The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-03-08

priations then made, and it will be
remembered that the billion dollar
congress- Yves followed by over.
whelming disaster to the Republican
party at the ensuing election.
"Confrosted with war with
Spain requiring the imposition Of
additional taxation, it is obvious that
rigid economy should have been
applied in all other directions to the
expenditure of public money. The
people were willing to meet all the
demands upon the national treasury
made necessary by the Spanish war,
but it is fair to presume that they
expected their representatives, in
view of the cheerful disposition
manifested to meet these added
burdens, to limit the ordinary appro
priafions to the necessities of a wise
and economical administration.
.sThese expectations have not been
realized
seThe result is an actual deficiency
Sin current revenues amounting, on
the first of this month, to 500, 109.-
554 so This deficiency, as shown
By a recent conservative estimate BY
Chairman Cannon of the appropria-
tion committee. will probably reach
sI50, ,060, 900 on the 30th OF June,
next
'It is impossible TO estimate
with absolute accuracy the treasury
deficiency for the coming fiscal year
The secretary of the treasury, in his
annual report, made in December,
last. estimated it at about 81, 900. 900;
bat it is now apparent that it will not
be less than 100000. 900. 1t is
almost certain, therefore, that the
government viii be compelled during
the calendar year 1900 to face an
actual treasury deficiency This
1852 000, 900 of income arising from
the sale of bonds under this admins.
tration and that of President Cieve-
land viii then have been exhausted,
and the treasury will pass from the
condition of borrowed surplus to an
actDal deficit. Such a condition must
be met, either by increased taxation
or by the issue of treasury certi6
Gates, or by an additional bond issue
notwithstanding this deplorable
treasury situation, which has been
called over and over again to the
attention of congress and the coun
try, appropriations have been made
which in many cases have not been
warranted by the interests of the
public service, or which. if proper
10 themselves, should have been
postponed until the national income
should be ample to meet all its
liabilities without the necessity of
bond Issues.
"The appropriations of the origina!
billion dollar congress, amounted to
ST. 1,uS5. $50, ,109 94 The appropria
tons of the congress just ended
reach. the mighty aggregate of
81. .566. .890,el6 %. Il is fair to
deduct from this total $482,562.
084 ~, made necessary to meet the
liabilities of the Spanish war. So if
We deduct from the grand total the
liabilities on account of the war with
Spain it appears that the aporopria
tions for the ordinary expenses of the
government are 81, ,0s4.32 9s2 81
The appropriation Of the congress
just ended to meet the ordinary
governmental expenses exceed
those Of the preceding Fifty
fourth congress by $39,747,
658.84 Not only this but
the contract liabilities authorized by
the congress just expired for new
ships an6 their armament, public
buildings. rivers and harbors, and
miscellaneous items amount to
SIC. .602,5 ,524. If, therefore, to the
ordinary appropriations ls added the
liabilities on account of these an
thorized contracts. we ascertain that
the appropriations and contract
liabilities amount to the tremendous
total of SI,l54. .930,456 81
..These increased appropriations
have gone for French spoIiation
claims, public buildings. rivers,
harbors. Bowman acts claims, and
hundreds of other projects, some
meritorious, but many of them not
entitled 20 recognition by the national
government In nearly every branch
of the civil service of the govern
ment there has been an increase of
appropriatlons.
TIE time he's come to reform the
scale of national expenditures The
reckless improvidence Of the outgoing
congress will at least serve the good
purpose Of arousing the people and
of causing them to send representa-
t1ves to the national capital who will