The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-30
Has AstOnished StraddIers and stiff
fened the Weak Knees and Back
bones of Hesitating congressman.
REVENUES ARE INCREASING
RECEIPTS OF THE GOVERNMENT
WILL SOON EXCEED THE OUTGO.
December Statement Expected to
tures-PeIagic Sealing Bill Signed.
special 10 the Indianapolis journal.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 29.-The weak
kneed politicians in Washington, who have
been contending for policy of nonaction
and silence on the question of reforms in
the currency and banking laws on the
theory that such discussion was not justi-
fled by majority of public sentiment, have
been astonished beyond measure at the re-
ports which have been received about the
Indianapolis 'love feast" The courageous
stand taken by the Republican leaders of
Indiana and their expression of belief that
party success next fall depends on
swerving allegiance to the single standard
fairly dumfounded the lukewarm and soft
backed gentlemen who have been advocat-
ing the cowardly of silence. The
resolute determination of the Indiana Re-
publicans to stand by the principles enun-
ciated in the st. Louis platform has acted
on the Washington political atmosphere
like a wholesale injection of ozone. 1t will
go long ways towards giving a proper
reception to Republican thought and Re
publican plans, as illustrated by the ex-
pressed policy of the administration. In
dianapolis has taken a commanding position
in the field of broad politics. and people
are getting into the habit of thinking of it
as the point of national initiative in i'm
portant policies. The sound-money conven-
tion of 1896 and the proceedings which grew
out of it, and which will climax in the
convention to be held in January, have
identified the city and the State of Indiana
with the grand ideas of currency reform
in way to reflect compliment and glory
upon them. This association of ideas will
be still further emphasized by the promulga-
tion of the currency commission plan next,
and by the convention soon to follow.
The governments revenues have at last
overtaken it's expenses. The treasury state
ment for the complete month of December
will show a surplus in current receipts over
current payments of about $1,500000. This
is, of course, exclusive of the receipts on
account of the Union Pacific Railway. The
statement for to-day shows ii surplus of
$677 600, receipts for the month having been
$25, 06.000 against expenditures amounting
to $25,0 900. Aside from the Union Pacific
transaction the deficit for the first six
months of the current fiscal year ending
with December will approximate $445O0,OC
On account of the heavy interest payment
next month the January statement may
show deficit which would carry the total
shortage close to $4,000, 600, but from that
on there will be steadily growing surplus
of April, that being month of extraordi-
nary expenditures. The proceeds of the sale
of the Union Pacific. including the item of
$S551, 600 to-day, swell the total receipts for
the six months to a little over 5000 900, COO
The statement for the full month, which will
be given out day after tomorrow, will show
total receipts and disbursements for the six
months to be about equal in amount In
other words, the extraordinary receipts from
the sale of this property has practically
wiped out the deficit of the first six months
of the history of the Dingley law, or, to
speak more accurately. the first five months
for it did not go into operation until nearly
the 1st of August. The treasury will go
into the new calendar year of 1898 on an
even keel, and expel is will be very much
disappointed If at the end of the fiscal year,
June 30, 1S9S the receipt and disbursement
accounts do not show a handsome surplus
The revenues from sugar alone will increase
the receipts nearly $5OO0,0O0 a month"; be-
ginning not later than the 1st of March,
That single item will change the Dingley bill
from deficit producer to decided revenue
producer. "*
Early next month the Department of Agri-
culture will issue a report containing an
estimate of the acreage of winter wheat
The high prices which have prevailed lately
induced farmers generally to increase the
acreage, and it will be for the department. S
statistician to officially determine as near
as he can the exact amount OF this enlarge
ment of area. The crop bulletins of the De-
partment of Agriculture will be changed
materially from their tenor of last year
Less attention will be paid to speculative
guesses on crop conditions during the grow
i.oer .tNd
ing on the areas of the several important
crops.