The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-19
SUFFICIENT REVENUE.
He Declares, Will Result to Meet
the Government Needs.
But If Not, Then the Expenses
Should Be Curtailed.

Washington, April 19.-In opening the
debate on the pending tariff bill today,
Senator Aldrich, chairman of the COM
mtttee on finance, assured the senate
in most positive terms that the bill re-
ported from the finance committee
would produce ample revenue from the
government. He suggested that if. by
any possibility. these estimates should
prove to be incorrect the duty of con-
gress would be to reduce expenditures
and make them conform to actual
revenue conditions and not to impose
new and onerOuS taxes.
While he did not refer specifically to
any proposition to impose an income
tax, his statement declaring that ample
revenue may be derived from other
sources was accepted as direct OPPOSE
ton to all such propositions. Nearly
every senator was present when Mr..
Aldrich spoke and most careful atten-
ton was accorded on both sides of the
chamber.
There were several senators who de-
sired to reply to Mr.. Aldrich but de-
ferred doing so until they could care
fully study his statements. On the
desk of each senator was comparison
of the text of the Dingley tariff law
with the Payne tariff bill as passed by
tlAfhouse and as amended and reported
ANN the senate committee on finance.
III addition a statement was furnished
TO each senator showing the estimated
revenues under the present law COM
pared with the amended Payne bill.
Mr. Aldrich called attention to these
in beginning his speech. The net in
crease from customs over the existing
law was estimated at 81, 666,7S4 for the
Payne bills as passed by the house and
1884. 426 under the bill as reported from
the senate committee. In making the
estimates the revenues produced IN
1906 We're used in attaining the COM
parison with the house bill and the
revenues for 1907 when the imports
were much larger, in arriving at the
comparison with possibilities under the
senate bill. Mr.. Aldrich believes that
1907. was a normal year, while Repre-
sentative Payne. chairman of the house
committee on ways and means, oeheVeS
1906 was the last year when conditions
were normal.
AIdrich's Statement.
Mr.. Aldrich said in part:
THE practical question to which l
ask your attention today is. Will the
bill as reported from the committee on
finance produce sufficient revenue when
taken in connection with the internal
revenue taxes to meet the government
expenses without additional taxes? 1
answer unhesitatingly that it will"
Mr.. Aldrich submitted statements
showing the receipts, disbursements,
surpluses and deficits. actual and esti-
mated, of the treasury for the fiscal
years 1900 to 1911. inclusive. His esti-
mates for the fiscal years 1903 to 1911
inclusive were as follows:
Fiscal Re Dishurse- Sur
1908 500, 947 go 81 9oeeso A egiss 4so
1911 ...... 695. 10000 665,OO0,O0O 3OOOO,oOC
A.-deficit.
In these statements, both the re-
ceipts and disbursements for the Pan
anna canal have been eliminated for
obvious reasons" said Mr.. Aldrich. 1T
is the policy of congress, which l think
has universal approval, that payment
for the canal and it's construction
Eues but met by the sale of bonds.
These figures include all receipts
and disbursements except those of the
postoffice department and the Panama
canal but the postal deficiencies are
included in all cases in the disburse-
ments. The statement consists of the
actual official figures of receipts and
disbursements for the years 1900 tc
1908, inclusive and shows that in these
years the act of 1897 (exiSting law pro
duced a surplus of $42s, 656.221. an av.
erage yearly surplus of $47,62S 49,
Where He Got His Figures.
Mr.. Aldrich explained that he arrived
at his estimates from data secured il
consultation with treasury experts
Taking the present fiscal year fol
example, first we have the actual fig
1lres for nine and one-half months
which are: Receipts S46S, 042, S73; dis
bursements 1888, $50. SIS. showing a de
felt of $65,94S,942," he continued
Il have taken the disbursements o
$3.50, $50, SIS for nine and one-haIf month,
and estimated those for the succeedint
two and one-half months on the SAM
basis, reaching the result of 1914, 500 $50
I'm making the estimates of receipt: