New-York tribune., 1899-02-10
ENORMOUS BILLS TO MEET.
CHAIRMAN CANNON SOUNDS A NOTE OF
WARNING.
DEFICIENCY FOR THE PRESENT FISCAL
YEAR ESTIMATED AT N79oO0oo-vAsT
EXPENDITURES RESULTING FROM
THE WAR-ENTERPRIsEs THAT
MUST WAIT.
fBY TELEcRArA TO THE TRIBUNE J


days proceedings in the House OF Representa-
tives was the speech Of Chairman Cannon, of
the Appropriations Committee in the general
debate on the sundry Civil bill which is one
Of the moro important OF the general appro-
pration bills. and this year carries the enor-
nous total Of nearly SG3O0OOoO. including the
payment Of S2OOO0O0O to Spain under the terms
Of the Peace Treaty. Mr. Cannon made the bill
the text Of that sort Of a speech which the
chairman Of tho Appropriations Committee usu-
ally reserves for the close OF a session the
end Of Congress. 1t a warning against
unnecessary appropriations as well as against
entering at present on new policies involving
vast sums Of money.
Some Of the facts. figures and estimates given
by Mr.. Cannon were startling enough to COM
mand the close attention of the House and 70
provoke many Interruptions from the opposite
side. but he had a ready answer for every peril
nent question and suggestion.
Mr. Cannon practically served notice that
neither the ship Subsidy bill nor the Nicaragua
Canal bill could BE- passed at this session. AL
though he specifically disclaimed speaking for
any ore but himself the statements he made.
coming from the chairman Of the Appropriations
Committee. caused great interest. He main
taned that the revenues might be sufficient 10
new lines of expenditure were entered upon.
But he indicated that Il would he a close mar
gin and that new expenditures might mean
bond issue Mr. Cannon's speech was in every
way a notable one. and will doubtless furnish
the text for much discussion during the re-
maindcr of the session.
MR.. CANNON'S STATEMENT.
The Secretary Of the Treasury IN October last.
Mr.. Cannon said. had estimated the deficiency
In the revenues for the fiscal year ending july
!. 1890 70 be S112.O00O0O. or a monthly average
Of S9.3330OO In his judgment, in the light Of
the receipts AMI expenditures for the first seven
months thus estimated. the deficiency much
too low. The actual deficiency up to February l.
1875 was $g31jl 900 an average Of S13,3o1,o00
month AT this rate tie deficiency for the
fiscal year would be Sli9OOoOoO But this
would not include he S2O1OOC00 provided by
the bin 10 carry out the provisions Of the Peace
Treaty The cash balance in the Treasury on
February / including the 500 100000 gold re-
serve was S274oODOOO. two hundred millions
Of that had been put into the revenues by the
war loan Deducting tho monthly estimated
deficiency for the next five months there would,
~ said. poe n the Treasury on July S2OS"oo.-
600 This was conservative crtimate There
would be- therefore. S1CS 100000 10 meet the
ordinary expenses Of the Government on that
date These fgur,s. h continued, took no ac-
F count of the sinking fund. To care for it would
requir. $4,000 600 additional
l-'I 'i'i94-f-N i-->i '''
As Mr. Cannon proceeded the most intense IN
,erosr was manifested in his statement The
/ Secretary Of the Treasury BE- said. estimated
the expenditures FOR the next fiscal year eX-
,isf,., o, tho sinking furd AT St;i1 NOo oeo and
tho revenues M SG1O ooooOD or a deficiency of
Sa1 oooooo Vet Secretary Gage could not pos
eblv ha 30 foresoen I'm his estimates for 1900 the
+ changed conditions which followed the negotia-
tion ~ the Peace Treaty. the expenditures which
ra,ossaril, follow occupation Of the Philippines
ana the oArisation assumed I'm the Peace Treaty
to discharge the claims against Spain which he
understood already reached S25.O'o00O Neither
did thc Sacretary's estimate take into consdera-
/ ,.. tto ,roraase ~ the Navy He estimated
.,,.,... 49,. f,,t,-,o,oo ~ tbo Nayv
onY f"r inc "'''""lH '
/ But the Naval committee Wou'1 report Ih i'S
/ bin provision for from twelve 70 fifteen new hat
+ tr.-sbf,s and cruisers FTe aid pot complain.
''+ 49,, ,. , iso
/ I' was ''- '''' .e.-. 49, .,,r, 80
/ Doe increased. il was, therefore, the part ''
/ wisdom and common prudence fully 10 realize
+ .l,.. condition which confronted us with these
, ,,.,r., ,,,.,,, ,,e o, said Mr. Can
! enormous tA"'I"i'"' - "l.' '-'
ron we must plant our footsteps with care
o,.. s.. that no dollar goes out of the Treasury
"'' -, ~. lit, r,.,oo"
/ except I"i an ''''' ''' f
"Do YOU take into account in your estimate
interrupted Mir Dockery dDem- MOL 'he
!" '' IT,
CANAL AND SUBSIDIES MUST VAIL
Mr. Cannon renliod that ne did not include In
/ 49, calculation Of q deficiency Of S159o000 600
ei,bar rho legislation for an efficient merchant
r.rine or the construction Of the Nicaragua
I Canal He favored the regeneration Of the
+ -rorcbort marine and the construction Of the
49,. - c,i ,2onrhlica7 arplauseD But"
] Ni'dIA1"' "''' I'll,
he added with great e'nP"dS's' an '0'
ing to enter upon either of these vast enter
/ pi'S' "'''i .,, 49,. ,o,, moulded .be
] consideration ana uilbi w nav