Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-12-30
Congressman DngIey on CarIisIe's Report

\ Washington dispatch to the New
York Tribune contains the following from
CONGRESSMAN Dingley in response TO the
reporters query: What 10 YOU think OF
the last report of the secretary OF the
treasury
We'll. | regard il as an astonishing
document in several particulars. The sec
rotary still clings to the opinion that our
financial difficulties are entirely due TO
faults in our currency system and not at
all 70 lack of sufficient revenue to pay tn"
current expenses of the government. An
opinion which. as am informed. is moi
shared BY other treasury officials who
formerly held similar views. and one
which | am sure Is not shared by the
people in general Everybody knows that
the treasury has been running behind Tor
several years. and that every dollar OF
the balance on hand. including the Eold
reserve. consists of borrowed money. See
rotary Carlisle himself admits this to b"
a fact, but contends that it makes no
difference how the money was procured,
for it is actually in the treasury and hot
being needed for any other object. can be
and should be used to defray current eA-
penseS of the government before resort
ing to taxation or other means to pro
cure the revenue.
..But the secretary insists that what Is
most needed now is not more revenue but
greater economy in appropriations ana
expenditures, suggested the correspond
dent.
Yes. and yet l observe that the esti-
mates of appropriations for next year are
several million dollars larger than for
the current year although the latter did
not include items of extraordinary eNpen-
diturc amounting TO S6.W"W0 or S.;vvo,ou.
The estimates for the treasury depart
ment are no exception. In his report MIR.
Carlisle urges that the permanent appfo-
priations of the collector of customs shall
no incrca sed to 81. 500, 900 Il year from 20
zoo. 600 which is a net increase. after de-
Quoting the permanent indefinite appro-
priation of all money received On account
of fines. penalties and forfeitures. OF
about $500 900 over that for the current
fiscal year. which in turn Is 5000 COZ
greater than the amount appropriated for
any previous year. 1t is apparent that he
does not see the way open to greater
economy in the department over winch
he presides.
Dingley that there has been no abnor-
mally or unnecessary increase in the or
binary expenditures of the government.
IT NAV be that a few thousand dollars
are appropriated every year for undeserN,
ing or unnecessary objects. but the total
lis insignificant when compared win tne
aggregate appropriations or with similar
appropriations in years past. The chief
increase in appropriations and eXpendl-
lures OF the government IN recent years,
aside from that demanded by the growth
Of population and consequent growth OF
public service. fall under a dozen heads
Icirst. there is the large increase in APP
lnropriatiOns and eXpeditures on account
~ pensions; second. the building OF q
navy costs IA good deal of money: third
there has been heavy increase in the
provisions for Notifications TO defend oui
coasts and principal seaports: fourth. the
increase in the size and tonnage of sea
going vessels has made it necessary to
| sleepen and improve a number OF our har-
| bors and the immense growth OF our iake
and river commerce has made 1T neces.
sary also to expend much money on that
account; fifth. large appropriations have
been made to extinguish indian Titles &c
Element. and sixth. considerable appro-
Ipriations have been made for new public
buildings Public sentiment approves al
taken as n whole, account for the tota
annual increase in expenditures"