The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-23
OARLISLE,S REPORT.

The annual report of Secretary Carlisle
submitted to Congress on Monday was de-
voted to a cons Iteration of the monetary
and revenue problems of the country.
For the first of these the Secretary had no
solution to offer except his former one
recommending the early retirement of
greenbacks. Concerning the second he re-
peats the wellworn argument of the free
traders, and asserts that our tariff duties
must be levied solely for purposes of reve-
nue. If we are to receive from them suffi-
cient income to meet the expenditures OF
the Government. incidentally he makes
an appeal for economy. These three
things constitute almost the whole of his
elaborate report.
The statistics given by the Secretary
show very clearly the need of legislation
directed to an increase of the National
revenue. The deficit for the fiscal year
which ended last June amounted to S25.-
203, 245. A still greater deficit is expected
for the present year. The estimates of
the Secretary, based on the existing laws
and conditions OF trade, are that the total
revenue for the year will be $407, 1913, no.
The expenditures for the same period are
OSkAAldlCO dI Ptl1,-0o, IAO, lSdViuS a NpA-
cheney for the year of $64, 800 900.
The Secretary says careful considera-
ton of the situation and conservative
reliance upon improved business condi-
tons justify the conclusion that the actual
deficiency for the current year aud the
year following will be less than the esti-
mates given. 1t is in this connection he
urges Congress to restrict the expendi-
lures of the Government IN order that
they may be brought within tie limit of
the revenues. "In my opinion" he says,
I'VE have reached a situation which not
only forbids the favorable conside ration
of measures calculated to augment our
annual outlay, but which demands thor
ough revision of our permanent appro-
priation laws and the enforcement of
strict economy in future annual legisla-
ton on this subject"
1t is not likely these recommendations
will find much favor among the people,
even though they come in the attractive
form of plea for economy. The highest
economy in the United States at this time
calls for a liberal expenditure OF public
money in the prom of great works OF
utility to industry and commerce. There
is need for the irrigation of ard lands, the
promotion OF our merchant marine, the
extension of coast defenses, the upbuild-
ing of the navy, the improvement of
rivers and harbors, and last, but by no
means least, the construction of the
Nicaragua canal. All these works will re-
quire the expenditure OF large sums of
money, but nevertheless if carried out
under right direction will we'll deserve the
name of economy.
As Speaker Reed once said, "This is a
billion-dollar country" We cannot afford
to restrict its energies and limit its ex-
pansion in order to satisfy the small ideas
of the free-traders. The United States
must go forward. She has too much at
stake in the near future to afford to stop
now in her onward career. The deficit in
the treasury is no menace to the National
welfare. 1t is nothing more than the &C.
cident of bungling legislation enacted by
a laundering Congress. Republican states
men will soon remedy that evil, and our
revenues will once more be equal 10 ali
our needs. This is what the people voted
for at the last election. 1t is what they
expect and what they will receive from
the next Congress. Mr. Carlisle's report,
therefore, will serve no other purpose than
that of putting one more evidence on
record of the futility of the Cleveland
administration.