The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-06
Contracts Authorized, Subject to
Future Appropriations by Congress,
Amounting to About $7O,O00,OOO.
STATEMENT BY Mr.. D0CKERY
GIVING THE DEMOCRATIC VIEW OF
THE WORK OF CONGRESS.
Deficit of $3.50, 900, 900 by June I Pre-
dfcted, n Condition, 1t Is Said, That
Must Be Met by Issue OF Bonds.

WASHINGTON, March 5.-The official
statement of Representative Joseph G.. Can
non OF Illinois, the chairman of the House
appropriations committee, summing up the
appropriations of the Fifty-fifth Congress,
shows an aggregate appropriation by the
entire Congress of 81, ,566, .0l6 and, for the
session just closed a total of s613,60S 100,
with authority for contracts subject to fu-
ture appropriations amounting to $0,OOoOo.
Chairman Cannon's statement in full fol-
lows:
The appropriations made at the session of
Congress just closed amount, approximate
ly, 10 $673, COS 400 and show an apparent re-
duction of s219, ,573, 600 from the appropria-
tions made at the preceding session. This
is attributable to the large expenses occa-
stoned by the war with Spain that were
provided for during the preceding session.
',The entire appropriations made by the
F'ifty-fifth Congress aggregate H,566S9N,-
Of6 2s OF this sum $4s2, So. .0S3.47 is directly
chargeable to our late war with Spain or
incident thereto. Deducting this charge
from the whole amount of the appropria-
tions, the remainder, $l,OSi, ,S27 ,6S2.a, repre-
sents the ordinary normal appropriations
made by the Fffty-fifth Congress. The ap-
propriations made by the preceding Con-
gress, the F1fty-fourth, amounted TO H.044,-
$50, ,273.S. A comparison shows an increase
in ordinary appropriations made by this
Congress over those made by that Congress,
the Fffty-fourths- Of $50. .747,coO; but this ap-
parent increase is more than accounted for
by increases under eight items alone, name
ly, for pensions, s4.OO0,O00; for the postal
service, S6,0oOOO0; for rivers and harbors,
including work under contracts previously
h0 f0r GHf no
navy. s6,0o0,0O0; for beginning the work Of
the twelfth census. 100000; for the Paris
exposition, 81 200, 900; for new public build
ings, including the building for the Depart
ment OF Justice, and for site and partial
construction of the new government print
ing office, about s. 900 900. and for payment
OF judgments rendered against the govern
ment on account of French spoliations and
under the Bowman act, So. 100000.
These very natural and necessary in
creases in public expenditures. on account
Of the pension list. the growth of the postal
service in response to demands of commerce.
the Improvement of the great waterways
Cf the country, and for increase Of the navy
the construction OF needed buildings to ac-
eommodate the governments service in the
cities OF the country, the taking of the GEN.
Bus, the participation of the Nation in the
great exposition to be held at Paris next
yeao. and the payment of the French spolia-
ton judgments. and Bowman act cases so
long considered by and pressed upon Con-
gress. aggregate $50. 800 O00-more than dissi-
pating the entire apparent increase in the
ordinary appropriations by this Congress
over those made by the Fifty-fourth Con-
gress.
I'm addition to the direct appropriations
made at this session, contracts were author
lied. subject TO future appropriations to be
made by Congress. amounting to about $7O,-
10000. OF this amount, 600 is for ad-
ditional ships for the navy, so. 800 coo is for
work on rivers and harbors, and something
over 100000 is for public buildings. The
contract system is OF necessity applied to
the construction of new war ships, which
require periods OF years for their construc-
ton. In the case of river and harbor inn
provements and the construction of public
buildings. experience has shown that the
authorization OF contracts tends materially
TO expedite and cheaper the same"