The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-10-20
NATIONAL EXPENSE
LARGER THAN EVER
ESTIMATES FOR DEPARTMENTS
WILL RUN TO SOMETHING
OVER 81, 1,2o0,0oO,000.

Washington, Oct. 14.-The largest
estimates of government expendi-
lures ever submitted to the secretary
of the treasury of the United States
in time of peace will be presented for
the next fiscal year tomorrow for dis
cussion by congressional committees
in advance of the regular session.
They will be examined in detail by
President Wilson and his cabinet
next week.
With an estimated increase for ma
tional defense of about S150,000,000
over last year, together with the cost
of new duties imposed on the state
department and other branches of
the government by reason of the war,
it is possible the amount of the pro.
posed appropriation will be augment
ed to a total of about 81 240,00O,O 900.
If congress agrees to the administra-
ton programme for strengthening the
army and navy it will be obliged to
provide for additional revenue legis-
lation or the executive branch of the
government must isue bonds.
Although no estimate of receipts
for the fiscal year beginning July /,
1916, in which the increased expendi-
lures will take effect has been made
by Secretary McAdoo, officials now
are convinced they can not count
upon more than S750,OOO, 900 for the
twelve months, and some believe the
tota! income will not go over $780,
100000.
Two Revenue Measures.
Congress is to be asked to pass two
revenue measures early in the coming
session, one extending the emergency
war tax which expires December 81.
and the other providing for retention
Of the present duty on. sugar. Passage
of these measures, however, would
not increase the. present revenues.
With both in effect at present there
has been a deficit of s35, 5,O0O,O
Estimates for government depart
ments, except state, war and navy,
are virtually the same as last year.
Additional forces in the diplomatic
and consular service and at the state
department and extraordinary ex-
penses abroad in the work being done
by American embassies>and legations
win require an increase Of about
$1,300,000 for the state department.
The $2,000,O00 appropriated by con-
gress as an emergency war fund for
use of that department has almost
been spent, but much of it already
has been or will be reimbursed, so
tfat the reappropriation will not rep
resent any real expense.
Deficit in Sight.
The ordinary disbursements of the
government last year were about
$732,000,00O. If the receipts are as
much as $750,000,0O0 in the coming
year and the appropriations of all
government department but the state.
war and navy remain the same, there
still would be, with the added budget
for national defense, an estimated
deficit of more than $135,000,000.
The secretary of the treasury now
has authority to issue Panama canal
bond to the amount of $240, 200, 900.
That would be temporary remedy.
however, and may not be resorted to
if the administration proceeds on the
theory that the government will main
tain the same rate of expenditures
for national defense during coming
years as now is being proposed for
the next session of congress.
Estimates for the department Of
commerce will show an increase over
last years total-S16,774, ,000-if
they are agreed upon in the form now
before Secretary Redfeld. The prir-
cipal request for more money will
come from the bureau of foreign and
domestic commerce, which desires to
take advantage of the opportunity
afforded by the war to extend it's for
eign trade organization. The coast
ard geodetic survey wants an appro-
pr;ation for thorough survey of the
Alaskan coast.
The department of labor contem-
plates few changes in estimates,
which last year amounted to $4,-
443 600.