The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-10
He ROUSES THE HOUSE
SHIP SUBSIDY BILL w,
THIS SESSION.
ASS
NOR WILL THE NICARAGUA CANAL BILL
80 Declares Mr.. Cannon, Who Says that Great
Projects Should be accompanied
with Legislation Providing the
Means to Pay for The Same.
Means TO Pay for the Same.


Washington, Feb. 9.-Charman Can
non, of the Appropriation Committee of
the House, in the course of the general
debate on the Sundry Civil Bill, today
sounded note of warning against eA-
trayagant appropriations and practically
served notice that neither the Ship Sub
sidy Bill nor the Nicaragua Canal Bill
oa!d be passed at this session. Al
though he specifically disclaimed speak
ing for anyone but himself, the state
ments he made, coming from the chair
man of the Appropriations Committee,
caused great interest. Mr.. Cannon
made general statement of the reve-
nues and expenditures for the present
fiscal year, increasing Secretary Cages
estimate of the deficiency in the revenue
from SIP, 100000 to $1J9,000, 900, eX-
elusive of the $20,000,000 to be paid
to Spain under the provisions of the
treaty of Paris. Mr.. Grosvenor, of
Ohio: Mr.. Hepburn. of Iowa, and Mr..
w 4. Smith, of Michigan, although
they did not enter into any lengthy dis
eussion. took issue with Mr.. Cannon,
but he maintained that our revenues
might be sufficient to meet our expen-
ditures for the next two years if no
new lines of expenditure were entered
upon. He indicated that il would be a
close margin and that new expenditures
might mean bond issue.
The cash balance in the Treasury Feb
ruary 1st, including the $100,000,000
gold reserve. was S274, 100000. Two
hundred million of that had been put
into the revenues by the War loan. De-
Quoting the monthly estimated deficiency
for the next five months there would,
he said, be in the Treasury. July LIST,
S20S, 100000. This was a conservative
estimate. There would be, therefore,
S10S,000,000 to meet the ordinary eX-
penses Of the Government on that date.
These figures, he continued, took no ac-
count of the sinking fund. To care for
it would require S53.000,000 additional
The Secretary of the Treasury estimated
the expenditures for the next fiscal year
exclusive of the sinking fund, Mr.. Can
non said, at S641,000000 and the reve
nues at $G10,000,000, or a deficiency
of $31 100000.
Yet, Mr.. Cannon continued Secretary
Gage could not possibly have foreseen
in his estimates for 1900 the changed
conditions which followed the negotia-
ton of the peace treaty, the expenditures
which necessarily follow our occupation
of the Philippines and the obligations
which we assumed lin the peace treaty
TO discharge the claims against Spain,
which claims. he understood, already
reached 2j,000,000. Neither did the
Secretary's estimate, he said, take into
consideration the increase of the navy
1t is estimated only for the ordinary
maintainance of the navy. But the Ma
val Committee would report in its bill
provision for from twelve to fifteen new
battIeships and cruisers. He did not
complain. 1t was logical sequence.
The army must also be increased 1t
was, therefore, the part of wisdom and
common prudence to fully realize the
condition which confronted us. With
these enormous expenditures upon u.s.,
said Mr.. Cannon we must plant our
footsteps with care and see that no
dollar goes out of the Treasury except
for an efficient public service.
do you take into account your esti
mate" interrupted Mr.. Dockery (Dem.,
MOI. "the HannaPayne subsidy billY"
Mr. Cannon replied that he did not
include in his calculation of Il deficiency
of $3.50, 100000 either the legislation for
an efficient merchant marine, or the con-
Struction of the Nicaragua Canal. He
favored the regeneration of the merchant
marine Republican applause) and the
construction of the Nicaragua Canal
(Republican applause). But" he add
cd with great. emphasis, Il am not will
ing to enter upon either of these vast
enterprises until we have given them
full and proper consideration and until
we have provided the revenue to meet
these expenditures. ! insist that there
shall 20 hand in hand with legislation
for these projects the legislation neces
sary to provide the revenue for their
cost"
Does the gentleman mean,' interrupt
ed Mr. Carmack (Dem., Tenn, "tha
owing to the responsibilities we have
assumed abroad we must spend less
money at homeY
Mr.. Cannon replied that nothing he
had said could be distorted into such Il
statement. But he gave it as his opn-
ion that the United States would never
again spend less than was spent in the
year prior to the war with Spain. He did
not stand III his place seeking to cripple
an efficient public service for n great
and growing population, but he was OPP
posed to entering upon new lines of ex-
pendture until there had been full con
sideration and real debate and not then