The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-06-12
GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURES
Their Rapid and Enormous increase.
Misleading statements by Republi-
can eader OF tbs, appropriations.
The True situation.

Washington. June Representative
Livingston. of Georgia, the ranking
minority member OF the house COM
mittee on appropriations. today made
the following statement as TO appro-
priations made by the first session OF
the Fifty-sixth congress, from the
standpoint OF the minority:
Notwithstanding the enormous APP
preparation for 1890 on account OF the
Spanish-Cuban war. the army and
navy appropriations for this session
are $50, 900. 200 in excess OF those for the
last session. The statement l submit
shows also hat in every department
OF the government, beginning with the
agricultural and ending with the per-
manent appropriations, We nave IN
creased at this session the amount
authorized at the last session. And
when TO the aggregate We add the
mount that should nave been appro-
priated at this session. but which have
been deferred, for no good reason, or
at least for reasons that need expla-
nation on the part of those in control
amount which must be appropriated
at the second session OF this congress,
such as hat necessary TO complete
lIlS MIA oc 40 oAAa NN
passed the house, carrying authoriza-
ton Of an expenditure OF Sal, OOO,OeO)
and also hat usually appropriated Tor
rivers and harbors. s16,00o,CN): and for
public buildings and grounds, $3,OoO,oOo;
and for outstanding claims,
at SO, 600, O00-if, l say, we add Sl'o,-
O00, 900 to he sum stated In the table:
s7O9, 729, 476, we would have a grand total
of 1878, 729, 476 for this session alone.
And thus the total shown in the ex-
hibit is not quite complete or fair, con-
sidering that such large thar
must be met are ithhe for the next
session. l submit that. to be fair, we
should let each fiscal year take care
of all necessary appropriations and not
unload this yea on the fiscal year
19O2-things that should be provided
for and included in the fiscal year
1901.
And 1 call attention also to the
constant and gradual increase in the
appropriations for pensions, and like
wise to the legislative, and
judicial appropriations. These items
could not have been affected to any
great extent by Spanish-Cuban war.
1T shows indeed al increase, as be-
fore stated, all along he line, despite
the fact that the committee on public
buildings and grounds have held back
all matters before them, and the COM
mittee on rivers and narDOrS all mat
tiers before them, with two or three ex-
ceptions, and all accounts and claims
have been practically barred from con-
sideration at this session"
Mr.. Livingston then gives a large
table showing the appropriations for
the years 1897 to 1901 inclusive, and
continues:
"It should be borne in mind that in
the case of the above noted a~ppropria-
tons for the ANY the authorization
of the eight new warships, 1.-TWO bat
tleships, three armored cruisers and
three protected cruiSers) involves ar
ultimate expenditure for construction
armor and armament of something like
$50, 900, 900 not $1.G of which is now
appropriated for and does not figure
in the navy item, but must be met in
future years.
1.-The dominant party attempted to
commit this ongre at this session
and doubtless will renew their efforts
at the coming session to commit the
government to what is known as the
shipsubsidy scheme, which involves
the sum Of $12O, 600, 900 to be expended
throughout a term of years"