New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-11
THE APPROPRIATIONS.

Here comes the assertion In several Journals
that Secretary Gage himself estimates there
will be deficit of $21, 100000 In the next fiscal
year under the present revenue law. Is It
strange II many newspapers are lamenting their
loss Of influence with the people, even when
they try to use It In good cause. so long as
they resort to such untruths In order to sup
port any claim they make! The Secretary
made no statement warranting such an asser-
tion What he did was to contrast bis est
mate Of the probable revenue for the next fiscal
year with the amounts asked by the various de.
partments. showing that If all the money asked
should be appropriated by Congress, and spent
during the fiscal year, there would result a
deficit Of S21 CATS This formal statement,
made by successive Secretaries In their annual
reports, is never supposed to be an estimate by
them that Congress will appropriate all the
sums asked although 1t does at times exceed
the estimate.
The fact remains that the responsibility for
the future, both as to sufficency Of tho reve.
nue. and as to possibility Of strengthening the
monetary system, rests Just where President
Mckinley placed 1t when he urged in his Mes
sage great prudence in appropriations 1t is
obvious that Congress has power to appropriate
more money than Its revenue laws raise and
equally obvious that a deficit, 80 long as It ex-
lists, involves more or less risk Of distrust re-
garding the monetary future. In plain words
Secretary Gage has shown Congress that 1t is
asked "by the several executive departments
and offices" to appropriate s21 100000 more
money than its revenue law will probably yield
next year. although that law will yield In his
opinion S13,6O0,OO0 more than the Government
requires for its expenditures this current year,
and S3440000O more than it actually expended
In the last fiscal year. Thus the whole question
comes to be one Of appropriations-is the great
increase asked, largely exceeding the probable
revenue necessary for the proper support of
the Government?
This 10 the one question which the representa-
tives Of the people In Congress must decide In
the light Of their knowledge Of the needs and
the will of the voters. 1t is their especial and
great responsibility at this time They know
that they can defeat themselves and their party.
as both parties have more than once been de-
feated, by appropriations which the people
hold excessive In view Of the existing condi-
tons. 1t Is plain to them that the country
greatly needs such assured excess of revenue
over expenses as will strengthen the public
credit and the currency and make practicable
reforms to that end II they care rather for
the satisfaction Of interested people in this or
that improvement or building or extension Of
the public service. they have to answer to con-
stituents who are not slow to remember that
heavy appropriations without an ample sur
plus involve grave risks.
The appropriations asked this year are sub
stantialy the same &C the amounts voted last
year In most branches Of the service, and the
great difference Is found in comparatively few
items. Under the War Department, including
river and harbor improvement $85. 100000 is
asked, in place Of S22,014,S10 asked year ago.
The responsibility rests with Congress to de-
. eide whether until the sufficiency Of the reve-
nue. has been established. such extensive in
crease Of appropriation should be made. Sec
rotary Cages Department reduces tn estimate