The San Francisco call., 1899-02-10
Cannon Sounds a Warming
Against Extrava9ant
Appropriations.
Says Neither the Ship Subsidy
Nor Nicaragua Canal Bill Can
Pass This Session.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9.-Chairman
Cannon of the Appropriations Commit
tee Of the House, in the course of the
general debate on the sundry civil bill
to-day sounded a note of warning
against extravagant appropriations and
practically served notice that neither
the ship subsidy bill nor the Nicaragua
canal bill could be passed at this ses-
sion. Although he specifically dis
claimed speaking for any one but him
self, the statements he made, coming
from the chairman of the Appropria-
t1ons Committee, caused great interest.
Cannon made a general statement Of
the revenues and expenditures for the
present fiscal year, increasing Secre-
tary Cages estimate of the deficiency
In the revenues from $112 600 900 to $159,-
10000, exclusive of the 500, 600, 900 to be
paid to Spain under the provisions of
the treaty of Paris.
Grosvenor of Ohio, Hepburn of Iowa
and W. H. Smith Of Michigan, although
they did not enter into any lengthy
discussion, took issue with Cannon, but
ne maintained that our revenue might
be sufficient to meet our expenditures
Tor the next two years if needless ex-
pendlture was not entered into. He in
dfcated that it would be a close mar
gin and that new expenditures might
mean bond issue. Cannon's speech
was in very way a notable one and
DOUBTLESS will furnish the text for a.
good deal of discussion during the re-
malnder of the session.
The House then went into connnoit+ae
OF the whole (Mr. Sherman of New York
IN the chafr), and took up the considera-
tlon OF the sundry civil appropriation bill
~ ~Sannon SR.9 OF illinois, in charge of the
measure, made general analysis of what
II L. contained. 1t carries $62 92S, ,101, but 500
VoO,VoV is for payment to Spain to carry
OUT oS,siI tne provision Of the Paris treaty. Ex-
cluslve OF that the bill carries $8 O95, ,756
less than the estimates and S5 929 3l1 less
than the current law
In connection with the bill Cannon
made general statement as to the con-
dition of the revenues. The Secretary of
tne treasury, in October last, Cannon
said. had estimated the deficiency of the
revenues for the fiscal year ending July
1, 1899 to be S112 900 600, or a monthly aver
age of S9 1893 900. In his Judgment, in the
light of the receipts and expenditures for
the first seven months thus estimated,
the deficiency was much too low The ac-
tual deficiency up to February l, 1899, was
ssS, ,l5l ,oOo an average of $13,307 900 per
fscal year would be $159 900 900. But this
would not include the $40 900 900 provided
by the bill to carry out the provision of
the Paris treaty. The cash balance in
the treasury on February l. including the
800 100000 gold reserve, was $274, 900 900.
Two hundred millions of that had been
put into the revenues by the war loan.
Deducting the monthly estimated deficen.
cy for the next five months there would,
he said, be in the treasury, July l. $685.
100000. This was a conservative estimate
There would be, therefore, $10S, 900 900 to
meet the ordinary expenses of the Gov
ernment on that date. These figures, he
continued, took no account of the sink
ing fund. To care for it would require
$4,000 900 additional.
As Cannon proceeded the most intense
interest was manifested in his statement
The Secretary of the Treasury estimated
the expenditures for the next fiscal year,
exclusive of the sinking fund, he said at
S641 900 900 and the revenues at $610 900 OOO
or deficiency of $31 900 ,OOO Yet, Cannon
continued, Secretary Gage could not pos
sibly have foreSeen in his estimates for
1900 the changed conditions which followed
the negotiation of the peace treaty. the
expenditures which necessarily follow our