Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-03-07
Mr.. German as a Mathematician.

Mr. German of Maryland is looking
forward to a large sized fight in his state
when he comes up for reelection to the
United States Senate. With this In
view he has been very shrewdly justi-
fying himself for his congressional acts,
with the voters of that state, and, 1t
would appear, with a considerable degree
of success. In a recent speech he called
attention to the fact that he represented
a state that had never yet repudiated an
honest debt The statement made some
of the representatives of states farther
south squirm a little but it was incense to
the people of Maryland my Maryland
and that was all Mr.. German cared about.
Mr.. German justified himself for his action
in working to retain many of the tariff
duties stricken out in the original Wilson
bill by calling attention to the present
depleted condi ton of the national treas
ury. He was especially merciless in expos
ing the rainbow chasing proclivities Of Sec
rotary Carlisle. In this connection he
submitted the following figures which are
indeed more eloquent than words:
"On July /, 1898, we had to begin
with $50, 993, 10i. Since then our total
receipts have been 81 800 4S1, 1886 In the
same time our total expenditures were
81. 737. 900, $50, showing a total excess OF
expenditures over receipts in round num-
bers of STAG, 900, 000."
He took up the expenditures by fiscal
and calendar years, and the payments OF
the proceeds from Sl06, 600, 900 of bonds.
The secretary of the treasury had informed
the Senate that he would have sufficient
revenue for this calendar year. But this
was misleading, as the government ac-
counts were made for fiscal, not calendar
years That report by the secretary of the
treasury was so involved that it would
take an accountant to understand it.
II think will be able to demonstrates, "
said Mr.. German, earnestly, that the
secretary of the treasury will have de-
ficiency of $50. 600, 600 for the calendar
year and $50, 600, 900 for the fiscal year. "
Returning to the figures, Mr.. German
said the secretary's reply to the Senate
stated that there was S106, 100000 on
hand available to pay ordinary expenses.
Mr. German knew this was a mistake
and he went to the treasury and said to
those who had made up the figures:
"Your figures are misleading. You have
made a mistake He called their atten-
ton to the fact that they had omitted
checks, drafts, etc, outstanding. These
had been included in the monthly report.
1t disclosed that there was actually S67,-
600, 900 available. Here was mistake of
about $780, 600, 900 to begin with. MIR.
German proceeded to itemize the immense
sums due for rivers and harbors, public
buildings, etc. He also took up the secre-
tary's estimates of receipts he hoped to
have The secretary estimated his total
expenditures at 1858, 900, 900. In 1873
the appropriations were 1907, 900, 900, and
already the House had appropriated 1874
600, 900 for this year.
The Senate will add 10000, 600. The
total will be 1890, 600, 600, and the sena-
tor said he would stake his reputation
that it would reach S400, 900, 600. And
yet the secretary of the treasury this year
tells us his estimate for all expenses this
year is 1858, 900, 600. What was the cause
of this error? The secretary himself
could not question the accuracy of the
foregoing figures.
"The truth is, - said Mr.. German, " that
they made mistake about year ago in
making up their balance of $50, 900, 600,
and they have been trying to adhere to
it ever since" In taking up the question
of gold payments, Mr.. German said he
was something of bookkeeper himself
and had gone through the financial items
with the old officers of the treasury. They
all knew perfectly well that the govern
ment would always maintain its gold pay
ments
There had been scares before Eight
years ago Secretary of the Treasury Man
ming had been panic stricken as to going
to a silver basis, and had sent telegram
to the Senate that he would be on a silver
basis in thirty days. But the fear was
not realized. Mr.. German related how
President Cleveland's first administration
had readily raised gold without going to
the money kings. But there was a sur
plus then, and with that gone there was
not this easy means of meeting expenses.