The record-union., 1899-03-11
Gives Out a Statement Of the Approprla-
lions Of the Fifty-fIfth Congress.
Places the Total at 81, 166, S9O,Ol6
and Appropriations Authorised
for Future Congresses Under
the Continuing Contract System
for Battleships, River and
Harbor improvements and Pub
lie Buildings at $7O,OOO,OOO.

WASHINGTON, March lU.-AVallHS
himself of the privilege accorded by the
House of Representatives previous TO
adjournment, Chairman Cannon Of the
Committee on Appropriations has pre-
pared for the Congressional Record a
more extended statement of the appfo-
priations made by the fifty-f1fth con-
gress than he made the day after ad-
journment.
He places the total appropriations Tor
the entire Congress at 81, 166. oyU,0lb.
and the appropriations authorized Tor
future Congresses under the continuing
contract system for battleships, river
and harbor improvements ana pupllc
buildings at S70000,0GO. The total ap-
preparations made at the last session
Mr. Cannon places at Soi5,oIo,4 oo'
showing an apparent reduction OF szI9,-
573, 214 below the appropriations OF the
preceding session.
Mr.. Cannon attributes this reduction
to the extraordinary war expenses OF
the preceding session. OF the total ap-
preparations for the Congress he says
that the sum of S4S2, 562 0S3 is directly
chargeabie to the war with Spain he
thus shows that the ordinary expendl-
lures for the two years covered by the
Congress were 81, Oh. 273, and this sum
exceeds the total appropriation of the
fifty-fourth Congress by 500, 1865
This excess is accounted for as Ioi-
lows: For payment of pensions, 3D.
SI5, 200; for the postal service TO meet
increased demands of commerce, Slo,-
619. ISL: for river and harbor improve
ments. SO, 401, 12S; for constructing
new ships, $6.0S0. S3S; for beginning the
work of the twelfth census. Sl.UoO,0Uo;
for the Paris Exposition, S1,21UU0U; Tor
new public buildings, $5.000,UO; for
the payment of judgments against the
Government under the Bowman Act
and for the French spoliation claims,
Sd. 100. 16S. Total. $40, 2S7 .516.
Mr.. Cannon congratulates Congress
and the country on this showing. and
also upon the fact that notwithS landing
the war, close attention was given TO
the ordinary expenditures of the Gov
eminent, which is, he thinks, unusual
He cites the defeat of the provision for
the construction of the Nicaragua Ca
nal. which the Senate attempted to get
through in connection with the sundry
civil appropriation bin as an instance
of the success of this watchfulness on
the part of the House. IT, he says
on this point. 1.-The Senate bill or any
measure proposed had been enacted, the
United States would have paid So,000,-
coo for a worthless concession, and
would have been committed by law to
the construction of a canal along the
Nicaragua route, and under such con-
ditions it would have been compelled.
before we threw a spadeful of earth or
in any way began actual construction,
to have acquired by treaty from Mica
ragua and Costa Rica the territory
wherein to construct the canal and the
right to construct it,
To this remark he adds the follow
ing: Such legislation would have de-
layed and embarrassed the construction
of an isthmian canal The United
States cannot afford to enter upon this
great work until it has acquired by
treaty zone of territory whereon TO
construct the same. Fortunately, the
House of Representatives resisted the
enactment of the proposed Legislation,
and the contest between the Senate and
House resulted finally in the only prac-
teal provision possible viz: the appro-
priation of a million dollars t. enable
the President to make full and complete
investigation of the isthmus. with a
view to the future construction of a
canal across the same, particularly the
Panama and Nicaragua routes, and to
report to Congress the result with his
Recommendations in the premises"
Referring in general way to- the leg
tslation of the Congress, Mr. Cannon
said: During the whole of the four
years covered by Mr. Caeveland's second
administration, the material and in
dustrial condition of the country was
calamitous. and its contemplation Goes
not bring satisfaction to any American
citizen But the fifty-fifth Congress.
beginning with the Administration of
William Mckinley. and promptly called
in extraordinary session. as PROMPTLY
enacted legislation which has yielded
the additional revenues needed to pay
the ordinary expenses of the Govern
ment. and has at the same. time pro-
tected American labor. With the en-
actment of that legislation, hope and
confidence struck hands. and the con-
dition of the whole country improved
and has continued to improve from
that time to the present Labor is now
universally employed at increased
wages, and with such employment the
means are supplied for increased con-
sumption.
In addition, without taking time to
discuss in detail the causes thai led
thereto, Congress declared war against
Spain, and the prompt and decisive sue
cesses of the army and navy upon land
and sea have never been equaaeu any
where in history. The great expendi-
lures rendered necessary by the war
required the enactment of additional
revenue legislation, and that legislation
is now bringing into our treasury an
additional S100.O00.000 per annum.
1.-The vast increase of the navy and
the creation of an army of a quarter
of a million, together with the increase
OF taxation, have not many appreciabla
degree checked our Industrial advance,
which began, coincidenta1ly with the in