The Forrest City times., 1899-01-06
opTIMIST DINGLEY.
The Great Tariff Doctor sees No'n
Ahead But a Buiging
surplus.

Chairman Dingley's views OF the ma
;iouaI finances for the future are opu-
mistic. While be declares that there
will be no reduction of the war taxes
before next winter at the earliest. be
confidently predicts that "our depend
encies." as be properly calls them VIII
be practically self-supporting by lsy9
and that "'empire' will not materially
permanently increase our expenses.
He disposes Of Secretary Cages esti-
mate Of deficit OF $3.50. 100000 for the
current fiscal year and OF s3O'oOoO0o
for the year following by saying that
the secretary. as a prudent man. puts
the lowest possible estimate on revenue
or income and the highest possible esii-
mate upon the expenditures. To Illus
trate. he says that the secretary as
sunes that we viii have an army OF i9o.-
600 for two years and that we are going
to spend 100000 for river and harbor
improvements in 1900. whereas we are
not going 10 have an army Of more than
100000 and the river and harbor eX-
peuditures will not exceed $4,000 GOO.
Mr.. Dingley admits that the national
expenditures will be increased for the
time being in consequence OF the war.
but insists that with 100000 .o0C pro-
duced under the provisions Of the war
WAYS and means bill there will be sur
plus In 1900 and that our dependencies
afterfhat will furnish their own keep"
But Mr.. Dingley fails TO observe that.
while Mr.. Gage makes god allowance
for expenditures in some directions. he
has TO leave out of account a number
of important items which are not mere
" probable. but almost certain TO APP
pear in the next budget or as supple
ments TO the one just submitted. For
instance. be says nothing about the
500. OOO. 900 which our Paris commission
ers have agreed to pay Spain for vo-
racious elephant. He says nothing
about the millions that the president
wants TO spend on an isthmian canal
and on ocean cables. and that he him
self wants TO spend to encourage Amer
leans to build and sail ships. Mr.. Ding
lev fails to observe that the reason
given for spending these millions in hot
haste is because we have been spread
ing ourselves territorially. tits for this
reason. we are assured. that we need
the canal and the cables and the ships
without delay.
Mr.. Dingley admits that we are go
ing 10 need an army of 100. 900 men. He
could not very well do otherwise when
the president unhesitatingly recon-
mends that the regular army be in
creased to that number. II would rot
be an excess OF prudence to estimate
the increase in the standing army at
$4,000 men. Since nobody pretends that
there would be any need Of increase II
we had no dependencies 10 take care
of. we must charge all this to the 'em-
pire." The cost Of this additional force
would be 100000 year. estimating
In the usual way al $1,000 per man.
But for service in the deadly tropics
deadly TO men Of the Caucasian race
the cost would be much more. A mod
crate estimate would be 500 900 900 a
year. Mr.. Dingley admits that he takes
no account of increased expenditure on
account of the navy. But it is no secret
that ii is proposed by the administra-
tion to add to the navy ships and arma-
ments costing not less than $50 900 600
This, with the increased cost of mainte-
nance. would be no small item, and Il
will grow to still larger proportions If
Senator Davis triple alliance is con-
summated.
Does Mr.. Dingley suppose that we are
going to make our dependencies pay al,
these costs? II he does he supposes
that we are going to Cypress them more
than Spain ever did. though we may be
more successful than Spain in applying
the Hanna plan of getting the money
ont Of them without letting them know
| what has become OF il.
He will learn. If he does not already
know, that the taxpayers Of the United
| States will have 10 pay the most of al
this. If we make the possessions paw
the cost of civil administration. or such
| civil administration as our military
| governors may allow them. including
| the cost of schools and public improve
ments. we will go about TO the limit
Most of the increased cost Of army and
navy. Of canals. cables and what no,
willfal upon the shoulders of the Amer
lean taxpayers.
And they may grow weary. Hence the
necessity for making the most of the
Hanna plan of tilching from their peck.
cts and leaving them TO wonder why II
IS that the dollar they earn seems Sc
small and inadequate when they come
10 lay II out for the necessaries and
comforts of life. Hence we hear ever
the optimistic Dingley talk of getting
rid of the stamp taxes as soon as pos
sible. 1t will never do TO have peonl.
reminded that they are paying a ia,
every time they lick a stamp.-Chicagt