The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-03-11
Extended Statement
of Appropriations.
WHAT THE WAR COST
Mr.. Cannon Declines to Dis
cuss Future Legislation.

| Washington, March 10.-Availing him
self of the privilege accorded by the
House of Representatives, previous to
adjournment, Chairman Cannon of the
committee on appropriations, has pre-
pared for the Congressional Record. a
more extended statement Of the appro-
Pr1ations made by the 18th congress
than he made the day after adjourn
ment.
He places the total appropriations for
entire congress at 81, 566, S90,016, and the
appropriations authorized for future
congresses under the continuing con-
tract system for battleships, river and
harbor improvements and public build
lngs at $70OO0,000. The total appropria-
lions made at the last session, Mr.. Can
non places at 1878, 65g, 400, showing an
apparent reduction of S210, 579 214 below
the appropriations Of the preceding ses-
sion.
Mr.. Cannon attributed this reduction
70 the extraordinary war expenses OF
the preceding session OF the total an
preparations for the congress he saws
that the sum of 1882, 562, OS3 is directly
chargeable to the war with Spain. He
thus shows that the ordinary expendi-
lures Tor the two years covered by the
congress were 81 ,044 $780, 73 and this sum
exceeds the total appropriation of the
o4th congress by $S9, 746 65S.
rms excess is accounted for as fol-
lows; For payment Of pensions, "a, S75,-
wv; for the postal service to meet the
increased demands of commerce. 516.-
6ls,5Sl; for river and harbor improve
ments, $3,4O1 1873; for constructing new
ships, $6,0S0, 1913; for beginning the
work of the 18th census, $1,000, 900; for
the Paris exposition 81, PIC, 600; for new
public buildings, $4,000, 900; for the pay
ment Of judgments against the govern
ment under the Bowman act and for
| $40. 2S7, SIS
Mr.. Cannon cites the defeat of the
provision for the construction of the
| Nicaragua canal, which the Senate at
tempted to get through in connection
with the sundry civil appropriation bill
as an instance of the success of watch
fulness on the part OF the House. IF"
he says, on this point, the Senate bin
| or any measure proposed had been en-
acted, the United States would have
| paid 100000 for worthless conces-
sion and would have been committed
by law to the construction of a canal
along the Nicaragua route and under
such conditions it would have been
compelled before we threw a spadeful
| of EARTH or in any way began actual
construction, to have acquired, by
treaty, from Nicaragua and Costa Rica
the territory where to contruct the ga
nal and the right TO construct it. Such
| legislation would have delayed and
| embarrassed the construction of an
l.isthmian canal"
Referring in a general way to the
legislation of the congress, Mr.. Cannon
says: During the whole of the four
years covered by MI. Cleveland's sec
ond administration, the material and
| Industrial condition of the country was
| Galamitous and its contemplation does
not bring satisfaction to any American
citizen. But the 55th congress, begin
ming with the administration of Will
liam Mckinley, in extraordinary ses-
sion, promptly enacted legislation
which has yielded the additional reve-
nues needed to pay the ordinary ex-
penses of the government, and has at
the same time protected American Ia
Dor.
with the enactment Of that legis-
lation, hope and confidence struck
hands, and the condition of the whole
country improved, and has continued
to improve from that time to the pres
emit Labor is now universally en-
ployed with increased wages and with
such employment the means are sup
plied for increased consumption"
Mr. Cannon declines to enter upon the
present discussion of future legislation,
saying: II prefer rather to await the
logic of events and the full information
that will doubtless come, as L hope,
between now and the organization in
December next Of the newly rejected
congress. But I venture the assertion
and prediction that the United States
could not, if it would, and would not, II
it could. part with the territories ao-
CURED from Spain by the treaty Of
peace, or shirk it's duties and RESPONSE
biIties touching them