New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-24
A RESULT OF BOND SALES.
WHY THE PERMANENT ANNUAL APPRO-
PR1ATIONs HAVE INCREASED.
Mr. CLEvELAND's LOANS TO PAY RUNNING Elk
pENsEs OF THE GOVERNMENT HAVE
ADDED NEARLY 80 PER CENT TO

PENsEs OF THE GOVERNMENT HAVE
ADDED NEARLY 80 PER CENT TO
THE INTEREST CHARGES
icy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBUNEl
Washington April 23.-If the appropriations OF
the present session OF Congress amount to more
than usual II will be due TO the increase OF IN
terest on the public debt caused by the loans
which President Cleveland had made to meet the
deficit OF an inefficient tariff law. The appropra-
lions for interest payments come under the head
OF permanent annual appropriations, regarding
which Congress has no option being expected to
follow the recommendations Of the Secretary OF the
Treasury. The permanent annual appropriations
form a chapter in the history OF Congress ABOUT
which the public know little In fact. the term
annual appropriations Is sometimes misleading
and the custom Of charging up against Congress
the money covered by these appropriations, So
called Is unjust The permanent annual appro-
priat!ons" which always included In the state
ment of the sums which Congress has appro-
priated are never mentioned In any annual appro-
priation bills. The items which go to make up
what Is known the permanent annual appro-
priations include interest the public debt sink
Ing fund National bank redemption fund, sugar
bounty expense of collecting customs, repay
ment to importers of OF deposits for GUS
toms duties funds for Indian tribes and other
matters of this character. Formerly bills were
passed directing the payment annually or the
moneys required for these purposes. but this is
no longer done. The Treasury Department
simply goes on paying the moneys required under
authority of act passed probably a quarter OF
a century ago and never mentioned In Congress
since then
The amount OF money included in these so-called
permanent annual appropriations Is large. 1t
had been for years growing less. but since the
present Administration assumed control of Nation
ANA I haS increasing. twenty
five years ago when the annual interest charge
Sis 1880 the permanent annual appropria-
tions'' amounted nearly 500. 900 The annual
interest charge when the present Administration
came In was s22 s94. 1874 An issue OF per cent
bonds was made by President Cleveland which
added ST. 10000 to the annual interest charge. Sub
sequent issues OF bonds by President Cleveland
have added to the interest charge. so that instead
Of an annual demand OF 81. s9t19i for interest.
the amount now demanded OF Congress IL S34 $780,
7G0. The permanent annual appropriations"
therefore. have been increased &li.is2.sls by the
additional interest charge upon the bonds issued
by President Cleveland
II the appropriations charged up 10 this Congress-
including the permanent annual appropriations. are
in excess Of those OF the last Congress 1t will be
because President Cleveands loans have added 20
per cent to the annual interest charge. and that
this Congress. although not in any way responsible
for that increase is charged for It through the mis-
leading custom Of inserting the permanent annual
appropriations socaed in the list Of appropriations
made by Congress The appropriations which should
Be taken into consideration In determining the re-
sponsibity OF Congress for large small expendi-
lures the regular appropriation bills. which are
fourteen In number. including the Deficiency bills
These Congress can in degree control. and II
is BY them and BY the amounts which they carry
that the economy extravaganza OF a Congress Is
to be determined.
That the necessary expenditures Of the country
are growing the population Increases goes with
saying The total OF the regular annual nppro-
priation bills has than doubled In the last
quarter OF a century. Until 1870 they had never
reached the 500 10000 Inc while in 1891 they had
passed the 800 10000 line on the other hand. the
permanent appropriations have been decreasing "a
the interest charge has decreased. They amounted
twenty-five years ago to nearly sNoocooto. and had
al the beginning OF this Administration fallen to
below 100000 During the last three years tRe
actual amount OF the permanent appropriations has
been lower than Il should have been because OF the
fact that there money In the Treasury 10
be used for the sinking fund. and as CONSEQUENCE
the actual amount is much reduced by reason Of
tho failure put into the sinking fund the money
annually called for by law There have been no
additions OF any consequence 10 the sinking tund
since this Administration came In. the reason being
the shortage OF receipts Consequently. inc actus
''permanent annua! appropriations since nv are
The following table shows the amount OF the an
nua appropriation bills and the amount OF Inc
manent appropriations" year by year since ls'o II
will % that the permanent Appropriation, "
creased steadily until 1891. when there was large
Increase. This Increase Is due 10 the iact hSt ON
gress IN 1880 passed act transferring 10 the gen
eral fund Of the Treasury the amount hed ny the
Treasurer for the redemption OF ne Nationai nahk
notes and authorized the redemption OF those notes
where the redemption was required by law, lr0 ON
the general fund. This fact added about *S,""Vp
to the permanent annual appropriations and c0npen
with an unusually large Increase In the sinking
f,nd accounts for the large permanent annual
authorizations OF the fiscal year 1891 on the oth'r
Ina ,here has been no addition OF any consequence
IN the sinking fund since the fiscal year ls'z ana
this fact accounts for the smallnes, OF the perma
n. "nnuaI annroprlations for the fiscal years 1893
1894 and 1885 The figures for the fiscal years 1896 ana
,s97 re the estimates Congress by the Secre
tarv Of the Treasury and include the usual amount
for the sinking fund:
Regular Permanent Regular iermhnen'
Escal apprOpria- annual Fiscal hppropfh-