The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1899-03-16

P'0"VSVHsois ih the stupenuouh aggregate
oil its appropriations. II was thought that
the fifty-frst Congress, commonly known
as the "~BiHion-dollsr Congress-" had-in
point of extravaganza OF appropriations
touched a limit which would not be
reached, or at least surpassed by any Of
its successors.
"This Congress, however, has far ex-
ceeded the appalling total Of appropri-
atoms then made, and IT will he remem-
bered that the Billio dollar Congress
was followed by overwhelming disaster to
the Republican party at the ensuing cleo
ton.
confronted with a war with Spain, re-
quiring the imposition of additional tax
alton, it is obvious that rigid economy
should have been applied in all other
directions to the expenditure Of public
money. The people were willing to meet
all the demands upon the national Treas
ury made necessary Ivy the Spanish war,
but it is fair to presume that they ex-
pected their representatives, in view of
the cheerful disposition manifested, to
meet these added burdens, TO limit the
ordinary appropriations to the necessities
of a wise and economical administration.
These expectations have not been realized.
"The result is an actual deficiency in
current revenues, amounting, on the first
Of this month. to 500, I09,54 80. This
tive estimate by Chairman Cannon, of the
Appropriations Committee, will probably
reach $l59,0O0 900 on the Both of June
next.
at is impossible to estimate with absO-
lutte accuracy the Treasury deficiency for
the coming fiscal year. The Secretary of
the Treasury, in his annual report made
in December last, estimated it at about
$3l 100000; but it is now apparent that it
will not be less than 800, 000, 600. 1t is
almost certain, therefor, that the Govern
ment will be compelled during the calendar
year 1900 to face an actual Treasury
deficiency. The $462, 000, 600 Of income
arising from the sale Of bonds under this
Administration and that Of President
Cleveland will then have been exhausted,
and the Treasury will pass from the con-
dition of a borrowed surplus to an actual
deficit. Such a condition must he met,
either by increased taxation, or by the
issue Of Treasury certificates, or by an
additional bond issue.
Notwithstanding this deplorable treas
ur, situation which has been called over
aud over again to the attention of Con-
gress and the country, appropriations have
been made which in many cases have not
been warranted by the interests of the
public service, or which, if proper in them
should have been postponed until
the national income should he ample to
meet all the liabilities without the neces-
sity of bond issues.
"The appropriations for the original
Billion Dollar Congress amounted to
81 ,035, $50, l09.94. The appropriations OF
the Congress just ended reach the mighty
of 81 ,j66, S9O,0i62S. 1t is fair
to deduct from this tolai $4S2, Sc, 0S3.41,
made necessary to meet the liabilities OF
the Spanish war. SO if we deduct from
he grand total the liabilities on account
the war with Spain, it appears that the
appropriations for the ordinary expenses
IF the Government are 81 ,0S4 1921 ,932.el.
The appropriations of the Congress just
to meet the ordinary governmental {
expenses exceed those of the preceding |
Fifty fourth Congress by $3J, "a ,G5S.9i. l
lot only this, but the contract liabilities i
authorized by the Congress just expired 4
or new ships and their armament, public {
buildings, rivers and harbors, and miscel- !
aheOus items, amount TO $40, 602 ,524. If c
therefore,, to the ordinary appropriations I
5 added the liabilities, on account of 6
hese authorized contracts, we ascertain d
the appropriations and contract I
amount to the tremendous total f
f 81, l4 $3.50, 456.Sl. (
"These increased appropriations have
one for French spoliation claims, public r
uildings, rivers, harbOrs, Bowman act a
and hundreds Of other projects, il
meritorious, but many of them not I
ntitlcd to recognition by the National n
government. In nearly every branch OF
he civil service of the Government there c
as been an increase of appropriations. |
81 he time has come to reform the scale &
f national expenditures. The reckless
nprovidence of the outgoing Congress
i'll at least serve the good purpose of
the people and of causing them
send Representatives TO the national +
apital who will reduce the burdens i'm !,
osed by riotOus appropriations" I
DIR. bulls Cough Syrup can be relied on "