Evening journal., 1897-03-16
M'KINLEY TO CONGRESS
Prompt Passage of the Tariff
Measure Is Urged.
THE DINGLEY BILL IN THE HOUSE.

lnalrinan OF the Aays anu means Oou-
mittee Explains Its Scope, Purpose and
Provisions-Thomas Il. Reed Reelected
Speaker Of the House OF Representatives..
WASHINGTON, March 1G Tho first mes
sage of President Mckinley has been sub
mitted to congress in extraordinary ses-
sion assembled. The document recon-
mends an Immediate adoption of tariff
measure which will provide sufficient reve-
nue., and no reference Is made to Cuban
or other foreign questions. Tho following
is the full text of the message:
To the Congress Of the United States
Regretting the necessity which has required
me to call you together feel that your as.
sembling in extraordinary session is indispen-
sable because Of the condition in which we
hnd the revenues Of the government. II is con
ceded that its current expenditures are great
er than its receipts and that such condition
has existed for now more than three years.
With unlimited means at our command we are
presenting the remarkable spectacle OF increas
ing our public debt by borrowing money to
meet the ordinary outlays incident upon even
an economical and prudent administration Of
the government. An examination Of the sub
iect discloses this fact in every detail and
leads inevitably TO the conclusion that the
condition Of the revenue which allows 1t is un-
iustihable and should be corrected.
We find by the reports of the secretary OF
the treasury that the revenue for the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1892. from all sources
were 1926. Sos, 20O.22 and the expenditures for
all purposes were S4l5, 953, 656 leaving an ex-
sess Of receipts over expenditures of S9,9l4-
i58G0 During that fiscal year S40570,4d1 SO
we're paid upon the public debt which had
been reduced since March l. 1889. $3.50 O16, SoO,
and the annual interest charge decreased $ll-
8S457G.6O. The receipts of the government
oil Il rttt
June 30 1898, amounted TO S46l. .7l6, "a and
its expenditures TO S459, s7i, $751; g. showing an
excess Of receipts over expenditures Of S2,54l,-
G4.2g.
Expenditures Exceeding the Receipts.
Since that time the receipts OF no fiscal yesr,
and with but few exceptions Of no month of
any fiscal year, have exceeded the expendi-
lures.
The receipts Of the government from all
sources during the fiscal year ending June
BO 1894 were S3f2 s02, 49s.2 2g and its expendi-
lures S42. Cos, 1881 leaving a deficit, the first
since the resumption of specie payments, OF
500, sos, ,26O 53 Notwithstanding there was a de-
crease Of Sl6,7G0, l2s.7s in the ordinary expenses
Of the government as compared with the pre-
vious f seal year. its income was still not sutf
cent to provide for its daily necessities. and
the gold reserve In the treasury for the re
demption Of greenbacks was drawn upon to
meet them But this did not suffice, and the
AN'NANNN-
ish the reserve.
In February, 1894 $50 900 in bonds were
issued, and In November following q second
issue of $50, Coz, 900 was deemed necessary. The
sum Of S1l7, Ill., TO was realized by the sale Of
these bonds, but the reserve was steadily de-
creased until on Feb. 8, 1895, a third sale Of
sG2, ,3l5, 400 in bonds for $65, ll6,2 pa was an
nounced to congress.
The receipts OF the government for the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1895, were 1890, 1913, 2O3 81
and the expenditures S43S, 17S, 42d 4S, showing a
deficit Of s42, SO5, ,223.ls.
The 500. 900. 900 Loan.
further loan Of siOO, O,O0o, 900 was negotiated
by the government IN February, 1885, the sale
netting Sill, 1885, 246, and swelling the aggregate
Of bonds issued within three years to 1892, sl5
lOO For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1896,
the revenues of the government from all
sources amounted to $409, 475 .7S, while its
expenditures were $434, ,67s, 654. 49, or an excess
Of expenditures over receipts Of $25, POS 2f5 20.
In other words. the total receipts for the three
fiscal years ending June 30, 1895, were insult
cient by si37,sll, ,72049 to meet the total ex-
penditures.
Nor has this condition since improved For
the FIRST half OF the present fiscal year the re-
eeipts OF the government exclusive OF postal
revenues were Sl57, ,507, 60376 and its expendi-
lures exclusive Of postal service $685. 40 900. %,
OF an excess Of expenditures over receipts of
se7 p92, 896. as. In Jsnuary of this yesr the re-
ceipts exclusive OF postal revenues were S2i,
3i6 99405 and the expenditures exclusive of
postal service $40 300 3s9 29, deficit OF s5,952,
sg5. "a for the month. In February OF this year
the receipts exclusive Of postal revenues We're
S24, 4OO 997. .88 expenditures exclusive of post
al service, S28 796 05666; deficit Of s595 O59 %,
or a total deficiency of SlS6 Ojl, ,5S0.4i for the
three years and eight months ending March /,
1896.
Not only are we without a surplus in the
treasury, but with an increase in the public
debt there has been corresponding increase
I'm the annual interest charge from S22, s93,
$500 in 1892 the lowest Of any year since 1862,
to S34 8s7, 97.6O in 1896, increase Of $ll,
9S,4l44O.
Prompt Increase In Tariff Urged.
It may be urged that even If the revenues Of
the government had been sufficient to meet
all its ordinary expenses during the past three
years the gold reserve would still have been
insufficient to meet the demands upon Il and
that bonds would necessarily have been issued
for its repletion. Be this as IL may, IL Is clear
ly manifest without denying or affirming the
correctness OF such conclusion, that the debt
would have been decreased in at least the
amount Of the deficiency and business conf
dence immeasurably strengthened throughout
the country.
Congress should promptly correct the exist
ing condition. Ample revenues must be sup
piled, not only for the ordinary expenses O.
the government, but for the prompt payment
Of liberal pensions and the liquidation Of The
principal and interest Of the public debt. IN
raising revenues duties should be SO levied up
ON foreign products as to preserve the HON,
market so far as possible to our own produc
ers; TO revive and increase manufactures; &
relieve and encourage agriculture to increns,
our domestic and foreign commerce.: 10 ait
and develop mining and buildings and TO ren
der TO labor in every field Of useful occupation
the liberal wages and adequate rewards {,
which skill and industry ara justly entitled
The necessity Of the passage of a tariff Law
which shall provide ample revenue need no
be further urged. The imperative demand o.
the hour Is the prompt enactment OF such
measure, and to this object earnestly recon-
mend that congress shall make every endeav
or. Before other business is transacted let III
first provide sufficient revenue TO faithful,
administer the government without the con
tracing Of further debt or the continued dis
turbance of our finances
WILLIAM MCKINLEY.
THE NEW TARIFF BILL.