The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1899-02-18
oPTIMIsT D1NGLEY.
The Great Tariff Doctor Sees Nothing
Ahead But a BuIGInE
Surplus.

chairman DlnSiey > views OF the ma
tional finances for the future are opti-
mistic. While he declares that there
will be no reduction of the war taxes
before text winter at the earliest, be
confidently predicts that "our depend
e%ncies," as he properly calls them, will
be practically self-supporting by 1892
and that empire will not materially
permanently increase our expenses
He disposes of Secretary Cages esti-
mate Of a deficit of $4,000, 900 for the
current fiscal year and of ~S3O.O00,OOO
for the year following by saying that
the secretary, as a prudent man puts
the lowest possible estimate on evenue
or income and the highest possible esti-
mate uponathe expenditures" To illus
trate, he says that the secretary as
sumes that we will have an army of $780,.
900 for two years and that we are going
to spend $4S, 900. 900 for river and harbor
improvements in 1900, whereas we are
not going 10 have an army of more than
100000 and the river and harbor ex-
penditures will not exceed $25, 900. 900.
Mr.. Dingley admits that the national
expenditures will be increased for the
time being in consequence Of the war,
but insists that with 500. COO. DOC pro-
duced under the provisions Of the war
ways and means bill there will be a sur
plus in 1900 and that our dependencies
terthatw will furnish their own keep"
But Mr.. Dingley fails to observe that,
while Mr.. Gage makes good allowance
for expenditures in some directions. he
has to leave out of account a number
Of important items which are not mere
~ probable. but almost certain to ap-
pear in the next budget or as supple
ments to the one just submitted. For
instance, he says nothing about the
$4,000, 900 which our Paris commission.
ers have agreed to pay Spain for a vo-
racious elephant. He says nothing
about the millions that the president
wants to spend on an isthmian canal
and OF ocean cables. and that he him.
self wants to spend to encourage Amer
leans to build and sail ships. Mr.. Ding
ley fails to observe hat the reason
given for spending these millionsi in hot
haste is because we have been spread.
ing ourselves t~erritoriallv. It is for this
reason. we are assured. that we need
the canal and the cables and the ships
without delay.
Mr.. Dingley admits that we are 60
ing TO need an army Of 100. 600 men. He
could not very we'll do otherwise when
the president u~nhesitatingly recon-
mends that the regular army be in
creased to that number. II would not
be an excess Of prudence 10 estimate
the increase In the standing army nj
$4,000 men. Since nobody pretends that
there would be any need of increase II
we had no dependencies 10 take care
of, we must charge all this TO the fem.
pire." The cost Of this additional force
would be $75.O00.OO o a year. estimating
in the usual way at $1,000 per man.
But for service in the deadly tropics
deadly to men Of the Caucasfs41 race
the cost would be much more. A mod
crate estimate would be $100. OO0. 900 a
year. Mr.. Dingley admits that he takes
no account of increased expenditure on
account Of the navy. Put II is no secret
that it is proposed by the administra-
ton to add to the navy ships and arma-
ments costing not less than $50 oO. 600.
This, with the increased cost Of mainte-
nance, would be no small item. and II
will grow to still larger proportions il
Senator Davis triple alliance is con-
summated.
Does Mr.. Dingley suppose that we are
going to make our dependencies pay all
these costs? II he does he supposes
that we are going TO Cypress them more
than Spain ever did, though we may be
more successful thau Spain in applying
the Hanna plan Of getting the money
out of them without letting them know
what has become Of it.
He will learn. II he does not already
know, that the taxpayers Of the United
States will have to pay the most Of all
this. II we make the possessions pay
the cost of civil administration. or such
civil administration as our military |
governors may allow them. including |
the cost OF schools and public improve.
ments. we will GO about to the limit.
Most Of the increased cost OF army and
navy, Of canals. cables and what not
will fall upon the shoulders Of the Amer.
lean taxpayers.
And they may grow weary. Hence the
necessity for making the most Of the
Hanna plan Of flching from their peck.
and leaving them 10 wonder why II
is that the dollar they earn seems so
small and inadequate when they come
to lay II out for the neceSsaries and
comforts OF life. Hence we hear even |
the optimistic DingIey talk Of getting !
rid OF the stamp taxes as soon as pos
sible. II will never do TO have people
reminded that they are paying a tax
every time they lick a stamp.-Chicagu
Chronicle.