Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-12-08
departments, in all of which wish to

departments. in all of which I wish to
express my general concurrence.
Perhaps the most important ques-
ton presented to this administration
is that Of economy In expenditures and
sufficiency Of revenue. The deficit of
the last fiscal year and the certain
deficit Of the current year prompted
congress to throw a greater RESPONSE
bility on the executive and the secre-
tary Of the treasury than had hereto
fore been declared by statute. This
declaration imposes upon the secretary
of the treasury the duty of assembling
all the estimates Of the executive de-
partments. bureaus and offices Of the
expenditures necessary in the ensuing
fiscal year and Of making an estimate
Of the revenues of the government for
the same period. and If probable def
icit is thus shown it Is made the duty
of the president to recommend the
method by which such deficit can be
met
Estimated Deficit $73,075,6o0
The report Of the secretary shows
that the ordinary expenditures for the
current fiscal year ending June 30,
1910, will exceed the estimated re-
ceipts by $34,O75,62O. If to this deficit
are added the sum to be disbursed for
the Panama canal. amounting to $685.
100000. and $1.OOO,OOO to be paid on
the public debt. the deficit of ordinary
receipts and expenditures will be in
creased to a total deficit Of $73,O75, 62O.
meet By the proceeds Of bonds issued
to pay the cost of constructing the
Panama canal. approve this pro-
posa].
The policy Of paying for the con-
struction of the Panama canal not
out of current revenue, but by bond
issue. was adopted in the Spooner act
Of 1902, and there seems to be no good
reason for departing from the princi-
pie by which a part at least Of the
burden Of the cost Of the canal shall
fall upon our posterity. who are to
enjoy it, and there is all the more rea-
son for this view because the actual
cost to date of the canal. which is now
half done and which will be completed
Jan. i, 1915, shows that the cost of
engineering and construction will be
1921. 766, 900 instead Of $139. 705 200. as
originally estimated. In addition to
engineering and construction, the 9th
er expenses. including sanitation and
government and the amount paid for
the properties. the franchise and the
privilege of building the canal, In
crease the cost by SIS, 435,000 to a
total Of 1915. POI 900. The increase In
the cost of engineering and construc-
ton is due to a substantial enlarge
ment Of the plan Of construction by
widening the canal 100 feet in the Gu
Zebra cut and by increasing the d.
mansions of the locks. to the under
estimate of the quantity Of the work
to be done under the original plan and
to an underestimate Of the cost of Ia
Dor and materials, both OF which have
greatly enhanced In price since the
original estimate was made.
In order to avoid 4 deficit for the
ensuing fiscal year directed the
heads Of departments in the prepare
ton of their estimates to make them
as low as possible consistent with i'm
perative governmental necessity. The
result has been. as I am advised by
the secretary of the treasury, that the
estimates Of the expenses Of the gov
eminent for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1911-that Is, for the next
fiscal year-are less by $55.663, 900
than the total Of appropriations for
the current fiscal year and less by
$94 ,O0O 900 than the estimates for that
year. So far as the secretary Of the
treasury is able to form judgment as
to future income and compare it with
the expenditure for the next fiscal
year ending June 80. 1911, including
the payments on account Of the Pan
anna canal and the public debt, there
will be no deficit in the year ending
June 30, 1911. but small surplus OF
$712, 900.
In the present estimates the needs
Of the departments and Of the gov
eminent have been cut to the quick,
80 to speak, and any assumption on
the part Of congress. SO often made in
times past. that the estimates have
been prepared with the expectation
that they may be reduced will result
In seriously hampering proper admin
istraton.
The secretary Of the treasury points
out, what should be carefully noted in
respect to this reduction In govern
mental expenses for the next fiscal
year, that the economies are Of two
kinds-first, there is saving In the
permanent administration Of the de-
partments, bureaus and Offices OF the
government, and, second, there Is
present reduction in expenses by
postponement Of projects and i'm
provements that ultimately will have
to be carried out, but which are now
delayed with the hope that additional
revenue in the future will permit their
execution without producing deficit.
Working For Economy.
1t has been impossible in the prepare