New-York tribune., 1896-12-28
THE TREASURY REPORT.
SOME COMMENTS BY CHAIRMAN DING
LEY.
STATEMENTS OF SECRETARY CARLISLE THAT ID
NOT EEAR ANAI.YsIs-rHE TROUBLE LIES
IN THE REVENUE DEFIcIr-PUB-
Lie EXPENSES.
Inv TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUNE.l

IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIIUNE.J
Washington. Dec 27.-"what do you think OF
the last report Of the Secretary OF the Treas
ury?" asked a Tribune correspondent yesterday
in conversation with Chairman Dingley Oh 'he
Committee on Ways and Means
"Well. I regard it as an astonishing docu-
ment in several particulars. The secretary SUN
cings to the opinion that our flnanciai oiiiicu'-
ties are entirely due to faults in our currency
system and not at all tc Jack or suinclent re'e-
nue. TO pay the current expenses OF the Ho'ef"-
nent, ar opinion which as am lniornieo. 10
rot shared bv other Treasury officials who for
merly held similar Views. and one which l All
sure is not shared by people in general Every
body knows that the Treasury has been run"ihs
behind for several years. and that every dollar
OF the balance On hand. including the goio re-
serve consists Of borrowed money. Secretary
Carlisle himself admits this to be Iact ou'
contends that it makes no difference how the
money was procured. for 1t Is actually IN the
Treasury and not being needed for any other
ohiect can he and should be used TO defray the
current experses of the Government before re-
sorting to taxation or other means to procure
more revenue.
"But the Secretary insists that what Is most
needed now is not more revenue, put greater
economy in appropriations and expenditures
suggested the correspon lent.
"ycs. and vet observe that his estimates OF
appropriate tions for next year are several million
dollars larger than for the current year. al
though the latter did not include items or ex-
II taordinary expenditure amounting TO So'V"'-
900 or 81. 100000. The estimates Tor the Treas
ury Department are no exception. IN HIS re-
port Mr. Carlisle urges that the permanent ap-
propriation for the collection or customs shaii
be increased to $1,jOOUOO year from SooVV'-
600. which Is a net increase. after deductlng
the permanent indefinite appropriation or all
money received on account or fines, penalties
and forfeitures, of about SSOO.0OO over that Tor
the current fiscal year. which. in turn, IS SoVV-
600 greater than the amount appropriated ior
any previous year. 1t is apparent that he does
not see the way open to greater economy In the
Department over which he presides
THE truth is." resumed Chairman Dingley.
that there has been no abnormal or unnecessary
increase In the ordinary expenditures OF the Gov
ernment. 1t may be that few thousand dollars
are appropriated every year for undeserving or
unnecessary objects but the total Is insignificant
when compared with the aggregate appropria-
tions or with similar appropriations III years
mast The chief increase in the appropriations
and expenditures of the Government in recent
years aside from that demanded by the growth
OF population and consequent growth or the pup
lie service falls under a half-dozen heads flist,
there is the large increase in appropriations ana
exppnditures on account OF PENSIONS suppose
there are very few people in the United states
who murmur on account OF these or would care
IN oppose them. Second the building OF Navy
costs a good deal OF money, but the country de-
manded that the Navy OF the United States
should be placed on a respectable footing. and
thus far there has been no complaint or extraVa-
gance or unnecessary expenditure on that ac-
count Third. there has been heavy increase
in the provisions for fortitications to defend our
coasts and principal seaports. and that also Is IN
response to the sentiment of the country. Fourth.
the increase in the size and tonnage OF seagoiny
vessels has made ii necessary to deepen and inn
prove a number Of our harbOrs and the immense
growth Of our lake and river commerce has made
IL necessary also to expend much money on that
account; These things account for the large and
necessary increase of appropriations for river
and harbor improvements. Fifth. large appro-
priations have been made to eXtngush Indian
titles to lands that were demanded for white set
tlement the money expended for which. how
ever will ultimately he returned to the National
Treasury by the people who buy and settle upon
the lands Sixth considerable appropriations
have been made for new public buildings which
are required on account of the growth of popula
ton and public business or. as In the case Of the
new building for the Library OF Congress. to
house and preserve the possessions OF the Gov
crnment Public sentiment approves all % these
classes Of appropriations which. taken as
whole account for the total annual increase In
expenditures"