Evening star., 1901-10-24
The Treasury Surplus.
To the Editor of The EVENING Star.


1 notice that some public men appear to
be worried over the surplus In the treasury,
and one announced in his interview in The
Star few days since that he intended in
Producing bill to reduce taxation in order
to prevent a surplus, as probably others
will also. 1t is. Of course, not desirable to
have millions of money lying idle in the
treasury, and there is no earthly reason
why it should. Every dollar of the sur
plus, and more, can be used to good advan-
tage If Congress will but do its duty.
In the first place, it should use a por-
tion of it to pay the honest debts due its
own citizens, amounting to many millions,
and for which many of them have waited
10 these many years. Then, again, the
government is today paying rent for private
buildings, in which to transact public busi-
ness here at the capital, few, If any, Of
which are at all adapted to the purpose, or
provided with ventilation or other sanitary
arrangements, a sum sufficient to pay the
interest on at least ten millions of dollars!
Why not use some of the surplus to erect
new and suitable public buildings and i'm
prove those that now exist and in which
the employees are crowded like bees in a
hive without ventilation?
Today the Supreme Court Is occupying
Senate committee room, into which the
court, it's officers and counsel are crowded
like sheep in a pen. 1t is no answer to saw
that this Is temporary event. for it is but
little better when in its own room. Why
not use some Of the surplus to buy the site
and erect the long-talked Of Supreme Court
building and provide room for the commit
tees In the Capitol, well as completing
the Capitol building itself. by carrying out
the central front to correspond with the
new wings, as provided for in the plan
when they were built and at the same time
o1 fpr
en- portion now there; why not?
Again. with the gratifying and rapid in
crease OF our export trade and the pro-
lection Of our scattered foreign possessions,
a large sum is needed for the increase of
the navy, even If it is decided not to do
anything to assist in restoring our COM
mercial marine to the proud position it oc-
cupied in former years.
Moreover according to the present out
look, and the opinion of those on the ground
and most competent to Judge a large mill
tary force will be required for years to come
IN the Philippines and that will require a
large sum, to say nothing of the constant
ly increasing pension list. Here, it seems to
me, are ways and means enough, to saw
nothing of others that might be mentioned.
all of which relate to matters of national
interest, and are much needed, to absorb
the surplus and much more.
The cry OF reducing taxation will of
course, be raised by those who hope to
make political capital by it. but there is
nothing in it. 1t may be that the internal
revenue tax needs modifying in some par
ticular cases, where it works hardship.
but If such there are they are few and far
between.
Our national tax is less per capita than
that OF any other nation, although we are
comparatively young nation, with an i'm
mense territory to open up and improve in
every respect. AS a matter of fact. very
rev OF us even know when or what we pay
IN the way Of national tax; and I am
satisfied that if Congress will but make
good use of the present and future surplus
for the pressing needs Of the nation there
VIII be no complaint on the score Of taxa
ton, and no surplus to worry over.
~