Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1899-01-02
day of our marriage I have distinct
recollection of hearing some one re-
fer to you as the early bird.
EXPENSE OF THE WAR.

| The cost of the Spanish war, includ
ing garrisons in the dependencies dur
lug the remainder of the present fiscal
year, will probably fall within the
limit of $3.50, 900, 900. This was about
the amount estimated by careful OBJ
servers at the time of the signing of
the peace protocol in August, and the
estimate has been sustained by sub
sequent events.
The signing of the protocol was far
from putting an end to the expendi-
lures, and the net cost of the naval
and military service, above the cost
on q peace basis, was actually larger
in September than in August. The
figures for later months have shown
gradual decline of several millions a
month, and it now looks as though
existing revenue laws would pay
most Of the expenses for garrisons
until the close of the fiscal year on
June 80 next.
Stated in round figures the COM
| bined cost Of the army and navy SER
vice above the cost in 1897, when both
services were upon peace basis, was
$40, 100000 in May, $23, 900, 900 in June,
$4,000, 900 in July, 1922, 900, 900 in Au
gust, $50, 100000 in September, $780,
900, 900 in October and ST., 900, 900 in
November. The cost thus far during
December has been about $13, 900, 900,
but million or two more will be add
ed by the close of the month.
These expenditures are not entirely
for the maintenance Of troops now in
the field, but involve the settlement
Of contracts entered upon in the
spring, the manufacture of arms and
supplies at the armories, which is
still going on at a higher rate than
before the war, and the payment of
troops who have been mustered out
Of service.'
The treasury deficit in ordinary re-
! ceipts, which was about $14, 800, 900 for
each Of the months of August, Sep
TENDER and October, fell to $40, $780,,
O65 in November, and will almost dis
appear for the current month. The
deficit up to the close of business on
! Saturday was only 1882, 976, and it is
not likely to be greatly increased by
the drafts of this week.
This Improvement in treasury con-
ditions is not due entirely to reduced
expenditures, but in part to the in
creased yield of the newrevenue law.
This law yielded more than $4,000
OOO. per month in July and August,
but fell considerably below this sum
in the following months. There has
been a very considerable improve
ment in December, and the new law
has evidently yielded at least $10,-
000,0O0 If this improvements main
tanned, the yield for the year will be
about 1925, 900.
The government has derived about
$2OO,O 900 from the proceeds of the
per cent loan, SO that the total pro-
vision for the war for the current fis
cal year may be stated at 1926, 900, 900.
If only $3.50, 000,00 is spent, there will
be balance of $50, 200, 900 of the war
fund in the treasury on June 3Oth
next.
A river and harbor bill will proba
bly, be passed at the present session of
Congress which will add several mil
lions to the ordinary expenditures.
Another important matter which is
likely to demand early attention is
the fortification of the new posses
sions of the United States in the east.
1t will be almost essential, if the great
civilized nations are to contend with
each other for trade in China, that
the United States shall maintain
strong military and naval force at
Manila, shall erect Notifications there,
and shall fortify also some of the
Sulu islands to the south, which COM
mand the entrance to the China seas.
Actual expenditure for this purpose
may be delayed for some time, and
probably will not figure seriously in
the appropriations for the present
year, but surveys are likely to be or
dered soon and actual fortifc alton
begun within few years.
So far as the present fiscal year is
concerned, the items referred to will
not add more than $35, 900, 900 to ex-
penditures already suggested, and
would leave the cash balance on June
80 considerably above $3.50, 900, 900. 1t
is quite probable that it will be more
than this, because of the delay which
usually occurs in actual drafts upon
the treasury for expenditures which
have been authorized. The govern
ment, therefore, faces the new year
under the most favorable financial