The record-union., 1897-12-11

that the maximum WaS reacned in 1873,
when the pension payments reached
S159, 100000. In 1894 they fell to $141,-
900, ZOO, in 1895 they We're Sal ,00O. 900,
in 1896 $139. 900, 600, and in 1897 S141,-
900, 600.
If the expenditures for pensions during
the next fiscal year should be S14S.-
000,OOO as has been estimated, the in
crease, Dingley said, would not be due
to new legislation, but to more rapid
administration of the present laws. 1t
would, therefore, involve no additional
expense in the end.
The question as to the revenue and
expenditures for the next fiscal year,
proceeded Mr.. Dingley, was a practical
one which Congress had to face.
The statement of the Secretary of the
Treasury, he said, had caused much APP
prehension, owing to the fact that
under a new provision of law he had
been obliged to include in the esti-
mates Of expenditures $13,OOO,OOO for
public works, which neither he nor the
Secretary Of War, nor any other we'll
informed person believed would be ex
pended Counting this, the estimate
deficit, he said, would be $21 100000.
He violated no confidence when he
said that the Secretary of the Treasury
and the President were confident that
the receipts next year would exceed
the expenditures.
Mr.. Dingley said he took ii for grant
ed that Congress would exercise rea
sonable economy. The estimated de-
ficit for the present year, not counting
the money obtained and to be obtained
from Pacific railroads, was S2S, ,000,
600. The anticipatory importations
had, Dingley argued, placed in the
treasury before July 1st, 5000, 600.
Those importatfons had reduced the de-
ficit last year from $56, 600, 900 to $1S,-
100000
Dingley contended that in equity that
sum should he properly charged to the
receipts of the current year. If they
were so charged, instead of a deficit
there would be a surplus this year of
SIC, 100000.
Dingley figured out surplus of ex-
actly that amount-S10, 100000 for the
coming fiscal year. He described the
steady manner in which the revenues
had been increasing at the rate Of one
or two millions a month. Although De-
cember was generally bad month for
importations. he said that the in
crease for the first nine days of this
month would increase from $25,000,0OO
in November to $2l,O00,000 in Decem-
Der. When he confidently predicted
that the effect Of the anticipatory rev.
enues would all be overcome during the
fiscal year, and that after May or June,
1898. the revenues would exceed the
expedftures, the Republican side broke
out into repeated cheers.
Allen CD of Mississippi concluded the
general debate with a humorous speech.
During the five minute debate Linney
R.) of North Carolina made an argu-
ment in favor of overthrowing the civil
service law which set the galleries in
roar.
All amendments, including those pro-
posed yesterday by Allen Cd of Mis-
sissippi. were either voted down or
ruled out on points of order.
The bill was then reported to the
House and passed.
Hit. Chairman of the Committee on
Foreign Affairs, asked unanimous con-
sent for the passage of the bill report
ed by his committee to prohibit the
killing of fur seals. He explained the
necessity for the Immediate passage of
| the ACt, OWlHS 10 tflC otplOiuatiS AASoO"
tiations now pending.
"The passage of this law would pro-
hibit pelagic sealing by our citizens"
interposed Hopkins (R) OF Illinois. rs
there any assurance that If it is passed
the citizens of Great Britain and Cana
da will be similarly restricted
Hit replied that there was not, but
if we were sincere in our contention we
should pass this law.
McRae (D) of Arkansas said the re-
strictions should be limited to the pc
riod of negotiations If they failed
then our citizens should have the same
rights as British subjects.
Johnson R) of North Dakota said he
wanted time to oppose the bill. He
said, under present conditions, it was as
impossible to preserve the seal herds
as it had been to preserve the buffalo
herds.
Objection was made by Loud (R-) or
California, and then at 400 p. m, the
Ho,,co oil io,,rpad until MOnday.