Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-03-16

ordered. the rules of the house in the
Fifty-fourth congress be adopted as the
rules of the Fifty-fifth congress and on
this he moved the previous question.
10 this another republican member from
Iowa, Mr.. Hepburn proposed an amend
ment, limiting the continuance Of those
rules to thirty days from this date.
Mr. McMillin (dem., Tenn. } asked Mr..
Henderson indirectly whether it was the
purpose of the COMMITTEES on rules to
report code of rules and TO let the
house have an opportunity to vote upon
them.
There is no doubt" said Mr.. Hen
derson. that that will be done. The
house will have the fullest opportunity
to offer amendments to the rules that
will be presented"
The house was counted on Mr. Hen
derson's motion for the previous ques-
ton and the speaker reported the close
vote of 157 ayes and 15S nays.
Then the speaker announced an addi-
tion of one vote to the ayes, making Ii
tie, but this was Immediately followed
by an addition of one to the noes. The
vote was then taken by yeas and nays
and resulted in ordering the previous
question on Mr.. Henderson's resolution
by 1873 yeas and 152 nays-seyeral repub-
licans having changed their votes from
no to aye.
A point having been raised that under
the rules there were twenty minutes for
debate, the speaker said:
9 There are rules and rules. There is a
rule for the previous question in the
Fifty-second, Fifty-third and Fifty
fourth congresses and also under general
parliamentary law. In the house of
representatives heretofore, the rule has
allowed twenty minutes for debate; but
that is not the rule under which we are
now acting. Even il it were, there has
been debate enough, before the previous
question to cut off that twenty minutes.
The question is now on agreeing to the
resolution.
The house divided and the speaker re-
ported-ayes 157, nays 1873.
So Mr. 1endersons resolution was
agreed to.
The usual drawing of seats was pro-
ceeded with, preference being given on
account of long service to Mr.. Grow Gep.,
Penn.,); Mr. Holman dem. Ind.,), and Mr..
Harmer (rep. PENN.
While the drawing for seats was in
progress the committee appointed to
wait on the president, reported through
Mr.. Payne (rep. of N. Y.) that the presl-
dent had sent his kindly greetings to
congress and said that he would COM
municate Immediately in writing"
The making of the report was followed
instantly (3:15 p. ND by the delivery of
the presidents brief message, but its
reading was withheld until the seating OF
members was completed
and referred, on motion of Mr.. Dingley,
to the committee on ways and means.
To the Congress of the United States:
Regretting the necessity which has re-
quired me to call you together, ! feel
fhat your assembling in extraordinary
session is indispensable because of the
condition in which we find the revenues
of the government. 1t is conceded that
its current expenditures are greater
than its receipts, and that such condition
has existed now for more than three
years. With unlimited means at our
command, we are presenting the remark
able spectacle of increasing our pubic
debt by borrowing money to meet ordl-
nary outlays incident upon even an eco
nomical and prudent administration of
the government. An examina ton of the
subject discloses this fact in every de-
tail, and leads inevitably to the co11ciu-
sion that rJfa nevPuiles which allows 1T is
unjustifab1e and should be corrected.
We find by the reports of the secre-
tary of the treasury that the revenues
for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892.
from all sources were S4T5, 76S, ,260, and
the expenditures for all purposes were
$415, ,952, ,S06, leaving an excess of receipts
over expenditures of s9,914, ,453. During
that fiscal year $40,570,46 was paid upon
public debt which had been reduced since
March 1, 1889, to $259,076, 800, an annual
interest charge decreased S11 ,6S4, ,576. Re-
ceipts of the government from all sources
difIdng the fiscal year ending June 30,
1893, amounted to s461, 1861, and it's ex-
penditures to $459 374, 1897, showing an ex-
cess of receipts over expenditures of ST.
341 GA
Since that time receipts of no fiscal
year, and with but few exceptions, of
no month of any fiscal year have exceed
ed expenditures. Receipts of govern
ment from all sources during the fiscal
year ending June 30,1S94, were S72,S02,-
49S, and it's expenditures SAP, sos, ,758, leav-
ing deficit, first since resumption of Spe-
Gle payments, of 69,803,260 Notwith-
standing there was decrease of $16,-
769,128 in ordinary expenses of the gov
ernmen., as compared with previous fs-
cal years, its income was still not suffi-
cient to provide for its daily necessities,
and gold reserve in the treasury for the
redemption of greenba cks was drawn
upon to meet them.
But this did not suffice, and the govern
ment resorted to loans to replenish the
reserve. In February, 1894, $50, 100000 in
bonds were issued, and in November fol-
lowing a second issue of s50,000,000 was
deemed necessary. The sum of $117 Ill.,
1876 was realized by the sale of these
bonds, but the reserve was steadily de-
creased uEtil on February 8, 1885, the
third sale of $62,315. 400 in bonds, for $685.
1924 was announced to congress. The
receipts of the government for the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1895, were 39O,S17,-
1Uo, dIlu expenditures 34oo,lfoy4Z0, showing
a deficit of $42, sos, ,223. further loan of
$100, ,000, 600 was negotiated by the govern
ment in February, 1885, the sale netting
Sill ,166,246, and swelling the aggregate
of bonds issued within three years to
S262, ,315, 400.
For the fiscal year ending June 80, 1895.
the revenue of the government from all
sources amounted to $409, ATS, ,40S, while the
expenditures were $434, ,67S, ,654.4S, or an
excess of expenditures over receipts of
$25, ,203. .245.70.
In other words, the total receipts for
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1895, were
insufficient by $137,S11, ,729.46 to meet the
total expenditures. Nor has this condi-
tion since improved. For the first half
of the present fiscal year the receipts of
the government, exclusive of postal rev.
enues were s157, ,507 SOB, and its expendi-
lures, exclusive of the postal service $685.
100000, or an excess of expenditures over
receipts of $37, 1902, 1896.
In January of this year the receipts,
exclusive of postal revenues, were s24,-
316, 1894, and the expenditures, exclusive Of
postal service $30, ,269 389 a deficit of s5,-
952, 1896 for the month. In February of
this year the receipts. exclusive of pos
tai revenue were s24, ,400, 1897. and the ex-
xroIr, Il xt1 <F f1n