The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-07

more than accounted for by the increase
of $40. II. .4a0 made on account OF the
postal service and by l35l3. .nJl-OS In the
bill that provides for the maintenance of
our naval establishment and for the con-
struction. armor and armament of the
new ships of the navy.
Slight increases are shown in the ID lis
providing for the Agricultural Depart
ment, the Army, the Diplomatic and Con-
sular Service, the government of the Dis
trict of Columbia. fortitcationS, the IN
dian service, and for legislative. eXecu-
tive, and judicial expenses: but these in
creaseS are more than offset by the sub
stantial reductions which are indicated in
the Sundiy Civil act, in deficiencies, and
for permanent appropriations Included
in the last named is the provision for our
annual interest charge, which, by leEisla-
tion enacted by this Congress. has been
reduced in a sum that will amount an
nually to S9.iON.09D
The increase on account of miscella-
neous objects is occasioned by the appro-
priation of So 250,G0 authorized by legisla-
tion at the first session of this Congress
for the st. Louis Exposition.
THE total appropriations made at the
two sessions OF this the Fifty-siNth. Con
gress are SIPS, 50.0GLS9 less than the ap-
propriations made during the two regular
sessions of the preceding Congress.
The new revenue. law passed at TINS
session will. il is estimated, reduce taxes
for the coming fiscal year S4l, ,WDcVO, bring
ing our total estimated income Tor the
coming fiscal year, including postal reEe-
nues. to $675.633. o..
"Of the total appropriations made at
this session, at least S0.o10.O1O will not,
in the light of past experience. be eNpend-
ed. This considerable margin between
actual expenditures and appropriations
made by Congress indicates Il sum tctal
Of expenditures during the fiscal year
1902 of not exceeding SG99. .Sll 6SS.0I: and TINS
sum includes $53 000 900 on account OF the
sinking fund requirements for the fiscal
year 1892, which. of course, under the
!, terms OF the law, will be met only 90
such extent as surplus revenues in the
Treasury may permit. After meeting tnc
fullest ordinary requirements of the pub
lie service under the appropriations which
have been made. there Will surely remain
sufficient revenue for 1892 to meet not less
| than $50. .00O.000 of the requirements of the
sinking fund. amounting in all, as stated,
to $53,000.000; and from other surplus
money in the Treasury the whole sinking
fund obligations for the year can and Will
be met, if deemed expedient by the Sec
retary of the Treasury.
The large deficiencies provided for dur
| ing the fiscal year 1899 by the first regular
session of the Fifty-fifth Congress.
amounting to S3i9 a., ,Ss9.95. were almost in
| their entirety to cover the expenses of
| the military and naval establishments
Turing the fiscal years 1899 and 1890 Incl
| lent to the war with Spain.
THE most marked increase indi sated In
| the appropriations for ordinary expenses
Of the Government made for the two
wears 1901 and 1902 at the two Sc. sions OF
cedng years 1899 and 1890, provided for
by the Fifty-fifth Congress, is for the
postal service. This is the one branch of
the public service that cannot be re-
strained in its growth. II registers with
precision and eXactness the welfare of
the nation and the agricultural. indus
trial and commercial condition of the
country. That the growth of the postal
service for the two years provided for by
this Congress is nearly 3 per cent greater
than was the growth of the appropria-
tions made therefor by the tifty-fifth
Congress over that provided for by the
F'ifty-foursh Congress is a source of con-
gratulati IN.
1T is an automatic truth in economic
science that in order to reduce taxes
public expenditures must first he re-
trenched. Acting upon this philosophy
the approximations. as ! have shown, have
been reduced s12S. .i5c. 50 by this Con-
gress under those provided for by its
predecessor. and this has rendered possi-
BILE a reduction of taxes in the sum of
$f1 900. 001.''