New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-11
A SURPLUS NEXT YEAR.
CHAIRMAN DINGLEY MAKES AN n.
PoRTANT STATEMENT

coRREcrEp-A PREDICTION THAT RE-
cEIPrs IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR
WILL EXCEED EXPENDITURES sY
siooooooo-THE PENSION
BILL PASSED.
fBY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBuFE1
Washington. Dec. 1O-The House Of Repre-.
sentatives to-day passed the Pension Apprcpria-
tion bill after a debate which took wide
range. This was fortunate circumstance. for
It allowed Chairman Dinsley, Of the Ways and
Means Committee, an opportunity to deliver an
exceedingly interesting as well as timely.
speech. which commanded the attention Of the
House. and. It may fairly be hoped. removed
some apprehensions which had been excited
among Republicans. while at the same time
II corrected the Misrepresentation which have
been studiously and zealously circulated ~
Democrats. respecting the present and pros.
pective revenues and expenditures Of the Gov.
ernment and the revenue-producing qualities
Of the new tariff.
For several days past attempts have BEEN
quietly made to produce the impression that
Republican members of the Committee on Ways
and Means had become disheartened on 90
count of the comparatively small receipts oS
revenue from customs during the nrst four
months under the new law. and had already
begun to entertain the idea that supplementary
legislation would be required at this session
in order to fortify the revenues and prevent
deficit so large that another sale Of bonds would
be necessary to maintain the public credit and
obtain money to carry on the Government
With those who engaged In these attempts the
wish was father to the thought. There Wa
no foundation whatever for the stories they
circulated, and yet Governor Dingley's speech
could not have been better timed.
THE ESTIMATES EXPLAINED.
At tho outset he amplifed the statement maA
by Chairman Cannon yesterday respecting the
estimates sent to Congress by the Secretary oe
the Treasury and his explanation Of the man.
ner in which they were prepared. and OF cer.
tain items therein included, in obedience to .
law Of the last Congress. which are not neces-
sary for the support Of the Government during
the next fiscal year. was so lucid and luminous
that even the Democrats seemed to understand
and be willing to accept II. Governor Dinglsy
remarked that he violated no confidence In
saving that neither the Secretary Of War nor
| the Secretary OF the Treasury nor the President
regarded as necessary advisable the appro-
priation at this session OF all or a major part
Of the estimate under the head OF public workA
| To do that would be to increase the approprtae
| tions and expenditures some fifty millions over
the expenditures OF last year. whereas the nor
| NAL rate OF increase Of expenditures from year
to year. owing to growth Of population ann
so on was only about eight millions
The expenditures Of last year. not Including
those paid from postal revenues amounted 70
about 1866 .0OOO 900. and for the current year
| they will amount to about $373,0 100000. and Tor
the wear ending June so 1899. to about $780,
| 100000 at the normal rate OF increase. The
revenue for the latter year was estimated at
ssDo ono oOO II a reasonable degree Of economy
should be exercised In making appropriations
therefore the yea. would end with a small sur
! plus In the Treasury-not taking into account
| ~ course the deficits OF the current and prior
| years.
DEMOCRATIC CRITICS ANSWERED.
Governor Dingley considered and discussed
| the probable receipts Of revenue from customs
in considerable detail, and fully ana fairiy An
swered the criticisms In which the democrats
have 80 freely indulged since the oeglnhihs On
tha session In regard to the effects OF antici-
natorv anpropriations during the last four
months NJ the last fiscal year on the customs
ravenue Of this year. Mr.. Dingey's statement
was full and exceedingly interesting. II was
evidently a surprise to the House 70 learn 1naS
the effect of such importatons or gooos 10 30
into consumption this year. not including goods
|
under the new law, had been to swell tho Gus
tor,. rsca,nts and reduce the deficit OF the last
nscal wear by the sum Of $3S.OOO,OO0 OF
cours. these anticipatory importations al
though foreseen. could not be prevented under
tho circumstances This not the fault OF
the new law. but was due to the long delay IN
,ts nnal passage and also to the failure OF the
retrospective provision which had been moor
porated in the bill when 1t passed the Houss'
WHEN THE TREASURY WILL SUPPORT
ITSELF.
| In discussing the question as to when the
National Treasury will become sef-suppordne
! that IL, when monthly receipts VIII eQueA
monthly expenditures-under the new Iaws
| Governor Dingley expressed the opinion. which
he said was shared by the more experienced
and able officials Of the Treasury, that the re-
| ceipts for each Of the last four months OF tho
current fiscal year would be at least equal 70
m. exnendtures of each month. respectively.
| Moreover. he said. Treasury officials were OF
the opinion that II the receipts Of the current
| r,onth should hold out to the end in proportion
| % those of the first nine days Of the month,
| ,bs december receipts would equal the Decem.
her exnenditures and would amount. exclu-
.,ve ~ any receipts on account Of the Pacific
Railroad. TO S27. 100000.
| Toward the close Of Mr.. Dingley's speech he
was piled with questions by Messrs Bailey.
| Richardson and McMn which were fully and
pertinently answered but apparently not to
| their satisfaction. In fact all Of them ap-
reared to be unusually dull Of comprehension
on this occasion That Mr.. Dingleys state
ments and explanations. including his emphatic
declarations In favor Of the most rigid economy.
were satisfactory to the majority was clearly
shown by the frequent applause on the Republic
can side
ATTACKS ON THE CIVIL SERVICE Law.
In the course Of the days debate strong In.
d,cations were again manifested Of the bitter