Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1898-12-16
FOOTING THE BILL.

The Philadelphia Public Ledger, one
of the lagest and most influential papers
of the country, thus writes in the
editorial columns:
Many single items of the cost of our
proposed imperialism and of probable
OUTLAWS incidental thereto, are suf1i-
GENTLY formidable and disturbing, but
no adequate Idea of the imperialistic
programme expressed in dollars can be
gained unless the entire exhibit is
grouped together. The footing Is APP
palling. and yet it may be exceeded by
unforeseen demands upon the treasury.
TheWashington correspondent of the
New York World has presented such an
exhibit, showing total expenditure of
$500. 600 600. Some of the items would
be Immediately needed if we acquire the
possessions and assume the respon-
sibilities set forth in the Paris treaty.
Some of the items are contained in
plans prepared in governmental depart
ments for submission to congress.
Some of the expenditures have been APP
provingly suggested, if not directly
recommended, in the presidents mes
sages, and many of the items are to be
found in bills pending in congress.
The table, as prepared by this cores
pondent, runs as follows: For the
Philippines, $2O,000.O00; Nicaragua ca
nal, 50,000000; Hecker-Alger Cuban
railway, $4,000 600; Porto Rican rail-
way, SO 100000; Cuban and Porto Rican
telegraph lines, S2,000,000 Hawaiian
Philippine San Francisco cable, $780,
900; telegraph and railway lines in Phil
ippines, Sl0.000,000; subsidies for steam
ship lines to dependencies, and under
presidents plan for revival of mer-
chant marine, SIS 900. 900; revenue cut
ter service to dependencies, $4,000 900;
expansion of navy for next five years,
5000 900; expansion of army under
Alger plan for next five years, $3.50
000.000 sanitation in tropical cities,
$4,000 900; Notifications. dry dock,
barracks, arsenal, etc, at numerous
island ports, sips 100000 These items
have been frequently referred to as
necessary cOncomitants Of the pro-
posed new holdings, essential for their
development and protection, and for
better communication between them
and this country. The exhibit does not
include the increased cost of pensions
and of the civil departments consequent
upon the policy of adventure and ag-
grandiZement. No estimate is made of
the annual cost of running the colo
MES after we have expended the colos-
sal total above noted TO establish our
rule upon firm foundation. Nor can
any estimate be made at this time of
the possible cost that may be involved
hereafter in suppressing the ambitious
chteftains, "sultans" and savage "boss-
es" who may have the temerity to chal-
lenge our authority and set up govern
ments for themselves on slight pre-
texts of foreign oppression"
The American Manila and rho kdinnar
pail'' must pay for all this. We must
mortgage our resources not for our
selves, but for possessions that 1t is
freely admitted must never Join our
family of states. By Secretary Cages
showing there will be a treasury deficit
of $ll2,000,000 by next July. Represen-
tative Dnglev's representation that the
estimate of Secretary Gage is wide of
the mark, that the deficit for 1899 will be
trivial, and that it will be converted
into surplus In 1900, must be regarded
as roseate, unless the country refuses
to accept the burden imposed upon it
by the Paris treaty. The estimate of
Secretary Gage that the revenues of
next year will fall below the apprOpri-
atiOns which this congress must make
to the extent of $50, 100000 is reasonable,
in view of the extraordinary drafts that
of our contemporaries points out that
the deficit for 1893 can be held down to
$30,000,000 only by an increased revenue
of S33 100000 and lessened expenditure
of $49,000,000. Allowing literally for
possible economies in the prodigal expen-
ditures for the "colOnies" now in pro
cess of incubation, it is impossible for
any one, not a rainbow chaser, to dis
cover how the federal expenses are to
be materially reduced during the COM
ing two years, save by the short cut
method, the refusal to accept the Phil
ippine group.
The cOrollary of Imperialism is the
maintenance of existing tax exactlons
and the imposition of new taxes, with
the possibility that unchecked prodigal
ity in equipping the colonies with the
modern outfit necessary for their "devel
opment" may introduce disturbing
element In our finances.