The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1897-03-20
HIS FIRST MESSAGE.
President Mckinley Urges Con-
gress to Pass a Tariff Bill.
Says the Depleted Treasury Is soreIy In
Need of the Relief Which Revenue
Legislation Will Afford In
creasIng Debt Alarming.

WASHINGTON, March 16.-The presi-
dent yesterday sent the following mes.
sage to congress:
To the Congress of the United States:
Regretting the necessity which has required
me to call you together. feel that your assem-
bling in extraordinary session is Indispensable
because OF the condition in which we lind the
revenues OF the government. IL is conceded
that Its current expenditures are greater than
Its receipts and that such "A condition has ex-
tsted for now more three years
With unlimited means at our command we
are presenting the remarkable spectacle OF in
ereasing our public debt by borrowing money
TO meet the ordinary out!ays Incident upon even
an economical and prudent administration Of
the government. An examination OF the sub
tect discloses this fact in every detail and leads
inevitably to the conclusion that the condition
of the revenue which allows II Is unjustifable
and should be corrected
We fnd by the reports OF the secretary OF the
treasury that the revenues for the fiscal year
ended June 20 1892 from all sources were s4s5.
66s. 260 22 and expenditures for all sources were
S4l5 eo3 SO6o 3d. leaving an excess OF receipts over
expenditures OF 30. .9l4 45366 During that fiscal
year S40510, 467.9S were paid on the public debt.
which had been reduced since March /, 1883,
S259 076, 800. and the annual interest charge de-
creased Sll, ,6s4. $500
The receipts of the government from all
sources during the fiscal year ending June 30.
1888 amounted to SI6l ZIG SOL % and it's expendi-
lures to S459 374 SsT.65. showing an excess OF re-
ceipts over expenditures of 81 3Il, GA. 90 Since
that time the receipts of no fiscal year. and
with but few exceptions OF month OF any
fiscal year, have exceeded the expenditures.
The receipts OF the government from all
sources during the fiscal year ended June 30.
1894, were S372, 8Ge. % and its expenditures
e4l2 COS. 1881 leaving deficit. the first since
the resumption OF specie payments. OF $50. s03-
R6058 Notwithstanding there was u decrease
of sie 76e lss Ts in the ordinary expenses of the
government. compared with the previous
fiscal year its income was still not suffcient to
provide for its daily necessities and the gold
serve in the treasury for the redemption OF
Rreenbacks was drawn on to meet them. But
this did not sufice, and the government then
sorted to loans to replenish the reserve In Feb
ruary 1894 $50 GOO 900 in bonds were issued and in
November following second issue of $50. 900. 900
was deemed necessary. The sum of Sll7,l7l, ,T95
was realized by the sale OF these bonds. but the
reserve was steadily decreased unpil on Feb
ruary g. 1895 q third sale OF $62 BIS 100 In bonds
for SOS, 24i was announced to congress. The
receipts of the government for the dscal year
ending June 80. 1895, were 1890 313. 203 80 and
the expenditures &433 I7S, ,4s648. showing q de-
felt OF 81, $685. BIB
further loan Of 800 600 900 was negotiated
by the government in February. 1895. the sale
netting Sill 166. .s4j. and swelling the aggregate
OF bonds issued within three years to ss6s Si5,-
900
For the fiscal year ended June 30 1895. the
revenues of the government from all sources
amounted to &409 415. .40375 while it's expendl-
lures were S43i .65s. .6544s or an excess OF ex-
penditures over receipts OF &25, a03. a4S 20. In
other words. the total receipts for the three
fiscal years ended June go 1893 were insufficient
by Sl9 .sII 7as 20 to meet the total expenditures
Nor has this condition since improved. From
the first half OF the present fiscal year. the re-
ceipts OF the government exclusive OF postal
revenues were si57, ,5O7. .603 76 and its expendi-
lures exclusive of postal service Sl95. 000022
or an excess OF expenditures over receipts OF
So. .o0s. .396. 49, In January of this year the re-
ceipts exclusive Of postal revenues were s24.-
BIG, 9e4 O5 and the expenditures exclusive OF
postal services $50, ,2G9 $50 20 deficit OF 81, 95
1876. "a for the month
In February OF this year the receipts exclu
sive Of postal revenue were S2i 99I.3s, and
expenditures exclusive OF postal service SsS.
596 O5666 q deficit OF 81 385 Oj9. s8: or u total
OF &lsj,0jl 5s1.II for the three years
and eight months ending March l. 1897 Not
only are we without a surplus In the treasury,
but with an increase In the public debt there
has been a corresponding increase in the an
nual interest charge from 81 S93. 1888 20 in 1892,
the lowest OF any year since 1882. to S34. 3S7,-
297 80 in 1895. or an increase OF 81, I03 Az 90
1t may be urged that even II 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
10 meet the demands on IL and that
bonds would necessarily have been issued for
its repletfon. Be this rs II may. IL is clearly
rectness OF such q conclusion that the debt
would have been decreased In ut least the
amount of the deficiency. and business conf
dence immeaSurably strengthened throughout
the country.
Congress should promptly correct the exist
ing conditions. Ample revenues must be sup
piled not only for the ordinary expenses of the
but for the prompt payment of
liberal pensions and the liquidation OF the
and interest of the public debt
In raising revenues. duties should be
so levied upon foreign products as
to preserve the home market so far as possible,
To our own producers; TO revive and Increase
to relieve and encourage agricul
rure: to increase our domestic and foreign COM
meree; to aid and develop mining and building.
and to render to labor in every
field Of useful occupation. the liberal wages and
adequate rewards TO which skill and industry
are Justly entitled. The necessity Of the pas
sage OF q tariff law which shall provide ample
revenue. need not be further urged. The
imperative demand OF the hour is this prompt
enactment of such q measure and to this
object l earnestly recommend that congress-
shall make every endeavor Before other bus
mess is transacted. let first provide suficient
revenue to faithfully administer the govern
ment without the contracting of further debt,
OF the continued disturbance OF our finances
WILLIAM MCKINNEY
Executive Mansion, March Is. 1897.