The Washington times., 1908-12-09
Uncle Sam Dsburses Huge Sum, and Has Net Treasury
Balance Increase of SIP 600 OO0-Navy Costs
Less Than the Army

According to the report OF Secretary
COrtelyou, now In the hands OF Speak
er Cannon. II cost Uncle Sam $3.50. GA
$500 to run the Government during the
fiscal year ended June 30, 1905 This, of
course, did not include the payments
made on account of an old debt, left
over from previous years, but which
doesn't have to be paid in full for some
years 20 come. On this old debt Sec
retary COrtelyou turned over, on ac-
count, a matter OF S739. III. .sO6.5O. a pretty
liberal payment. when It is considered
that 1907 was bad year for business.
While he was paying out all these
millions and keeping track Of them as
best he could, Secretary CortelyOu took
in, in ordinary receipts. a matter of
S7g2. .604,7SL94, so that the Government
ran behind during the fiscal year, but
only by a matter Of SJS,O70, ,201. .15-this
being on the current expenses. But be-
cause Secretary COrtelyOu received S1TO.-
35l,49S.67 more on account OF Uncle
Sans debt than he paid out, the ret
treasury balance was increased by S112,-
l61,29I.52, which was a fair showing,
after all.
Operating Expenses.
Nearly all the departments Of the
Government cost more money during
the fiscal year 1905 than they did in
the preceding year The civic govern
ment cost S175. .420. .408.4 40: the military.
$40. $40, 452; the navy, including part Of
the expenses Of the great cruise, sl1S,-
O37,09715; while the Indians set Uncle
Sam back $14.579.755.
Despite the fact that our wars are
almost forgotten, the pensions cost Sl5S,-
Ss2,46I. The POstOffce Department re-
ported a deficit Of millions. and It cost
S20.426,l3S TO pay interest on the old
debt
Incident 20 the discussion Of tariff re-
vision, it is interesting TO note that the
customs collected on imported goods
amounted TO S2S6. .1l3, 1908.
The internal revenue yielded $251. H.
126-and this source Of revenue viii be
much less next year, because much Of
the South has gone dry.
over S,I3l, 500 worth Of public lands
were sold and from some source OF
other, covered under the mysterious
head Of miscellaneous the Govern
ment received a matter OF $3.50, go. 81.
The way the Government received
$903, ,46S, ,405 on account OF the public debt
was rather novel 1t came through the
Issuing Of gold and silver certificates.
certificates Of Indebtedness, which have
since been taken up, national bank
notes, and Panama bonds
Last Years Balance.
Secretary Cortelyou had to account
for balance from the year before OF
l,610, 65,917, so that ali told he has
handled, with satisfaction to the Ad-
ministratlOn, a matter Of s., ,SI2, ,734. .164. 50.
OF which Postmaster General Never
contributed for stamps, postage regis
tered letters. a matter of S19, AIS. .e63. a.
but 1t cost all that and more TO run
his department
Uncle Sam owes s4.13O.215, to holders
of bonds on which interest has long
since stopped. Where all these millions
are held no one knows, but most OF
them are held by investors who prefer
absolute safety without income to good
with chances for loss. 1t is
also within the probabilities that some
OF these bonds have been DESTROYED or
otherWise lost, never to be found
Green6ackS, national bank notes and
!IactonaIIy currency to the amount of
$50, 6,Oo5,SyI, are outstanding, this also
belng Government debt. upon which
no interest is Davable. The total debt
OF the nation IS given as s.. .626. .SOs. on
more money than John d. could dig
out OF Standard Oil in seven ulontbs'
526, $50. %.
The receipts from all sources were