The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-07

rona is so irnportant and necessary to an improved diplomatic service that have no hesitation in urging upon lle Congress the passage of some measure similar to that fayorably reporteu py the House committee on foreign affairs on February 14 1910 CReport No. 4SS), that would authorize the gradual and an nual acquisition of premises for diplo- matic use.
 The work of the diplomatic service Is devoid of partisanship; its importance should appeal to every American citizen and should receive the generous consio- era ton of the Congress.
 TREASURY DEPARTMENT Estimates for Next Year's Expenses Every effort has been made by each department chief to reduce the estimated cost of his department for the ensuing fiscal year ending June 30, 1912. l say this in order that Congress may under- stand that these estimates thus made present the smallest sum which will main tair the departments, bureaus and olfices | Of the government and meet its other obligations under existing law, and that | a cut of these estimates would result | in embarrassing the executive branch of | the government in the performance Of | it's duties. This remark does not apply | to the river and harbor estimates, ex- l cept te those for expenses of maintenance and the meeting of obligations under authorized contracts, nor does it apply | to the public building bill nor to the | navy building programme. Of course, as to these Congress could withhold any | part or all of the estimates for them I without interfering with the discharge | oe the ordinary obligations of the gov ernment or the performance of the func- tions of its departments, bureaus and offices.
 The final estimates for the year ending June 30, 1912 as they have been sent | to the treasury, on november 29 of this year, for the ordinary expenses of the | government, including those for public buildings, rivers and harbors, and the m building programme, amount to $63G, ,494, .12. This is $52, ,SS.36 less than the appropriations for the tsca year ending June 30, 1911 It is S16,sS3 l53 4 less than the total estimates. includinq supplemental estimates submitted to Congress by the treasury for the veal 1911, and is $5574 659. 39 less than the orig inal estimates submitted by the treasur, for 1911.
 These figures do not include the ap propriations for the Panama canal, th'
 o~~ac+ to which ought to be and is to spend as much each year a
 --eany and effectively ex pended in order to complete the cana as promptly as possible, and, therefore the ordinary motive for cutting down thu expense of the government does not ap | r,f ,..,4i~u- fo,. thfe rirrn0ee it will be noted that the estimates fo the Panama canal for the ensuing yea
 tean 0oo, an increase 0 $20,000,000 over the amount appropriated for this year-a difference due to the fac that the estimates for 1912 include some thing over $19,000,000 for the fortihcatioi of the canal.
 Against the estimated expenditures O $Gc0 494, ,01312, the treasury has estimated receipts for next year $680, 900 makins a probable surplus of ordinary receipts over ordinary expenditures of about $5O, 00000O, or, taking into account the esti mates for the Panama canal which ar $5G,920,S47 69. and which will ultimately b paiG in bonds, it will leave deficit TO tho next year of about $7,000,00O, if Con gress shall conclude to fortify the cana | The cost of the Notifications is abou sl9000000. Should there be no appropria lions this year for Qualifications. the there would be. even including the Pan