The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-29
TRULY A BIG COUNTRY.

Is potsonous.-New York Sun.
TRULY A BIG COUNTRY.
Expenses of the United States Are Enor-
mous-The People All Called Upon to
Pay Literally for Many Things.
wellman. in Pittsburg News.
II you want to get an idea Of the
of the appropriation bills recently
passed by congress. Take. for example.
the sundry civil bill. a measure in which
appropriations for all sorts Of purposes
not otherwise classified are dumped, as
its title would indicate. Some OF the
items in this bill will give the reader an
idea Of the vastness of the country and
also Of the almost endless responsible
tiles Of the government. For instance,
here Is an appropriation Of $19,500 for
relief Of the native Inhabitants az Alas
ka, the poor children Of nature, who
would starve il Uncle Sam did not help
them out. Besides this we spend 1000
a year for educating those natives and
$5.0 900 in the experiment of raising REIN
deer for their use. One Of the surpris-
ing items Of the bill Is $577, 900 for arti-
flcial limbs and appliances for disabled
soldiers. The appropriation for this
purpose last year was only $4,000. but
Chairman Cannon Of the appropriation
committee of the House explains tl.,'t
the manned veterans are entitled to re-
newal of their artificial limbs every
third year, and that this is the year
when most of them get a new outfit.
1t must be a pretty big country In
which 1t costs $4,000 a year to pay the
salaries Of the custodians and janitors OF
public buildings. No wonder Uncle
Sam is poor when ne Is In the janitor
business to that extent. Why. 1t costs
$52, 900 a year to keep the public parks
and grounds In this city in good trim,
and none OF the money is wasted either.
This is exclusive of the Capitol grounds.
which takes $4,000 more. To light the
Capitol one year costs $4,000 and to
keep 1t in repair $4,000. The White
House Is almost as expensive. It's 'ex-
penses" are put down at $4,000 year
and lighting at $4,000.
PRINTING BILLS.
Uncle Sam spends good deal of his
money for printing and engraving. The
appropriation for the coming fiscal year
| for engraving and printing, which
means for the manufacture of money,
securities. revenue stamps, ETC., Is ST.
| 100000. In addition to this 1t costs con-
siderably more than $1,000 a week for
the distinctive paper used for the print
ing of government securities. For pub
lie printing and binding, which means
| the government printing Office. the ap-
| preparation IL 33.110,000, or 10000 for
| every working day.
1t costs the government $125,O0O a year
| to enforce the Chinese exclusion act and
100000 to enforce the alien contract la
Dor law.
The United States has a great many
separate establishments Of which the
people do not hear much, but all Of
which have to be supported, and the
aggregate cost Is a very pretty sum.
Not few of these concerns are appro-
priated for in other bills, but the follow
ing appear in the sundry civil:
The coast and geodetic survey, which
triangulates the coasts and mountains,
costs $500. 900 year.
| The fish commission, which intro
duces food fishes to waters of all parts
of the country. requires $340. 900 q year.
The geological survey, which makes
scientific examinations of the country,
| cannot get along with less than SAT-, 900.
Homes for disabled volunteer soldiers
cost 81, ,467. 900 year and in addition to
this appropriation s725,000 is given in
aid Of homes for soldiers and sailors in
states and territories.
The Interstate Commerce commits
sion, which will amount to something
under recent decisions of the Supreme
court, requires $225,0O0 year.
OTHER EXPENSES.
The life saving service. one of the
most admirable branches Of the gov
ernment. is supported on $1,537. 900 a
year, while the lighthouse establish
ment including beacons and fog sig
mails, eats up $3,042,000.
The revenue cutter service, which
comprises fleet Of vessels for the pro-
lection of the coasts against smuggling,
costs 1890, 900 year.
The improvements of rivers and har-
bors already authorized by law require
| | sa,t s. SIS 7S,999. 999
Among the interesting items to be
found In this hodge podge budget are
the following:
For publication Of records of the re-
belllon, s145,000
For suppressing counterfeiting and
other crimes. s5O,OO0
For the Washington monument, $11,-
500.
For the Yellowstone National park
$4,000.
For headstones, etc., In national
cemeteries, s22O,OOO.
For fuel, lights and water for public
buildings, 100000.
For furniture for public buildings
$1S0000.
For Chickamauga and Chattanooa
park. $4,000.
For recoinage Of gold coins, $1,000; foI
recoinage Of silver coins. 100000.
For the astrophysical observatory
Smithsonian institution. $4,000.
For taret range at Jefferson barracks
$4,000.
These items give a good idea OF the
multiplicity Of the demands which are
made upon Uncle Sans purse.
An appropriation which will please
many people Is $25,000 to defray the ex.
penses Of a scientific commission to re.
port the best means Of preserving the
forests of the United States.
1t Is indeed a great country and 6
great government.
| Chronic Rheumafisss, rurod