Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-21


good deal OF figuring on the cost OF the
war and where 1--WE VIII be at when all
the bills shall have been paid. The
task is not an easy one. Indeed. owing
TO several important confusing factors
and unknown quantities that enter into
the calculation. IL is almost impossible
to make up an exact statement. Among the
chief difficulties our calculating friends
have TO contend with Is that OF separating
the war expenditures from the regu-
| lar peace expenditures of the last five
months. Another difficulty is that OF esti-
mating the effect of hostilities upon the
normal income OF these months; and, stu
another Is that of arriving at the pro-
bable extra expenditures OF the near
future. that may be properly and legiu-
mately chargeable TO the war. AS con-
sequence. many of the Statements" that
are made carry US through a maze OF
figures. assumptions. and IFS only 10
leave us about where they started US.
The Providence Or. - Journal, how
ever, which is usually very accurate
thorough. and conservative when 1t un-
dertakes to deal with figures, thinks that
the best information obtainable at pres
ent justifies some such general summary
as this: Expenditures for the war from
April LIST to July 31st, s9I. 10000; estimated
expenditure in excess OF peace require
ments for remainder Of current year.
SlO0, 100000; estimated expenditures In
Cuba Porto Rico, and Philippines for
first half of 1889, s90000,OO0. Total, $751;
100000 TO meet this extra outlay there
will be 800 900, 900, the proceeds Of the
per cent loan, and about $4,000, 900, pro-
ceeds of the new revenue law. AT the end
OF the current fiscal year. therefore.
that is, June 30. 1899 there will be a sur
plus of war funds amounting to 100000.
Add this TO the balance in the Treasury
at the beginning of last April, and we
have a probable balance in the Treasury
at the end Of the fiscal year of 1926, 10000.
AS to the proceeds Of the war loan.
adds the Journal, these, OF course. are
fixed quantity. The proceeds Of the new
taxes are less certain, but the estimate
OF $3.50. coo a year is ct least not ex-
travagant. In July She apparent pro-
ceeds from this source were between $l2,-
100000 and Si3. 10000. and so FAR this
month they have been at a rate tritie
in excess of that. There is some ground.
therefore. for the expectation that they
may exceed sl5O.OOOoOO a year.
Taking these figures as approximately
correct, and assuming, as we have a
right to, from hints thrown out by lead
ing organs Of the Republican party, that
that party, owing to its uncertainty re
gardlng the Senate. will act cautiously
during the coming short session of Con-
gress. the advent Of the new Congress
will find the country with gorged
Treasury, and money extracted from the
people by virtue of the war revenue
act still flowing into it.
The Journal. in anticipating these con-
ditions, says: by next spring. at the
farthest, if all goes well, the fiscal condi- |
ton of the government promises to be !
such that there will begin to be talk |
about the necessity, or at least the de-
the congestion of the Treasury Then |
will arise the interesting question or |
whether there shall be redemption OF |
some of the outstanding matured bonds |
or a remission of part Of the war |
taxes or an abandonment of some OF |
the outgrown customs duties" But is
the Journal innocent enough to imagine /
that If the Republicans dominate both
houses of the next Congress the con-
gestion of the Treasury will be relieved
by resort to any of the methods 1t sug-
gests? Is it guileless enough TO suppose
that the party will dscredit its time
honored record for relieving the Trea-
sury by reckless extravaganza directed
In the interest of perpetuating its power?
Is it unsophisticated enough to believe
that the Republican leaders viii not find
or make necessity for continuing the war
taxes? OF course not. The fact is that
the painstaking summary and the sug
gestions OF our Providence contemporary
are unfortunate for the Republican party.
But they may prove fortunate for the
masses. They accentuate the RESPONSE
bility that rests upon the Democracy to
make a supreme effort in the coming
elections in order to pre-
vent a long saturnalia of extravaganza
ut the expense of the taxpayers.