Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-03-04

The following editorial from tho New
York Times makes pertinent and force
full expression, supported by facts and
figures.
Among the Questions which the
Cleveland administration will leave UNI
settled our neighbour, the Sun, in
cludes "a revenue sufficient for the
needs Of the government economically
administered. 7"
The Sun is in error. That question
has been settled by the revenue laws at
present in force. The revenus of the
United States for the fiscal year ended
Juno 30th, 1896, was 1926. 976, ZOO
That sum is ample for "the needs of
the government economically admins
tered" 1t would have met the total
ordinary expenditures of the govern
ment in any year from 1868 to 1890 in
elusive. In all but seven of those years
it would have yielded a surplus Of over
fifty million dollars.
The trouble is not with the revenue.
The administration is not at fault.
The gross, reckless, wantou extrava-
gance Of Congress has disjointed our
finances. Pensions make the deticita.
Pensions furnish the excuse for higher
taxes. There, in truth. il question
that President Cleveland, though he
has struggled with it manfully, must
turn over to Mr.. Mckinley unsoved.
In the fiscal year 1924, under the
Mckinley law. we had our first deficit
since 1869. The revenue was S207, :
To-, 019, the expenditure 1867, TAG, SGT,
and the deficit 500, sO3, 26l. But we
paid out the enormous sum of Sl4l.
177,2S5 for pensions that year. The
next year We had a deficit of S42,
sos, 223, caused by the payment of SILL,
39o, 229 for pensions. In the last fiscal
year we paid out Sl39. i3i, Dol for pen
sions. and deficit of SO, 203, 216 was
the result. In seven and one-half
months of tho present fiscal year we
have paid out S94, l02, $40. and we have
already an EXCESS of expenditures over
receipts of S4s, 54T. 921.
In seven years and seven months we
have paid 81, DAB, 302. III in pensions.
This is a Republican expenditure,
with Democratic collision. The Sun
admits that for the great increase in
the cost Of running the government
'the Republican party is mainly re-
sponsible." The Democratic party has
preached economy for twenty years.
The doctrine that the revenue SHOULD
lie limited to the needs of tho govern
nient when honestly and economically
administered is 10 be found in score
OF Democratic State and National plat
forms. But what Democrat, VIVA
patriotic and conscientious Republican
can draw Il revenue law that will yielt
Income enough to meet this cFushin.
bill for pensions and not be oppressiv
to the people?
The Wilson act, manned as it was b.
Republican and monopoly influences
provides abundant revanue for tn
needs of an economical government
But the Democrats cannot bring i
with spoon as fast as tho Republican
throw out with a.shovel.
''This is billion dollar country,
was Speaker Reeds excuse for the es
travagance of the Mckinley bill Coz
greas OF the Harrison administration
when the appropriations passed th
billion dollar mark for the first TIM
And this has been the only excu.
ever offered, while the wasteful Q!
penditure has continued.
Not in pensions alone is Congress Q!
trayagant. In all branches of expentl
ture iudicious pruning process cou
ba applied without impairment of Il
public interests. 1t is not high
taxation that the country needs, b.
economy in tho disposition of
revenues.