The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-04-04
The ID. fisiency Bill.

The National IateHigeneer seeks to avoid The real
point involved in the large amount OF appropriations
which the administration requires for the present fiscal
year in addition TO the already appropra
ted. The important inquiry is. not as 10 the origin
and frequency OF bills TO supply deficiencies, but as to
the cau.e and mayn,u lie Of such deficiencies We stated
few days ago our impressions with regard to the prac-
tice OF the government in this behalf with promise to
examine more particularly into the matter We have
made that examination, and it has satisfied that while
more than one bill making appropriations to be expended
during tine same fiscal year has passed Congress, the
present administration cannot shield itself from respon
sbily by any reference to the past transactions Of the
government.
The .partiai appropriation bills" which were common
in former times, and which the Iniligencsr would char
ac,erze as deficiency bills were entirely different from
that now under consideration Until Isa3. the fiscal year
commenced the first Of January, and ended the thirty
frs, OF December-ius month after the session OF
Congress commenced Under these circumstances, il was
frequently impossible for Congresst 10 make appropriations
by the first of Janusry, and it avoided the difficulty by
making partial appropriations for temporary use while
the regular appropriations were being considered and
acted on Those bills were not made to supply def
ciencies former appropriation, for they were made in
advance OF regular appropriations and they could
not properly be called deficiency bills, which we under
stand 10 mean bills making appropriations Tor purposes
already provided for, when the executive finds that II
must exhaust the provided before the end OF the
year. The two instances mentioned during MIR. Van
Buren's administration OF the character we have
mentioned above The hsca year lsio) expired on The
3ist December, and il necessary 10 make partial
provision for the expenses Of 1871, until Congress
could &C, on the executive recommendation The second
was not for the executive, but for the pay &C., Of men,
ber. salaries OF clerks, stationery, &cexpendlures
which could not wait until the appropriation bill recon-
mendcd by the Executive could be examined and acted
on.
The law changing the beginning OF the fiscal year from
the first of January TO the FIRST OF July was made neces
sary by the Inconvenience we have alluded TO. When
lha, change made il became accessory TO make an
appropriation for the expenditures incurred from Deem
Der 81 1912, TO July Use. The bill making that ap
preparation canno, properly be called deficiency bill
Mr. Polk was naugurated March 4, Is45 OF course
the appropriations for the year ending June 90 1885, were
made according TO the estimates submitted by the eycca
tive officers OF his predecessor Because OF the anuexa.
lion Of Texas, Mr.. Polk found il necessary TO move
large portion OF the army toward the Mexican from
tier This required an expenditure during the year
provided for before he into Office, and he
asked Congress for the means Of making that
expenditure, which arose from cause not 10
be anticipated when the estimates were sent to
Congress on which the appropriation bill for the
year ending June 30, 1916, was founded. all ap-
preparations being made year in advance. Ia each
year during Mr. Folks administration bills granting adi-
ona appropriations made necessary by the exigen.
cies Of war and the legislation which those exgences
forced on Congress For instance, after the appropra
ton bill had been passed, the bill authorizing ten new
regiments became law This involved large cxpendi.
which could not be estimated for in advance, and
Congress made provision to meet il and submit that
the law making that provision could not be properly
called deficiency BILL because il provided for an expend
iture the cause Of which did not exist at the time when
the yearly estimates were sentn. The thing might
be said OF most OF the bills for additional appropriations
during Mr. Folks administration. The law authorized
him TO call out volunteers in order to carry on the war;
needed The progress Of events in Mexico could alone
solve that question. No estimate could be hszarded in
advance and hence the Executive was compelled TO re-
ceive them when the national honor and interests re-
qured and TO ask Congress for the means OF meeting
the expense which was necessarily incurred
We have no, the space 10 speak particularly OF each
bill, passed during Mr.. Pok's administration, which the
Intsihsenssr has characterized deficiency BILL What
We have said applies to them in the aggregate There
ARE unmporAnt Items in some of them which should be
excepted; but an examination win show tina, they were