The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-02-11
PRACTICAL IMPERrALrsr sPEaCH
House Listens TO simple Statement Of
f' Mathematics.

Congressman Csnnon's speech In be-
half Of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Big
Treasury Dencit which IL In
esitsbIe.
mPRcrAL TO THE rREssJ
. Washington, February i0-on Thursday
for the first time In tho National House
of Representatives the members listened
to practical imperialist speech. Il was
neither on the side Of the imperialists
nor Of the anti-imperialists, had no pre-
tentions to oratory or dramatic effect.
and neither prophesied nor recriminated.
Ii was simple statement In Mathematics
10 enable the House to know exactly tbs
situation before IL and the duties connect
ed Herewith. The orator--although the
speech was a quiet talk rather than an
oration-was Mr.. Joseph q. Cannon Of
Illinois, chairman OF the great committee
on appropriations He WINS bringing into
the House the Sundry civil APPROPRIATION
bill, a very large bill Of moro than one
hundred printed pages and approprinting
about sixty-three millions OF dollars. In
this amount is included the twenty mil
lions of dollars to be paid TO spain for
the islands and the peoples OF the Philip
pines
Mr.. Cannon In presenting this bill
called attention TO the present. condition
OF the national finances. He said that the
Secretary of the treasury ut the time Of
his annual report had estimated that
during this fiscal year, which ends on the
Both day Of next June, the expenditures
of the government would exceed the re
ceipts by one hundred and twelve mil .
Of dollars. But this estimate had b, en-
made some time ago, and Mr.. Cannon
as scr ted that the most conservative oalcu-
lations, In view Of recent Developments,
showed that the deficit this year cannot
be less than one hundred and nfty.nins
millions OF dollars. Even this estimate
did not include the indemnity to spain.
For the next fiscal year, that Is, the year
ending June 30, 1900, the Secretary of the
treasury some time ago had estimated
the deficit In the treasury at thirty mil
hons OF dollars; but MIR. Cannon called
ate ntion to the TACT that this estimate
did not take into account mt least twenty
five millions of dollars which IL would be
necessary to pay for claims OF American
citizens In Cuba under the treaty. or the
enlarged expenses of the navy or the cost
of the occupation of the Philippines.
Therefore he considered that the estimate
of thirty millions Of deficit was under
what would In reality result.
There w,rs in the treasury on the first
day OF this February two hundred aud
seventy -four millions OF dollars, OF which
two hundred millions had been put In
there by the war loan. aud Of which one
hundred millions belongs to the gold re-
demption fund, a fund saoredly kept for
its own purpose by the jealous care OF
all statesmen havi & charge OF IL during
this generation. BY next July there wiz
probably he left in the treasury. outside
Of this redemption fund. one hundred
and eight millions of dollars available
for expenses This means that by that
time only eight millions dollars of the
war lean will be left.
When questioned as to whether or not
there would be possible any reduction Of
taxation MIR. Cannon declined to prophe-
sy; but declared that both himself and all
those who should serve In the next Con
gress would render that service and go
before the people for their approval
again before there would be a reduction
OF taxation.
In this line MIR. Thomas &. MoRae of
Arkansas. a Democrat, prophesied, amid
some applause on his own side, that the
relief of the people In the line OF taxation
would be an income tax. This Is the hrst
time during the discussion OF expansion
questions in the House that the shadow
of the Income tax has fallen across the
public debates: but 1t has been suggested
as logical trresult frequently ia private
discussion by members OF both parties.
Mr.. Cannon had not intended in his
speech to refer to the Nicaragua canal or
the shipping subsidy bill, as neither had
been enacted and the expense of them
could not te with certainty brought into
the calculations But question drew
him out on that line and precipitated u
lively discussion. The especial friends of
the Nicaragua canal, led by MIR. William
A lden Smith, of Michigan, took excep-
ton TO some of MIR. Cannon's remarks
which seemed to indicate his oppos ition
TO consideration of the canal bill this SEES.
sion. A spirited debate followed, which
indicated that there will be- great effort
this session to thrust the canal bill
through, and get the government conf
United as soon as possible to the expendi.
ture of the hundr d and ten millions Of
dollars required. 1t has been proposed
in the Senate to add the canal bill as a
rider TO the river and harbor bill. and II
this Is done the House will have to
consider the subject, no matter how in
adequate the time may be for careful ex-
animation. Mr.. Cannon expressed the
Judgment that the scheme was too great
to be properly considered In the three
weeks left of the session, but there was