The herald., 1898-04-27
WAR REVENUES
Dingley's Bill Includes Taxes and Sale
of Bonds

OF b0QQS
WASHINGTON. April 26.-Chairman
Dingley of the Ways and Means Commit
tee, today submitted to the House, with
the war revenue bill, the following report:
The precipitation on the United States
Of a war with Spain has rendered 1t nec-
essary to Immediately provide ways and
means to meet war expenditures on the
scale demanded by modern naval and mill
itary operations. Such an unwelcome de-
mand on our resources comes at time
when, under the workings Of the tariff act
Of July "a. 1897 we had begun to overcome
In large measure the injurious effect Of
anticipatory importations, and had
had already received in the months
Of February and March revenue
more than s3,OO00OO in excess of ordi-
nary peace expenditures for these months
G4,00O,ooO Of the expenditures appearing in
the March statement, having been made
on account Of the preparations for ma
tional defense under authority of the
joint resolution of March, 1889, and that,
too. with a large falling Off of customs
and revenues, the last ten days of March
in consequence Of the disturbance of trade
arising from threatened war.
There is no doubt that, If peace condi-
Secretary of the Treasury that the reve-
nue. for the next fiscal year would reach
1896, ,0O0, 900, exclusive of postal receipts,
$6s. 900, 900 in excess of tho revenue for the
fiscal year 1896, and more than that sum
In evcess Of what the revenues for the
next fiscal year 1897 would have been If It
had not been for anticipatory importa-
tions in the last four months of the lat
ter year. to avoid increased duties of the
new tariff, would have been more than
realized, and these receipts would have
fully met the expenditures for the next
fiscal year II 1t had not been for the in
crease caused by the difficulties with
Spain, inasmuch as the expenditures for
the fiscal year 1896. exclusive of postal ex-
penditures paid by postal revenue, were
only $352 000, 000 and for the fiscal year 1896
only $685., ,O0O, 10000.
These difficulties, even before war con-
ditions arose. had so stirred the public
mind. as to demand largely increased
appropriations for enlarging the navy and
for national defenses.
The destruction Of the United States bat
tleship Maine in the harbor Of Havana on
the 18th Of February last so intensified this
country that the Congress a few weeks
after realized the necessity of taking
prompt measures to prepare for any ex-
igency and by joint resolution appropri-
ated $50, 1000, 900 for national defense.
Upon the authority OF this joint resolu-
don about $630oo,Oo0 of this appropriation
have already been practically used, al
though payments have as yet been made
for only part Of this sum, and liabilities
for the remainder Of the appropriation,
which has been incurred within two weeks
An examination of the condition Of the
treasury will make 1t apparent that no
time should be lost in providing ample
ways and means for carrying to success
full conclusion the war in which we are
now engaged.
The apparent cash balance in the treas
ury when the joint resolution appropriate
ing s5o.0oo.0Oo for national defense was
passed was about $z25. 900 900. including the
$loo,e00.ooo redemption fund, or sl25, ,OoO, ,oOU
excluding that fund. But this balance was
only apparent, inasmuch at $1s, 900 900 con-
sisted of Irrational silver. largely uncur-
rent ana minor coins, leaving only SIP ,oO0, :
goo. But oYFhis amour s14 900 consisted
se ssdG,asa sAra& ~ sale Of RaniAo ran,