New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-23
REVENUE AND EXPENSES.

The information given in dispatches from
Washington regarding the cost of the war Is
highly interesting and valuable, though so stated
that II might easily be misunderstood. The
amount given Is only that paid during the fis
cal wear now almost closed, and Is about
5000 600 900. according to official accounts, In
Guiding payment OF S20.0OO,000 on account OF
Philippine debts. S3000O00 10 Cuban soldiers
and SGOOOOOO interest on the war loan. The
total expenditures Of the Government have
been SGOO3729I2, with eight more days 10 re-
port. and. deductng war expenses s3I0,372,-
972 The actual receipts. with eight more
days TO report, have been SJ0005913l, OF
which. according 10 the official computation,
about S1OO0O0.0O0 was produced by the War
Revenue act, and sll 1894 was received from
the Central Pacific, leaving $3.50 l6l 600 for rev
euue under the Dlngley law. which Is thus
shown TO have produced a surplus over ordinary
expenditures during the second year OF its oper-
alton. The cost Of the war covered by pay
ments during the current fiscal year IL, OF
course not the whole cost, though some might
misunderstood the form OF the statement. The
revenue under the war tax law has included In
| eleven months Si0,447.7 73 from documentary
and proprietary stamps, s26.995,74s from the
tobacco, besides others sufficient with June re-
ceipts TO make S1OO,OOOO00 for the fiscal year.
These figures reflect the highest credit on all
who were responsible for framing the two reve-
| nue. laws now IN force. The Dngley Tariff act,
which its opponents stlgmatized for year as a
| deficit breeder proves a better revenue producer
| by $30OOO0O0 than the tariff which preceded,
| even with the addition OF heavy mportations 10
| ago and Yields $4GOO0.0OO more than the VII
| son act in the last year OF It's operation without
| such aid. II also yields more than the Mckin-
| ley act ever yielded in It's best year, and little
| more than was calculated upon as the amount
sufficient with the internal taxes then Ia force,
| TO cover ordinary expenditures Of the Govern
| mcnt The credit due to its trainers IL all the
| greater because they were compelled TO make
| their estimates in the face OF a depression Of
| trade and Industries which, had It continued,
would have rendered satisfactory results lmpos-
sible But they had full faith that a sound pro-
tectivc law would promptly restore prosperity
| without any OF the monetary changes so per
sistently urged, and the result proves that they
| were not In error.
The official estimate Of war expenditures does
not appear on It's face TO include the Increase In
| outlay for the Army and Navy In time OF peace,
| which IL one remaining consequence OF the war.
| Nor is It possible to separate the expenditures
with great exactness. for II can hardly De said
that all the increase In payments for the Army
and Navy since the fiscal year 1897 are strictly
due 10 an increase OF force caused by the war.
| But II will also be remembered that increased
| expenditures in other departments are involved
by the extension OF work in possessions ac-
| qurcd under the treaty with Spain. No data
accessible 10 the public make It possible TO de-
termIne what increase Of postal, Treasury and
other expenditures has thus resulted and II
would be of much public value II the depart
ments could supply that Information In their
coming reports. But II is not AT all certain that
such separation OF accounts is practicable.
In any event. the additional expenditure re-
quired In holding and governing the new pos
sessions will soon DO covered. II II Il not already
by increased revenue directly Or indirectly de-