho second head are the items on ac-
count Of river and harbor improvements IN
progress under the Mississippi and Missouri
River commissions the total OF when last year
amounted to 81 74O 900. which was included IN
the grand total. This year the Items amount 10
81 992 OOO which is not included in the granu
total Under the first head are items amounting
to s5,o19 700 for public improvements in the Dis
trict OF Columbia, the estimates for whicn are
specifically approved by the Secretary OF the
Treasury. with the recommendation that Con-
press appropriate as much OF the desired amount
as NAV upon careful examination, appear to be
necessary" And yet these items are not car
RED into the ''recaptulation.
The practice Of forcing favorable balance OF
the account Of receipts and expenditures at the
end of each month has been in vogue since the
beginning Of this Administration, ana IL ap-
pears to have been widened so as to embrace a
deceptive and misleading statement OF the
yearly estimates Of appropriations for the next
fiscal year, as compared with that for the cur
rent year.