The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-01-06

Washington Correspondence Philadelphia Ledger
The Fifty-sixth Congress has before it
the prospect of outdoing the billion dollar
Congress in the aggregate of its appropria-
tons. The budget of estimates submitted
through the Secretary of the Treasury calls
for a grand total of S631, Os1, 900. The
Fifty sixth Congress appropriated 1898,
900, 900, when the estimates amounted to
1896, 900, 900, exclusive Of the several
millions appropriated for various purposes
outside of the regular appropriations. The
WarDepartment estimates this year amount
to $3.50, 112, 900, which includes public
works, rivers and harbors, etc. The es-
Inmates year ago were little more than
this, and the appropriations for the cur
rent year s163, 0SS, 900. The Army
bill last session was $50, 400, 100. 1t can
not be less this winter with 1901 men
in the field. The estimate for the military
establishment is s12S, 100000 There
will be no river and harbor bill, and there
will be few appropriations for public build
ings, yet these items will have to be
cared for The War Department asks,
for $50, 9S9. COO for public works. If
half this is allowed it will be all that can
be in reason expected. The pension item,
which cannot be juggled with, is s145,
900, 900, and if the Deserters' Am
nesty bill or the old age pension proposition
passes, some millions must be added to the
already vast sum. The army appropria-
ton will not fall much short of the esti-
mates this year, and, of course, the PEN
sion item is fixed. These two make one
third of the billion. In the second session
they must again be reckoned with, and al
though the army item may be then reduc
ed by the coming of peace in the Philip
pines, the pension item will be increased
For the whole Congress war and pensions
will call for over half billion. 1t will be
more than easy for the remaining expenses
to the Government to send the aggregate up
to some millions over the mark.
RUSHING BUSINESS IN WORLD EXPAN
SION.
1t must be remembered that we are doing
a rushing business in world expansion with
a good strong debt to carry. The annual
interest item is $40, 00O,0 The sink
ing fund calls for $50, 900, 600 In fact,
the permanent annual appropriations of
the Treasury Department are upwards of
$132, 100000 The grand total of the
estimates for 1901 is S39, O33, 900 in ex-
cess of what it was last year, and $685.
900, 900 in excess of what was appropria-
ted for the current year.
Assuming that any of the large enter
prises launched before Congress within the
last few days should pass there would be
considerable increase of the figures obtain
ed thus far. The ship subsidy so much
urged would call for S9,000,O 600, and
there are other similar chances to spend
a million or two. If there is any place
where saving can be done to keep the
grand aggregate down it is not possible to
discern it at this time.
A GOVERNMENT FOR ALASKA.
There awaits the Senate Committee on
Territories when it takes up its work
strong and carefully prepared bill by Sena-
tor Carter, Of Montana, for new govern
ment of Alaska In the outset the bill
declares that the Territory shall have no
legislature and no representation in Con-
gress. The chief feature of improvement
in the measure over what Alaska now en-
joys in the way of government is the es-
tablishment of new Judicial system.
Three District Courts are to be created,
with one Judge living at Sitka, the capt.
tai of the Territory, and holding court at
Juneau as well as Sitka The second
Judge will have the pleasure of living at
St. Michael; the third will be placed at
Circle City. Much of the minor judicial
business of the Territory is to be done by
commissioners appointed by the District
Judges. There are to be three District
Attorneys and Marshal for the Territory,
with deputy marshals in each division or
district. The salaries allowed the men
who are willing to live in the sub-artics
are liberal. The Governor, Marshal and
District Attorneys are to have $4,000; the
Judges $4,000. With this system the
miners of Alaska will have a more con-
venient means of placing their papers on
file, and of bringing suit in cases of con-
test. The general laws of Oregon are de-
clared to be law in the Territory.