Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-10-15
Revenue Provisions

II Congress agrees to the admins.
tration's program for strengthening
the army and navy. 1t will be obliged
to provide for additional revenue leg
islation, or the executive branch of the
government must issue bonds.
Although no estimate Of receipts for
the fiscal year beginning July l, 1916,
IN which the increased expenditures
will take effect has been made by Sec.
rotary McAdoo. officials now are con.
inced they cannot count upon more
than $75o.000,oo0 for the IL months,
and some believe the total income will
not go over $700,000.000.
Congress is to be asked to pass two
revenue measures early in the coming
session. one extending the emergency
war tax which expires Dec. 81 next
and the other providing for retention
of the present duty on sugar beyond
next May, when it would 60 on the
free list. Passage Of these measures
however, would not increase the
present revenues. With both in effect
at present, there has been a deficit Of
s35. 5000
estimates 1oT tHe government depart.
ments, except state, war and navy, are
virtually the same as last year. Addi-
tional force in the diplomatic and con-
sular service and at the state depart
ment, and extraordinary expenses abroad
in the work being done by American en-
bassies and legations will require an in
crease Of about $4,000 for the state de-
partment The 100000 appropriated by
Congress as an emergency war fund for
use of that department has been nearly
all spent, but much of 1t already has
been or will be reimbursed. so that the
transportation will not represent any
new expense.
The secretary of the treasury now has
authority to issue Panama canal bonds
to the amount Of s240,0O0. 900. That would
be a temporary remedy, however, and
may not be resorted to If the administra-
ton proceeds on the theory that the gov
eminent will maintain the same rate Of
expenditures for national defence during
coming years as now is being proposed
for the next session Of Congress.
Estimates for the department Of COM
| merce will show an increase over last
| years total Of $16,774.0o0.s If they are
agreed upon in the form now before
| Secretary Redfeld. The principal re-
quest for more money will come from
| the bureau Of foreign domestic COM
merce, which desires to take advantage
| Of the opportunity afforded. because of
| the war to extend its foreign trade or
ganization.
The department Of Labor contem-
plates few changes in its estimates,
| which last year amounted to $4,443, 900.
Secretary Wilson is considering a re-
duction in the estimates for the bureau
of immigration which has found its &C
tivities materially curtailed by the fall
ing of Of immigration caused by the
European war.
The estimates for the postoffice depart
ment will be slightly above the $2s9. 000. o0s
estimated for the present year. The in.
crease is credited to the automatic pro-
motions Of carriers and clerks provided
for by Congress. increased pay for rail-
way transportation in the Middle States
as a result Of the new weighing statistics
and the natural growth Of the system.
In the interior department the estimates
are less than the appropriation for the
current year excluding 100000 for con.
struction Of the government railroad IN
Alaska.
Secretary Houston had not completed
tonight his estimates for the department
Of agriculture. but they will not vary
much from the present appropriation OF
about 900.